Lakeside Ice House- Eternal Bonds and Rock and Roll

Randy Pavlock in deep thought as he rocks the Lakeside Ice House.

Every good entertainer has a few tricks or surprises up his sleeve, and Randy Pavlock loves big surprises. None of us have ever forgotten the night he brought Buddy Miles up on the stage at the Navasota BluesFest, a little age-dizzy and gratuitously cursing as he loved on all the little adoring children around his wheel chair… or at least that’s the way I remember it. This was almost as good. And as spicy.

A snippet of Randy Pavlock and Twenty-Four Seven... playing Hold on (I'm Comin')

At break time, after some vintage Pavlock rock & roll, Randy stepped down from the limelight and invited Whitney Brandl to spend eternity with him. Now I understood why there were all these big-gun photographers around with their monster cameras and everybody had whipped their camera phones out like there was about to be a rumble.

He took a little time gathering his thoughts…

The object of his undying love, Whitney complained that he always took too ____ long, and then he spit it out, very eloquently I think for a Polish boy from Plantersville, and she teased and pranced and then squealed YEEEES! It was the most exotic proposal most of us had ever seen.

It was a real rock & roll history moment… at least for the Brazos Valley. Our crown prince now has his princess. She is a hairdresser from Bryan. They appear to be a perfect match and truly deserve one another and I wish them the greatest happiness. I’m just glad I stumbled in to that one!

Texas Reds Festival- over the top

The Texas Reds Festival in downtown Bryan is more overwhelming than ever, providing around six square blocks of solid fun, art and entertainment. Countless bands perform on five different stages ( and more in the Palace Theatre!) all day to totally dazzle and confuse people like me who want to see it all. You just can't, that's all.

But you can try.

Ruthie Foster, the hometown favorite girl - gone big time, from lil' old Gause, Texas will take the KBTX stage at 3:30 Sunday.,.

And here some of my favorite scenes from Saturday...

Winers and diners meet their match at the Texas Reds Festival. There is no telling how many grapes had to die so that dozens of wineries could offer samples to thousands of wine lovers, doing their Texas best to make them feel the love.

Energetic Este Vato played such infectious music that whole groups broke into spontaneous cluster dancing.

Este Vato

Rockin' The Docs were a real crowd pleaser, attracting one of the largest crowds of fans. They are solid, dynamic and seem to be having as much fun as their audience. And they had cool lights.

This ain't yo mama's Motown... but if she closed her eyes, she would have to admit these guys lay down some passionate, righteous soul, even if only one of them is black... Soul Track Mind proves once and for all that American music is finally colorblind.

Local award winning blues- rockers Tubie and the Touchtones held their own amid all the competition. These three bombarded the downtown canyon with original songs and their own versions of rock classics.

How do you drive an Aggie crazy? Send him to Texas Reds and tell him to find all the rock and roll.

There are numerous artists and craftspersons exhibiting, from as far away as Kansas and California.. Several were very pleased with their sales. Local favorite J. Vincent Scarpace was smiling the most, as he and his sales manager (his brother) enjoyed an especially successful day.

And the best is yet to come! 

BrazoSphere finds a home! ABC40!

I want to welcome ABC40 of Bryan, Texas as my partner in this blog. ABC and I have joined together to give you a ride in the front seat as I explore art and entertainment here in the Brazos Valley. 

Here is a link to our new ad... to be aired soon...
https://vimeo.com/106226907

Russell Cushman Arts and Entertainment

This is "Russell Cushman Arts and Entertainment" by KXXV Media Services on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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With my sculpture in front of Stelzig's at Bush Airport.

I have spent a lifetime immersed in the arts and the history of this region, and believe this is the most intriguing and inspiring place on the earth. 

You can only imagine how excited I am about bringing my stories to a television audience. Before we move on to wonderful things, I want to take just a  moment and introduce myself to you.

You might say my acorn rooted right under the tree. My father was a civic leader and a published Texas historian, and my mother was an antique dealer and accomplished portrait painter. They shaped me into a passionate communicator and encouraged my pursuit of an art career. My family moved from Houston to Grimes County in 1972, and it has been home ever since. Ironically, many of my pioneer ancestors who have always been a great inspiration for me were buried in the 1870's in the Bryan City Cemetery. Now I will be covering their legacy for ABC40, a growing television station committed to covering our local color.

I have been an artist all of my life, and have made art professionally here in the Brazos Valley for almost forty years. I have also worked at various times as a carpenter, sign maker, ranch hand, museum director, and photographer. An artist has to be flexible to survive. I am married and have one daughter, and I have lived in Navasota for 25 years, where I have served the community in various ways, including on the board of the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley and the Navasota City Council.

My mural at Wrangler Steak House.

