Rosado Customs

Since the debut of my Rosado Customs at the House of Blues Las Vegas Country Throwdown, there have been so many of you asking who made this amazing bass and where did it come from. Well, microwave some popcorn and read on.

I met Gil Rosado by chance. Needing some repair work done on one of my precious Ernie Ball's and not knowing where to go, a guitar player friend of mine took me over to see Gil. He came out of the backroom, smiled, shook my hand, looked me dead in the eye and asked how he could be of help to me. I sort of cocked my head, because out of his mouth, came this New York style accent. Now mind you, I have never liked New York, nor do I have a desire to visit New York. Anyone that I have ever come in contact with that had a New York accent, just put me off and acted all holier than thou (Hey, please read on-Gil has changed my mind and perception!). I asked him a hundred questions because I wasn't going to leave anything of mine with anyone I didn't trust. Gil took the time to listen, repeated what my concerns were to me, and offered suggestions for improvement, but insisted, if I wasn't comfortable, it wouldn't be done. His customer service, and what I later found out, his love for the bass guitar, is what sets Gil apart from anyone I have ever spoken to or dealt with. This guy is the real deal. So real, that his clientele is a veritable Who's Who of Las Vegas musicians and touring artists that come  through town. In advance of the House of Blues show, Gil asked if I was good with the bass. I told him there was a bit of tweaking that I wanted to have done, but because of time, I wasn't able to hook up with him. I said the bass was at 90%. He told me that 90% wasn't good enough for anything with his name on it. Guess who showed up at the House of Blues wanting to make sure his baby was 100%? Yup, the Master Luthier himself, Gil Rosado. That is a show of commitment and excellence that is unheard of nowadays. After the show, I had gotten into a little Tete-a-Tete with some of the crew at the House of Blues. They were wondering what kind of active electronics I had in the bass because I was clipping most of their gear, and, they hadn't had such a hot bass in the mix for quite a while. I told them it wasn't active, it was passive. They didn't believe me. I actually had to prove it to them. (Gil was one proud papa when I told him that!)

Well, without further ado, here are some of the specs on this one of a kind Rosado Custom:

• Maple neck with Rosewood board
• Double P routed Alder body
• Hipshot Ultralight tuners
• Hipshot Kickass bridge
• DiMarzio CS pickups
• Concentric controls
• Sprague Orange Drop caps
• Switchcraft jack
• Anodized aluminum pickguard
• Bone nut
• Custom hand pinstriping
• Onset relic
• SIT strings

If you want your very own customer build, made to your exact specs, or need repair done on any of your instruments (Mandolins included), see Gil Rosado. He is old school, cares, and wants you to sound your very best. There is no other. Nobody else touches anything of mine.

Gil is only a quick contact away. Tell him I sent you! Get a hold of him through my endorsements page or go directly to: www.facebook.com/rosadorepairs

A 25 Year Love Affair

Sometimes, you never know, when and where you will meet someone.

Here is a person that changed my musical landscape forever.

In 1992, a rep from MCA, who I knew from "the industry", gave me a video cassette and a promotional CD of a brand new artist. This artist was soon to be launched by Impact Records and I was being asked what I thought of her talent. We popped that brand new video into the VCR and it was only an intro and a verse before I was “all in” on this artist. I had heard female vocalists before, but this one, became my immediate favorite. Still to this day, I would put her talents up against anyone. How impressed was I? I still have the video cassette, promotional CD, and some other really hard to find product for that time. After all, she was from Canada.

It wasn’t long after that "artist review", Sass Jordan literally came walking into my life. I was working when I saw her and she needed some help. We talked, chatted, and before we knew it, she had to be back on her way. In only a few hours, she was going to be opening for Joe Cocker. As we said our goodbyes, she took my name and said that tickets would be waiting for me at the door. Back in the day, this didn’t happen too often (at least to me) and I was more than excited about it all. Her show? It was amazing. One of the few times, I can honestly say, that an artist’s performance was better than the recorded album.

She had come back to Vegas in support of another tour. This time though, I had gotten tickets the old fashioned way. I bought them. There I was, up front, at the stage, ready to enjoy another performance of hers. Back in the car, was the video cassette and promotional CD from my first introduction to Sass. I was hoping to get them autographed after the concert (look again, you will see them signed). The show was again flawless. And for a brief moment, I could have sworn that she looked at me and recognized me. I let that thought go, because really? She would remember me? After the show, I scoped out the area and figured out where she would have to leave the venue and get to her tour bus. Not too stalkerish, eh? She did come out and I was surprised that there weren’t too many fans around. She saw that I had brought some things and I asked her if she wouldn’t mind signing them. As she did that, I brought up our first encounter and thanked her again for “hooking me up” with tickets. She looked at me, with a bit of what I thought/hoping was remembrance, smiled, and said, “You’re very welcome. It was my pleasure.” “Hope you enjoyed the shows.”

