Greetings, About a year ago, a local rock-a-billy band, the Straight 8s, was looking for a drummer. I knew the band and loved their music, having shared the bill with them numerous times over the years in my previous band. Their guitar player also had a sweet '56 Buick he restored in his driveway, and I had seen him around at shows. So we rehearsed a few times and it seemed like a really good fit. We played some shows together and I knew this was the music I wanted to play, and these were the guys I wanted to play it with. Our upright bass player has family in Dallas, TX and was planning a visit. One night at rehearsal he asks "if I can book a few shows in TX and OK, would you guys be up for a road-trip?" It seemed like a long-shot so we replied "yeah, sure... maybe". One thing lead to another and the Straight 8s were asked to headline the 4th Annual Okie Twistoff on Saturday, August 7th. Hot damn! Like going to Paso for kustoms, I always dreamed of going to Austin for live music. Making it to the Roundup would be incredible, but just hitting S. Congress and catching a few bands at The Continental Club would be bad-ass. Austin is a long damn way from North Carolina, but it's only about three hours from Dallas. So, I started scheming on trying to book a show in Austin, to help justify traveling that far west prior to the Twistoff. Again, one thing lead to another and thanks to a recommendation from Zman and a few emails/phone calls with the very gracious Steve W., the Straight 8s are booked to play The Continental Club on Friday, August 6th at 10:00, opening for the incredible Two Hoots and a Holler. Just typing that last sentence and even re-reading it a few times is pretty surreal. While the Straight 8s may not be a household name in TX/OK, we have opened for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Supersuckers, and Southern Culture on the Skids. We have also shared the stage with Dex Romweber, Dale Watson, Hank III, Legendary Shack Shakers, Hillbilly Casino, King Memphis, and many more. It'd be great to meet some HAMBers while we're in town, so definitely come up and say hi if you make it to a show. We'll be easy to spot... the three guys with beers in one hand, instruments in the other, and shit-eating grins as wide as Texas. -murph http://www.straght8s.com http://www.continentalclub.com http://www.okietwistoff.com
Holy shit - there are two bands with the same name - a long time hot rodder and singer out here - Victor O'Neil - has had his band for over twenty years, I go the vinyl to prove it!!! Anyone know a good lawyer???
Yeah, those guys are solid and definitely a band we're honored to have the same name as. There have been a few rare occasions where each band has gotten email that was intended for the other, but for the most part, being on opposite sides of the globe takes care of that. In the back of my mind, I'm seeing a pilot for a reality tv show where the bands trade contintents and play dates on each other's calendar. Failing that, it'd be cool as hell to just play a few shows together. -murph
Great story ! Steve is a great guy...with a cool Gary Howard-Built '57 Caddy. He usually gets to the KKOA Lead Sleds in Salina, and drives there too ! I played drums for many years myself; got to play on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood back in 1962. SO, Murph, I know "Dreams Do Come True !" Best of luck to you & the crew, Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net
Heard Casualties of Cool a few years ago over at a friends house.....GREAT stuff! Looking forward to the show in Austin!
Murph, I haven't seen or heard from you for a long time now I find that you you are the drummer for The "fuckin'" Straight 8's!!! You truly are awesome! You will love Austin. I loved the Roundup and Congress blew my mind. Have fun!! BloodyKnuckles BTW...nobody cares about Z-man...
The Straight 8s have their sights set on TX and OK next week. The incomparable Igor did us the honor of creating a bad-ass flyer to commemorate our upcoming show at The Continental Club in Austin, with Two Hoots and Holler. Hope to see some HAMBers on the 6th! -murph
Look forward to seeing you guys at the Okie Twist Off soon! Always a great show with great music and cars. Look for you there and will bring you a Pig Eye Ice for good measure!
Yeah awesome *yawn* hope they show in Texas... they cancelled on 2 gigs I had them lined up for last summer with less than 24 hours notice- so good luck with all that! Bottom line- Robert don't like/won't/doesn't travel beyond his neighborhood so be ready for a last minute shit storm Murph. (In all fairness what happened to my club occured before Murph and the up right bass player in the band now- were in the band... last summer they had a different drummer and bass player and Robert decided to dissolve the band and find new guys- whilst shitting on my club by not showing for our party... I'm pretty good friends with the last up right bass player so... if shit goes south on the Texas gig then Murph and the current bass player will not be to blame... it's all Robert)
Shit happens in life and you either move on or get mired down in it. Somebody throw this guy a tow chain. -murph
Well if you had been on my end of it Murph I'm sure you would have felt differently. All I'm saying is be prepared man...
Thanks for looking out for my best interests. Seems like a PM would have been more effective than shitting on my thread, but I'm guessing that wasn't your intention. Oh, and welcome to the HAMB... did you join this month just to show your ass on this thread? -murph
Murph- my intention was not to shit on your thread or to shit on you... but having been shit on by Robert and former iterations of the the "Straight 8's"- and there have been many members of this band- I simply felt compelled to warn you, fans and venue/event owners alike that they may have problems- last summer was not the first time- I had them lined up a couple of years back and Robert backed out- luckily that time with a couple of months notice not the 24 hours we got last year. I'm just saying man... If you were to get some shodder body work done and saw the guy on here advertising his business wouldn't you be compelled to say something? Seriously man- relax- hopefully Robert has matured and is willing to spread out to other locales- the music is great- I love the music Robert has written and the sound of the band- they'll be a real treat for everyone at the show... if they show. That's all I'm saying man... I won't say anymore.
Sorry Murph but all bands in OKC have beers in one hand and instruments in the other. We will just listen for the bad accents and enjoy every damn minute of you guys playing. Thanks for booking our show
Just a quick shout-out to HAMBers who might have made it to one of our shows in TX or OK. We had an unbelievably good time and as feared, the four days went by in the blink of an eye. Special thanks to Steve, Becky, Celeste, and the amazing soundman (damn, forgot his name) at The Continental Club. Two Hoots and a Holler rocked mightily and I thoroughly enjoyed their set. Met some really cool people and it was great to run into folks who had moved to Austin from NC and GA several years ago and came out to see us. Y'all rock! The Okie Twistoff is definitely one of the most fun car shows I've had the pleasure of attending. Great variety of cars, bikes, art, music, and people in attendance. It's a shame the '66 Bowl will soon be history, but Straight 8s are proud to have been a small part of it's final sendoff. Big thanks to Steve and John for inviting us out to play, and hope to see you boys at Elvis Fest in January in Chapel Hill, NC Also, Oldguard... your truck was so freakin' cool in person. I stopped by a few times during the day, but never saw you. Hope you dug the tunes. I still don't know what the hell a Pig Eye Ice is, but I probably made up for it in ice-cold High Lifes. It had to be what? 100+ degrees on Saturday? Come on, say it with me "but it's a dry heat". LOL -murph
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