The Gobblers Knob

Some of the folks in and around the Dallas area may be aware of the Shiner Rising Star Contest hosted by KHYI 95.3 and Shiner Records.  For those of you who aren’t, please refer back to my previous ranting on the subject.  Next week will see the crowning of a new champion as The Mo Robson Band, Truckstop Junkies, Nate Kipp and another act to be determined this Thursday will battle it out at Love & War in Texas - Plano on Oct. 25.  What is significant about this final and the possibility of any of these acts winning is that they are all true, authentic, hard working, dues-paying bands that have forged their sounds with constant gigging and will produce a great CD with the guidance of whichever top notch producer the winner gets teamed up with (Gurf Morlix and Ray Wylie Hubbard have been past producers).  Each of the three named finalists have a sound that differs from the others.  Kipp has a honky-tonk vibe reminiscent of Aaron Watson, while Truckstop Junkies favor the whiskey soaked southern rock of previous Shiner Rising Star winners Miles From Nowhere, and tying the two vibes together is The Mo Robson Band.  Switching from Billy Joe Shaver’s more rocking gears and tales of life from the left-of-center to the laid back tales from the road, Robson represents the best of both worlds from which Kipp and Truckstop Junkies reside.  For those of you from outside of Texas, please note that the music from these bands is widely available on-line and can be requested on internet and satellite radio.  There can only be one winner next week, but there isn’t any reason all of the finalist bands can’t be a member of your CD changers rotation.