Let’s fast forward through 25 years.

I can't even begin to say how many times I have played three of my favorite songs of hers: "Make You a Believer", "High Road Easy", and "Pissing Down". But I can say, I have never tired of those songs and only hope to meet up with someone who can sing the crap out of those tunes and play them again live.

Thank you Sass Jordan for what you do. Thank you for being so kind to someone you didn’t even know. And most of all, I hope to see you again in Las Vegas for the 25th Anniversary tour of “Racine”. Maybe you can finish signing the last of my stuff.

P.S.-if you ever need a bass player...

From St. Charles, IL to Living a Dream

A High School mate, John Roehlk, who always was, and still is an amazing, genuine person, posted something today about how long ago he had graduated. I walked down that gym floor, in cap and gown, a year after he did. What he wrote got me to thinking about where I was then and where I am today. I feel extremely grateful for what has transpired, because, without really knowing it then, I was setting myself up to live a dream that I had no idea I was going to have.

The picture you see above was posted the day I decided to go from a regular day to day working kind of guy to pursuing a passion-Living My Dream-and not looking back because I didn't want to say to myself later on in life..."What if...". To finally decide to try and fly, I had to look back, take everything into consideration, close my eyes, take a deep breath, hold my wife's hand, and jump. It's scary, trust me, but when you finally are able to rely upon yourself for everything, to pursue a true passion, life opens up, dreams come true, and the experiences are ones that you could never imagine. The book, they say, starts to write itself.

When I was born, St. Charles, IL was a town of 9269 people. It was nestled near corn fields with only your imagination and neighborhood friends to occupy your time. And so true of the times, the street lamps let you know when it was time go home. It was a simple life. High School came and unknowingly the dream began to take seed. Soccer teams, more friends, parties, and...music. My first recollection of live music was being invited to a house by Ralf Kinscheck and listening to his band rehearse. And, it was him who loaned me many of his prized LP's to listen to because I had just discovered Rock n Roll. The albums were amazing. I, for some reason, remember particularly putting Foreigner on and getting lost. Then came the albums of Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, and this list went on from there. Music was beginning to flow in my blood and to this day, it has never left. I have to thank Ralph for going out of his way to do this for me then, and to John for making me remember today.

Since those days, as I have said many times in the past, I have been an extremely fortunate musician. Playing music with my heroes on stage, meeting some of the most influential people in Nashville, sharing stage billing with A List artists, and being the first number on speed dial so that MY band was called to be THE entertainment for many other artists in town or out of town. When I look at all of that, how can you not be humbled. Trust me, this didn't come easy, but with hard work and effort, when you jump off of that cliff, you will be able to fly.

So for all of you who have a passion, who have a desire, it is worth it. It's worth putting yourself out there. You find out who you really are and what you are capable of. Believe me when I say, you will be amazed to find out that you are capable of doing what you never thought you could. And when you finally get to do it, see the culmination of all your hard work and effort come to fruition, you just might have to sit down, like I did, give a little cry of appreciation and thank the good Lord for giving you wings to fly.

Here are only some of the folks that I have been blessed to share time with, professionally and personally, in this dream of mine...

Little Big Town

Dierks Bentley

Jack Ingram

Jason Aldean

Brett Eldredge

Big and Rich

Chris Stapleton

Luke Bryan

Parmalee

Love and Theft

Dwight Yoakam

Reba McEntire

Kenny Rogers

Randy Travis

Aaron Watson

Sarah Darling

Me, Jason Aldean, and only One Degree of Separation

Jason Aldean's song, "A Little More Summertime", came on the radio today while I was driving around Las Vegas, and it made me remember my last trip to Music City, USA and how I came so close - six times - in one visit, to hanging with the man himself. If anything, I am "well known" to his entourage and inner circle.

The picture that you see attached is the original chart for Jason's song, "A Little More Summertime". It was given to me at the studio where his band recorded the song earlier that day. This studio, by the way, is the same studio that Rowdy McCarran recorded his album, "Eyes Wide Open", which I was fortunate enough to be a part of. Now check this out, the guitar player on Rowdy's Album is none other than Jason's guitar player Adam Shoenfeld. Adam and I got along famously for about ten minutes one day, in the studio parking lot, chatting up a storm about music, life, and time on the road before he had to drive off to his next session.