I have painted waaaay over fifteen thousand square feet of murals in Texas schools, museums and other public places. The Star of the Republic Museum, Houston Baptist University and Blue Bell Creamery are just a few of my mural customers. 

My latest life-sized bronze, of  City Marshal Frank Hamer, in front of Navasota City Hall.

My monumental sculptures adorn neighborhoods all over the place, and especially in my hometown of Navasota.  I have also worked locally as a theater set designer, taught art lessons for thirty years, promoted concerts and managed a six county tourism market sponsored by the National Trust.

I am probably known more to local antique collectors as a source of information on early Texas stoneware. Around one hundred people a day visit my blogs on Texana,  especially on Texas Ranger badges. I am a passionate writer, authoring five different blogs including this one. There is my blues blog: http://brazosvalleyblues.blogspot.com/, my Navasota blog: http://russellcushman.blogspot.com/ , my family blog:http://cushmanroots.blogspot.com/, my art blog: http://russellcushmanart.blogspot.com/, and this one, made especially for ABC40.

ALL of this experience has prepared me to write this blog, called BrazoSphere, which will be your one-stop-shop for local cultural orientation and my impressions of art and entertainment opportunities that will be of interest to YOU! So check out the permanent features at the top... explore our fabulous cultural history!

Let's Go!

DOWNTOWN BRYAN: An Alignment of Stars in the Basement…

of the La Salle Hotel!

Downstairs ... in the Brazos Room.

On the first Sunday evening of every month, Bryan’s top music performers congregate at the bottom of the La Salle Hotel for a jazz jam to die for…  and it is free.  As you take the elevator to the basement you ask yourself, how good can it be, hidden in the bowels of an ancient hotel on a Sunday night? But seven years worth of musical bonding keeps bringing Bryan-College Station’s most devoted music fans back to the basement for their jazz fix.  You quickly realize why!

 Visiting for the first time, veteran performer Misslette Caillouett brought her guitar but read the outstanding sound and set it down... she would just be happy to get to sing with such an All Star band.  “These guys are MONSTERS!” She beamed.

 

Greg Tivis needs four hands to keep up with all of his jazz.

That may have been true, but these monsters brought nothing but pure joy to their audience, who helped transform the lively La Salle Hotel Brazos Room into a 1940’s nightclub. Led by the multi-talented Greg Tivis at the keyboard, mostly local musicians offer up a diverse show of Jazz styles from dixieland to swing to cha cha, with the precision of professionals who know each other-  and the music through years of such revelry.

local music patriarchs Richard Phelps and Jay Brakefield contributed early on... on cornet and clarinet respectively...

And a welcome sight, Hannah Ridgeway, a well-received young female vocalist brought her fresh approach to some jazz classics… some spicy "cha cha" and had the rare thrill of singing with such an inspiring collection of musicians. There is hope for the next generation!

A member of the audience, John Leonard breaks into spontaneous dance at the beginning of "Walkin' Stick."

There were THREE very good sax players, who kept the audience clapping from solo to solo as if it was a High School graduation ceremony. It seems everyone is a multi-tasker…  Tivis will tickle the keys on his keyboard and then suddenly join the brass with his cornet…

Ralph Moncivais on flute

Ralph Moncivais, leader of the RAZZ Band, started with lovely flute riffs and then pulled out his tenor sax and brought down the house with it. And they were just getting warmed up.  Richard Kent is a wonderful clarinetist, but he too cannot resist his saxophone.  And once you hear him play, you will not be able to resist him.

 Richard Kent tearing it up on sax... with Greg Tivis at keyboard, Steve Carr on bass, Randy Watkins on drums, Ken Appelt playing accoustic guitar, Kevin Duff on electric guitar,  and Ralph Moncivais also on sax...

Known more professionally for her country and western performances, it turns out Misslette cut her teeth on jazz and confesses that it is dear to her heart. Manny Lopez of the Texas Twisters helps out on bass.

I recognized drummer Randy Watkins, who took a little break and was able to give me a heads up, when he learned DON POPE, an acknowledged virtuoso on piccolo and flute, and one great soprano sax player from Conroe, had just arrived…  Randy  promised it would be good... and I have learned to trust his judgment about music... What a show!  Paul Fridrich filled in on drums and brought out his big guns...

Greg Tivis explained that he had fewer musicians this time... but we still celebrated the "best of the the best, in these parts." And that was no brag, as they say, just fact. This alignment of stars was pure serendipity, one that he might not have been able to arrange except under rare circumstances.

Don Pope drops by... Some of the best things in life are free... And in this case, the best of the best!

Pure, unrestricted joy... in the basement... Who knew? This monthly event is a well hidden jewel, but YOU CAN DISCOVER IT FOR YOURSELF...

Next month's theme: New Orleans Christmas!

But you have to get out of the house!

BANG FOR THE BUCK!