On another day, again back in the studio, I was hanging out and listening to Montgomery Gentry cut their latest single. Next to the control room is the kitchen. And in the kitchen, there are windows where you can see through the control room and into the studio where the musicians are being recorded. Through that glass I see Jason's drummer, Rich Redmond, banging away and goofing off. As I go over to the window, trying to find the perfect angle to take a totally unobtrusive photo, I literally bump into Tully Kennedy, Jason's Aldean's bass player. I turn around, see him, apologize, and watch him roll his eyes as if to say..."fans, can't get away from them". Don't worry though, I talked him down off of that ledge. We are good!

So count them, so far, five instances where I am only one degree of separation away from Jason: the music chart, the studio, Adam Shoenfeld, Rich Redmond and Tully Kennedy.

Now the sixth instance, well... its more like five and a half, since I actually saw Jason in the flesh. I call it a half, because he/we didn't actually, technically...meet. 

We were at Luke Bryan's home in Franklin, TN. No, really, we were, here is a picture of his mailbox:

I have his address memorized, but have been sworn to secrecy...and a promised beat down if I ever gave it out without permission.

Anyway, we are pulling out of the driveway and getting ready to make a left. As we look right, we see a big, I take that back...huge, black truck driving towards us on the road that you see above. There is honking and flashing lights as the vehicle begins to slow down and pull over. As the truck gets closer, you can see the tinted window open and out pops Jason himself. Waving, smiling, wearing his ball cap backwards, and hanging halfway out that window. One look at us though, he jumped back in, rolled up the window and took off. I think the peel out marks are still on that road. Pretty funny though, I now know exactly what kind of truck Luke Bryan owns. Jason made it pretty obvious by wanting to stop and say hi. He thought we were Luke! It's a great story. One day I hope I get to tell him in person.

And finally, the Coup de gras of all Coup de gras, the way in to finally meet him, hang with him and possibly even play with him. As many of you know, We (Rowdy McCarran) are sponsored by the folks over at Outlaw Energy. We are one of only two musical artists that are partnered with them. Guess, who the other is...yup, you are right, Jason Aldean.

Now tell me, how in the world can I still be only one degree away from him? It should have happened by now! He and I, buds. Exchanging Christmas cards. Prank phone calls. Family functions. The wives hanging out and shopping together. Being in each others music videos. Huntin', Fishin', and all that other stuff that goes along with it. I blame it all on the Chicago Cubs. Now that they have won the World Series, the famous "Wait 'til Next Year" slogan, is officially mine.

Visit Outlaw Energy at: www.outlawenergy.com and check them out on Facebook.

2016 WAS PRETTY AMAZING!

2016 started off with a bang and it ended with one too! With all of the stuff that happened in-between, I was fortunate enough to have taken some copious notes so I could remember what happened. Who knows, maybe those scribblings will turn into a story one day. Nothing like sitting in a rocking chair, on the porch of a 100-acre ranch, sipping sweet tea and listening to Mother Nature sing a song that only she knows how to sing. Now that right there, is a quiet and calm that I can deal with on a daily basis. The hustle and bustle of life can get to you, make you crazy, stress you out, do things that you shouldn't do, and try to get you to play catch up in life's race against time. I have always had a mantra, and it goes like this: "Church, Jesus, and the Cracker Barrel." Maybe soon, I can put sitting on a porch and loving life, in that fourth spot.

The year took off like a rocket. Just a couple of days in we were jumping into "Redneck One" and driving to Nashville for our record label showcase. Third and Lindsley was our first show, and I was sure honored to have played on the stage that many of the greatest Nashville and Country Music artists gave their all on. After that we hit downtown Nashville and took over Margaritaville where a packed house was waiting. The energy was amazing and the crowd electric. If I could have bottled any of that up and sold it, I would already be retired.

The rest of the year, our highlights, went something like this:

We were able to open for Parmalee. Was the after party band for Chris Stapleton in the Vinyl Showroom at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Had Love & Theft open for us while we were in Oregon, and, we got to play the world famous Gilley's Saloon and Dance Hall.

Our new sponsors gave us immense support throughout the year. Those folks at Outlaw Energy Drink, HeadBlade, Unstrung Heroes, Espresso Post, Brightwater Fly Angler and Sin City Presents, had our backs and we can't thank them enough for everything they did.

For me personally, I was able to live out some dreams of playing with some heroes of mine-Andrew Tierney of Human Nature and Blas Elias of Slaughter. Plus, spend an unforgettable Sunday with Carrie Underwood and her husband Mike Fisher attending church service at Rolling Hills Church in Franklin, TN.

Speaking of church:

I need to give thanks to Central Summerlin Church, South Hills Church Community and Walk Church, for allowing me to use my God given talents in worship on many Sundays where I needed it probably more so than any of the parishioners. I have always felt that being able to help lead worship at church gave a great ending to my previous week, and an awesome head start to the days that were to come. There is such a sense of calm and clarity that comes to me when I attend. I don't know what I would do without it.

But to all of you! Who have followed and been a part of this journey with me, I want to thank you. Without you, this dream wouldn't be happening and without your support, it couldn't continue. May God Bless you all and have a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year!

Let us see together, what 2017 has in-store!

"Model-ing" and "Spokesperson-ing"

There are times, whether you like it or not, that an idea pops into your head, and you have to decide, "What are you going to do about it?" I don't know about you, but in the past, no matter what brilliant, hair-brained or fantastical thoughts came about, I was going to do it no matter the consequences. I have been in trouble, I have done things that my mother would have grounded me for, and, I have been in rooms where some folks come out of with broken fingers or bones. BUT, I have never had my picture on a post office wall! Some folks thought I would end up there. Life isn't over...not quite yet...there still might be time to fulfill others dreams.

In this adventure called music, I worked hard on relationships that would benefit the band. You have to sit there and think, "Who or what can I cozy up with that would be mutually beneficial?" With country music, many things go hand in hand, I won't list all of them, because you can figure them out, but the one I was most interested in, and the one with the most far reaching potential, the one which made me drool, which I knew everyone would love, was whiskey. Who could I reach out to? I started locally, but because of distribution, most of the products would lead you back to the big makers. Once there, it was tough to get anyone's attention because we simply weren't a huge act or on a major tour. So, what did I do? I searched Canada. That makes sense doesn't it? It did to me!

We were already working with two brands way up in the Great White North, (eh)? One sponsor is a coffee brand called Espresso Post. Visit them please while you are up in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. They have best tasting coffee anywhere!

website: http://www.espressopost.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/espressopost

And the second sponsor is Unstrung Heroes. UH is an independent web series about found family, friendship, and the lives we build while following our dreams. They are just about to launch season three and I personally cannot wait for it.

youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf26_vJ-v6U6YYTv_R8iZ4w

website: http://www.unstrungheroes.tv/

Facebook: at https://www.facebook.com/UnstrungHeroesShow

Once you start watching this series, you will be bingeing until every episode is seen. I warn you now, get the popcorn and soda ready!

Sorry, I digressed, where was I? Branding...I found out about Collingwood Whisky. Locally made, locally produced, locally packaged, and it has a small hometown feel to it, just like the city it was named after. Not to mention that it goes great with coffee and episodes of UH. After reaching out to them, I decided it was photo shoot time because I felt that they needed to update their ad campaign! I got my favorite photographer, more on her in another blog, and we set out to make the best ads ever for this product so they would have to say, "Yes, we love you! We want to work with you! You are the answer to our dreams!" After primping, and showering, and doing hair and make up, mirrors and lights, finding out what was my best side, we ventured out.

It was hot that day, but, I had to stay cool, very cool, for this was going to be our future, this was going to put us on the map! Many shots were taken, various sites were visited and in the end, we got some amazing photos. I was really proud of what was done and how we went about doing it. After putting a package together, I sent it off and they are still going over it as we speak. Wouldn't it be great to have a lifetime supply of Collingwood Whisky in your cupboards? Oh yes it would!

The above photo is my personal favorite, and another one was taken, of ...my ass, which was entered into a photo competition by the above referenced, soon to be disclosed, photographer. And would you believe it? My butt made it into the finals and was prominently on display for four weeks, for the whole world to see! In the "end", it didn't get a ribbon, but it sure was cool to be considered among other great works.

I don't have any idea where I am going with this anymore, so, all I would like to say is, go for it. Just go for it. You have an idea? You think it'll do you some good? You think that it will take you someplace? You think you will get some enjoyment out of it? Take a chance and do it. Bet on yourself and try. If you don't, who will?