The warm, sexy light on the ten musicians in the orchestra add constant flair to this production at The Theater Company, as they offer up impeccable sound tracks. Nannette Pope seen here at piano, and John McNally to the far right at percussion.

  

Not exactly behind the scenes at The Theater Company in Bryan are the fascinating bells and whistles which make this venue a top flight experience.

Just completed are a pair of revolving stages, which sometimes spin simultaneously as dancers race into a whirlpool of color and action... I had to ask if them if they ever fall on their keesters...

They do.

But perhaps my favorite thing in the world of entertainment is the orchestra pit... where professional musicians add essential flow and punctuation to every scene. There is no pit.. so the orchestra is placed on the front right... and you can sit right next to them and watch every note as it fires the audience and players.

I was especially pleased to see my friend John McNally on the drums... His finesse is exceeded only by his quiet, gentle manner. And Randy Russell, a sometime visitor to our Friday jam, on bass! Russell also helped build those incredible turntables.

There is something energizing about the excitement of live music when combined with live entertainment... kind of like Texas High School football... but with less bruises.

The Theater Company Orchestra. Another reason to get out of the house!

Young Frankenstein: If you have a funny bone in your body...

 

Roger Pine looms over his fellow players as the monster. He actually dances in those platform shoes!

Howls and screams (of laughter) dominated the spectral atmosphere when Young Frankenstein opened for a limited engagement Friday night in Bryan. Now a regular at The Theater Company, Christopher Rogers plays the straight man among a cast of lovable creeps. A modern-day, kinder-gentler Dr. Frankenstein, he is called back to Transylvania to settle family affairs, only to fall into the same snares as his legendary namesake, THE Dr. Frankenstein.

The rest of the cast is made up of hilarious caricatures, who make great fun out of the Frankenstein legend as they sing, dance and brawl with very respectable artistry, and more importantly a genuine and infectious spirit of fun.

 Christopher Rogers plays Dr. Frankenstein. And that is Fronkinsteen!

Mel Brooks' adaptation of his 1974 cinematic spoof by the same name found a worthy channel of his comic genius in director Randy Wilson, who continues to epitomize my favorite definition of great art; that which requires the least to achieve the most profound results. After twenty years of directing local theater in the Brazos Valley, Wilson seems to prove effortlessly that it does not take huge budgets and high dollar celebrities to produce excellent theater. All it takes is unwavering commitment and willing talent, guided by masterful vision, a combination rare in this world but flowing like a fountain at TTC.

But do not be lured into a trance by my hypnotic accolades... this is adult humor and not a show for the kiddos. If naughty humor offends you, this is not for you. This production is as suggestive, ribald and dirty-minded as Mel Brooks designed it to be- and with hilarious results that he would be proud of.

Adrienne Dobson cutely exudes all that is evil as Elizabeth.

The craftsman-like rendering of this comedy yielded several noteworthy performances and I am forced to limit myself to comment only on a few... Adrienne Dobson is as precious as she is convincing as Elizabeth, a spoiled, contemptible, self-absorbed user, and I decided early that she should be the one destined to be dismembered by the legendary Frankenstein's monster. But in Mel Brook's twisted universe, far more perverse rewards awaited Dr. Frankenstein's frivolous fiance. She maintained her confident narcissism throughout, with the enviable zeal of a mindless teenager. 

Frau Blucher (Cynthia Bradford) ends a scene with a masterful and evocative pose.

Equally unsettling was Cynthia Bradford's version of Frau Blucher, with her evil laughter and hungry fingers, so outrageous were her sexploits that nearby stallions uncontrollably whinny with enthusiasm, at the mention of her name. Bradford cooks her brew with the finesse of a veteran performer, every pose articulated to evoke suspense. Her background in dance continues to reap its rewards.

Igor lights up the monster... and the stage. A poor picture taken by me of a glorious performance by Kent Walters.

 

But my favorite, hands down was Kent Walters, who gave a truly stellar performance as Igor, the devoted half-witted ghoul, who drops and destroys the superior brain obtained for the monster and replaces it with another... not so great specimen. Walters is so fun to watch, the only thing I can compare him to is the weird spasmodic squirrels who terrorize the cartoon movie Ice Age. Both of them. His expressions, delivery, mannerisms, all come from some place beyond mere script or direction. Walters IS Igor. If he does not love this part, it certainly loves him.

Favorite part? When after Dr. Frankenstein brings the monster to life, he gets throttled within an inch of his life... No good deed goes unpunished.

There is too much to try to write... too bad if you cannot get to see this one... Young Frankenstein was a typical showcase of the surprising reservoir of talent which, with Wilson's skill, consistently brings Broadway to Bryan.

Oh! And the time when the blind hermit pours hot soup on the monster's lap... AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHHH... I'm still chuckling... Good job to all concerned.