Stage Companions

In this adventure called music, I have been able to do some things that I only dreamed about back in the day. Those early days of lessons, rehearsing, woodshedding , sore fingers and blisters, brought me to where I am today. Those hours of listening, learning, trying and trying again until I finally was able to play what I needed to, delivered the confidence that I needed to emulate some of my favorite artists. I would like to think that preparedness, humbleness, humility, hard work, along with some good old fashioned luck, got me onto the stages with some heroes, mentors, and folks that I had looked up to for a very long time. But, I have to add in grit, determination and making sure I was ready for anything. Nothing ever comes easy to me, I simply have to work hard to get better. It's like that phrase that keeps going around. It goes something like, "The only person you should try being better than, is the person you were yesterday." I have come a long way, and there is still a road of learning and adventure ahead. I am looking forward to those experiences and I have to thank the following for sharing their stage time with me...

John Rich

(Big and Rich)

Andrew Tierney

(Human Nature)

Frank DiMino

(Angel)

Blaise Sison

(Musical Director, The Family Stone)

Blas Elias

(TSO, Slaughter, Blue Man Group)

Felice Garcia

(Million Dollar Quartet)

Rowdy McCarran

(Nashville Recording Artist)

Kristi Warner

(Nashville Recording Artist)

Timothy Dunfield

(Finding Faith)

Jak Paris

(CSI:NY, Jak Paris)

Andre Paular

(Hillsong)

In Memorium Melanie Vaughn June 2016

June 19th was the last day of an incredible fight that Melanie had taken on that started in April. We saw her at an event and she was complaining of stomach pains. It concerned us because Mel has a super high tolerance of pain. We know, because she really let us have it at times. Her compassion and love for us was what we had always used as inspiration to keep doing what we do. It was fuel for our fire, it was the wind that filled our sails and it was the strength that kept us moving in times of seeing nothing happening for us at all.

Dennis, her husband, brought her to the Emergency Room because she couldn’t take anymore. And within seven days, we had seen Mel deteriorate so quickly that she was put on life support just days before Mother’s Day. One troubling and difficult night, we were called in because the doctor’s thought that she wouldn’t make it. In an ICU room, where usually two people are allowed, there were about twenty of us wishing and praying for her to somehow pull through and live to fight another day. I don’t know if it was her, or God, or us, or a combinations of everything, but she fought on and eventually got well enough to come off of life support and begin recovery. Times were still difficult, drugs were many, thought processes weren’t coherent, but we had Mel back and she was on her way to getting out of bed and making her way back home.

She was well enough to leave ICU and the hospital to go to a rehab facility. About a week in, Melanie was again rushed to the hospital because of complications and work began on her again for recovery number two.

We saw progress, she was getting better, she was becoming coherent. She yelled at Dennis and she yelled at me. Mel was back! This was great news. We were happy to hear her voice and see her smile, and above all, the animated way she would roll her eyes whenever we would say something foolish. The best part, Dennis saying something and then Melanie flipping him off. If we only could have gotten a picture of that!

A second rehab facility was ready for her and we all went with open arms and hearts to help her again on the road to recovery. This place was nice. It had good food, the staff was excellent and knew how to handle Mel when she wasn’t “in the mood” to do any of the therapy. They got her sitting up, moving, balancing on the edge of the bed and even sitting in a chair. It was like winning the Gold Medal at the Olympics for all of us to see this.

On a visit, as we walked in, we saw that she was tired, but she had just gotten back from PT and were told that she had ridden a bike. Holy crap! How freaking awesome was that? Pedaling her way to the finish line. She was ready to be out of the hospital and get home.

Later that night, she had chest x-rays taken and they noticed that there was fluid in one of her lungs. Since this facility didn’t have the means to do this procedure, she was once again taken to a hospital. From the time that chest x-ray was taken, to the time they took another one in the ER, her lung had filled with fluid. Emergency procedures were done to relieve this, but we didn’t know that this was the beginning of the end. She crashed as they were working on her. The medical staff, to their amazing credit and quick thinking, got her stabilized. Everything was looking so good, that they had time to take a quick bite after hours of work on her. During that time though, Mel called for Dennis twice, and those would be the last words that anyone would hear from her.

The cancer that was inside of her was taking hold and not letting go. It was getting aggressive and working its way through her body at such an alarming rate that it was attacking her whole being. The scourge of cancer. The finality of it. The beast that it is. We only wish that we could grab a hold of it and kick it's ass. Knock it back to where it came from and never see it again.

This time Mel wasn’t so lucky. There wasn’t much more fight in her. She tried though. Tried as hard as her body would let her. She wasn’t willing to go and she definitely wasn’t ready to take her last breath. We told her she could be with the Lord, but she stared right back and shook her head no. She wanted to stay and fight on.

A second time she had to go on life support. One cannot imagine what it looks like unless you have been through it already and have seen it with your own eyes. The machines, the beeping, the background noise. All of it invading your subconscious and the only time you wouldn’t hear it, was when you were praying for her or speaking to her and letting her know how much you cared and loved her.

Melanie was still strong though. She fought until her family was able to make it to town and be with her.

We were there when she was taken off of life support. We were there when she took her last breath. We were there to witness the miracle of one woman taking on the fight of a lifetime.

If we could all only learn from her. If we could all only take a look at our lives everyday and decide what is important and what isn’t important.  What fight is worth fighting for and what ones  we should just simply give up and move away from. Does it really matter to always be right, or is it better to be happy? Decide what battle is important and let the other ones go. Our hangups, our arguments, our jealousies, our petty selfish thoughts about how we don’t have what we want goes against what life is all about. Right? We should enjoy life and enjoy those that are in it. We can have differences, but as adults, we are intelligent enough to know that compromise is a key to happiness and maturity. It works. It’s been proven and in the end, we are all better for it.

What Mel has taught me is invaluable. Strength, courage, the desire to live life to its fullest. Give a hug, accept a hug. Be happy. Smile and laugh whenever you want. Let the small things go. Kiss someone you care for on the cheek or forehead and tell them “I love you and appreciate you.” You should, because one day, you will never ever be able to do it again.

Parmalee May 2016

Here we go again with another, I am sitting at a happy hour, drinking margaritas and I get a text message. I look at it, choke on the straw, and that drink is all over the table in no time flat. What could that text possibly have said?

“How would you like to open for Parmalee?”

Of course, being calm, cool, and collected, I checked our schedule, knowing full well that the date was going to be open, and quickly responded: “When and Where?”

We have been working hard at this band thing. Very hard for over six years now. All that hard work is starting to show and we are getting calls for shows instead of making them and asking. I won’t stop making those phone calls, but it sure is nice to have your phone ring once in awhile. And when you notice the number, and know who it is calling, you always smile because after you say “Hello”, there is another opportunity to help make things happen.

It took no time to get the paperwork signed and delivered. We were on our way to opening for another major artist and we were going to have fun.

We got there, huge outdoor amphitheater, great staff, huge green room, food, drink, and a clean bathroom that works (you have no idea how much that means to a band). We were waiting for Parmalee to finish their soundcheck, and like little mice with a plan, we scurried on stage and got our gear set up waiting for the go to check levels. Because, once levels are attained, you know the big boom is going to come once they open up that channel, and you get to hit your first note and feel the stage and walls shake, it's like thunder coming down. There is nothing better than playing at full concert volume. For most of you, who don’t get to be up on stage, what you hear as an audience member is quite different than what you hear on stage during the show. We can actually talk to each other, yell things on the fly, and still feel the rush of air coming from our amps, side fills and monitors. What a rush!

As usual, the time flew by. Before we knew it, our set was done and it was time to clear the stage for the boys of the evening. Parmalee is a great group of guys. Down to earth, humble, respectful, and are working just as hard as we are to “make it”. They though, are a little further up the road than we are since they already have three top ten hits. Five Albums and four videos made for CMT. They were very encouraging to us and really liked what we did.

We hung out in the crowd during the Parmalee show and the fans treated us like we were rock stars. Asking for photos and autographs. Sure is a great feeling to see a little kid come up and shyly ask for a photo. I remember those days like it was yesterday. Heck, I felt like that as both bands were passing each other backstage. Saying hello, slapping high fives, what’s up’s, and have a great show.  Playing music, there is no better feeling.

Vinyl Showroom at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino April 2016

Opportunity presents itself anytime and anywhere. You just have to keep your eyes open and react when you see it. Don’t let things pass you by. Don’t think about doing it tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come and you just might not remember what it was that you were suppose to remember.

I was at a happy hour with friends, enjoying the start of another weekend and putting a very busy week of band stuff behind me. I expected nothing more but some margaritas, chips, salsa, and live music. The corner of the room had a TV monitor that was showing an entertainment schedule, and as I looked up, I saw a name that I recognized from a long, long, time ago…over twenty years ago. You see, I moved to Vegas way back then, took a job and met a manager who had a band. I went to many of their shows, and after they broke up, lives went on and each of us took separate paths, which amazingly, these many years later, were going to cross again.

I looked him up and saw that he was in the entertainment industry. He also was “the guy” that did the booking of bands for some of the best venues in town. I sat there, wondering how incredible it was that this happened because all I wanted to do was get out of the house, meet some friends and have a beverage.

I sent him an email, and the next day he reached back out to me. I told him how I saw his name and reminded him of stories that he and I had those so many years ago. Crazy, we both thought, but here we are, and what I had, was something that he was looking for. We exchanged information and I thought it would be a while before I heard from him again. Well, it didn’t take long, the next day he sent an email and asked if we wanted to do the after party for Chris Stapleton. By the time I got back to him, only minutes later, the spot was already filled. I thanked him for thinking about us, and went back about business. Funny now that I think about it, I was at another happy hour, drinking margaritas, and he texted letting me know that the spot opened up again. We jumped on it and had only a few days to prepare. What excitement. The thrill of the initial call, the disappointment of getting told no, back to the high of hearing “Yes, you guys got it”.

This whole thing happened because I looked up and saw a TV hanging on a wall. Opportunity, if you aren’t prepared, will never happen. Being in the right place at the right time? Go somewhere and have a margarita.

Kristi Warner February 2016

Treasure Isle Studios friend and recording artist, Kristi Warner, was in Las Vegas and she decided to visit and get in some rehearsal time with Rowdy and the band.

Kristi is a product of “West Coast Country Rock” and she hails from Clovis California, about 100 miles north of Bakersfield, CA. That infamous central California town that gave rise to “The Bakersfield Sound” and “West Coast Country Artists” such as: Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, Bill Woods, Gary Allen, and of course Buck Owens. And now, the latest in this line of amazing artists is Miss Kristi Warner. A raven-haired young beauty, with a voice of limitless vocal emotion and power, all woven together with accents and influence from Kristi’s favorite ladies of country: Reba, Wynonna, Martina, Loretta, and Dolly, combined with the mix and stylings from her favorite classic ladies of rock: Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar, and Stevie Nicks.

Midway through 2007 Kristi made the decision to move to Nashville. After her arrival, Kristi quickly earned the attention of some of Nashville’s top songwriters and musicians. Over the course of that year, Kristi performed her way into various traditional venues and stages across Nashville which included: Douglas Corner, The Listening Room, Tootsies, C.R.S-Country Radio, Blue Bird Café, Third & Lindsley, 12th & Porter, and numerous Open-Mic & Writer-Nite’s. 2007 also saw Kristi finish the production of her first music video, “One of the Boys” - a song off her 1st EP-Project. Both the song and music video made the finals of the “CMT - Music City Madness” contest.

Since that time, Kristi has received accolades by numerous Nashville industry executives, producers and songwriters, as well as mainstream artists Dierks Bentley, Porter Howell of Little Texas, and Grammy winner, Linda Davis. This California Gal plans to keep the positive coming more than ever.

Complete with signature songs, powerful vocals that reach out and emotionally grip you, she’s putting a finely sharpened edge to her already distinctive emotional vocal talents. So stay tuned, you’ll soon be hearing a lot about Miss Kristi Warner.

3rd & Lindsley Nashville January 2016

It was a pile in the truck kind of road trip for the boys when they were told to be in Nashville, TN for their record label showcase at 3rd & Lindsley, one of Music City’s most prominent venues.

This showcase was the culmination of five years of work. Rowdy started out in the dives, bars, and clubs of Las Vegas, and now, he had the opportunity to bring to Nashville what Las Vegas already knew, a great talent with showmanship that can be duplicated by no other.

The two and a half day trip brought many stories as one could imagine. From almost falling over the edge of Hoover Dam, to the snows of Flagstaff, the fish-tailing on black ice in Gallup, getting hit on in the bathrooms of an Arkansas truck stop, to the below freezing weather (14 degrees mind you) of Nashville. It was a trip to remember. Not to mention the amount of food that was eaten in the Denny’s, Cracker Barrel’s and Waffle Houses along Route 40. Good thing the truck cab had windows. That’s for sure.

We pulled into town and the first stop was Treasure Isle Recorders, the studio that recorded Rowdy’s album. All the gear was brought in, set up and turned on. We all couldn’t wait to make some noise in that most famous place. The next day found us back in the studio, going through the set list and making some last minutes changes that we knew would catch the ears of the labels and talent agents that were going to be showing up.

The day of the showcase was electric. Everyone was showered, shaved, and had their best clothes on. The green rooms were huge, everything you could ask for or desire, and a palpable excitement could be felt in the building. You could sense the tension coming from the crowd. How can these Las Vegas kids possibly be good enough to play in Nashville? Well, we showed them. They were up on their feet and trying to sing along to songs that they were hearing for the first time. It was a pretty amazing feeling being up there as we were putting it all on the line and leaving every bit of ourselves on that stage. Not only did we pull in crowds and curiosity seekers from Nashville, but we got to meet and see folks from: Warner, Curb, Black River, Blackbird, Broken Bow, Sony/RCA, Big Machine, William Morris and Artisan, just to name a few. Many of the writers from the album were there and they were so excited and appreciative to hear how we played their songs and how it was the way that they envisioned the songs to be. For all of us, it was quite a humbling experience to know that we are the carriers of hopes and dreams for many people and they, in turn, really support and truly believe in what we are doing.

Music, it is something that you have live, not just listen to.

Valley View Live November 2015

Today saw us on ABC’s KTNV Channel 13’s Valley View Live! one more time.

Rowdy, along with bass player Gerhard Krause, were interviewed by the hosts of Valley View Live! and Todd Michaels, Disc Jockey of 102.7 The Coyote. They talked about family, fans, friends, Nashville, the hidden gems one finds there, the difference between Las Vegas and Nashville, and where you will be able to hear the band play before they leave for Music City, USA.

This was the second time that Channel 13 had asked them to perform for ABC. They have quickly become the band that Las Vegas wants to hear when they want to hear country music.

Fresh off Rowdy’s win at the 2015 NFR Battle of the Bands, sponsored by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville and Pabst Blue Ribbon, you also heard them talk about what they had to do in order to win this for the third time in four years (2012, 2012 and 2015). The only year that Rowdy didn’t take the title was 2014, and that was because he was in Nashville recording his sixteen song debut album called, “Eyes Wide Open”.

Snippets of the songs “Too Far Gone” and “Trailer Made” were also played as lead ins and lead outs for the segment. Right after the interview was the live Rowdy McCarran performance of “Won’t Be Fast Enough” a song about travel, love, and getting back home.

Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas May 2015

The Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas was rocked by Rowdy McCarran tonight.

Rowdy, a Las Vegas native, has been able to make his mark on the Nashville scene. His sixteen song debut album entitled, “Eyes Wide Open”, brought an evening of new edgy, country music; that still had the taste and respect for the traditional. Songs like the title track had you on the dance floor swinging while other songs such as “Trailer Made”, “Chick-A-Boom” and “Too Far Gone” had you doing four wall country line-dancing. In the mood for some buckle rubbing? He didn’t disappoint with the soon to be radio hits of “I Should Have Danced” and the already popular, “Say You Will”.

The venue delivered it’s “A” game for the performance. They threw a light and sound spectacle that would have rivaled any stadium or arena show fit for artists named Jason, Brad or Carrie.

The Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas is one of the premier venues in town hosting all the national touring acts.  Bowling, live music, nightlife and gourmet dining come together at the Brooklyn Bowl, an offshoot if its popular New York location, which was dubbed as "one of the most incredible places on earth" by Rolling Stone magazine. The 78,000 square foot Brooklyn Bowl features 32 bowling lanes and a gigantic music venue, plus the famed Blue Ribbon restaurant featuring popular American comfort food. Items include everything from wings, pizza, catfish and barbecue to vegetarian fare.

The Morning Blend October 2014

Myself and Rowdy MCarran performed on ABC’s KTNV Channel 13’s, The Morning Blend, which was hosted by Dao Vu and Shawn Tempesta. The segment was the highlight of a feature that was done on the 2014 National Senior Pro Rodeo. Corey Fagan, director of First Friday, asked Rowdy to appear on the show and have him perform two songs from his yet to be released Nashville debut album called “Eyes Wide Open”. The songs, being heard for the first time live, were “Till Further Notice” written by J.K. “Nick” Nichols and Gerald Smith, and “Burn That Bridge” penned by Bob Pennington.

Rowdy’s sixteen song CD was recorded at Treasure Isle Recorders, home to Jason Aldean, over 30 legendary pop, rock and R&B stars, 32 gold/platinum recordings, and over $2 billion in recorded sales.

The National Senior Pro Rodeo Association is for those who enjoy competing in rodeos but are getting old. Just like many other associations, this one has a National Finals event as well as many others throughout the year.

Every year, the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association holds rodeos that include nine sanctioned events:  Team Roping, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc, Ribbon Roping, Ladies Breakaway Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Calf Roping, Bull Riding, and Bareback.

Each event is broken into age groups. Timed events have age groups of 40-50, 50-60, and 60+. Rough stock has groups of 40-50 and 50+. The National Senior Pro Rodeo Association even has a 68+ age group for those who are interested in calf roping. Although the event is non-sanctioned, the association has a 70+ Men’s Breakaway.

The National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals were held at Horseman’s Park in Las Vegas, NV.