Dearly departed Cadillac Fraf (né Chad Percy) left behind a trove of songs. Though primarily a solo performer, Fraf also fronted a band, The Mockingbird Cartel, basically an ensemble vehicle for his songs about life in the Great In-Between: in between jobs, loves, life and death. One reason among many that his passing is such a shame is that the Cartel was about to “get up and running again,” according to Linc Campbell, Fraf’s right-hand man in the Cartel. On Sat., June 20, at 
Lola’s Saloon-Sixth (2736 W. 6th St., in the West 7th Street corridor, 817-877-0666), the band’s remaining members and frequent collaborators will get together and play a full set of Fraf’s material.
The Cartel will be joined by The Me-Thinks and Skitz O’Fuel & The Electroids. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $6. Visit www.myspace.com/mockingbirdcartel. … Fraf is one of four new inductees into the Fort Worth Music Hall of Fame, a metaphoric institution started by us Weekleteers several years ago and that counts among its members The Toadies’ Todd Lewis, Jhon Kahsen (né Johnny Case), Tommy Alverson, Johnny Mack, and a few other 817’ers who’ve contributed mightily to local music and bolstering its national profile. Our 12th Annual Music Awards will celebrate Fraf’s contribution to local music and that of the other members of the 2009 class — Melissa Kirkendall, James McMurtry, and Buddy Miles — by putting on the 2009 Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards Festival. On Sun., June 28, at six Sundance Square-area clubs — 8.0 Restaurant & Bar, Bent Lounge, Embargo, The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Paddy Reds Irish Pub, and Scat Jazz Lounge — 36 local bands will perform, including Telegraph Canyon (8.0), The Burning Hotels (8.0), Rivercrest Yacht Club (Bent), Josh Weathers + the True Endeavors (8.0), the cut*off (Scat), The Orbans (8.0), The February Chorus‘ Brandin Lea (Bent), AwkQuarius (Bent), Dove Hunter (Embargo), Whiskey Folk Ramblers (Scat), Stella Rose (Bent), and more. Congratulations to the HOF’ers and all 100-plus nominees. Stay local. … Music City stalwart Gary Nicholson is a North Texas boy who got his start at The Cellar, a legendary downtown Fort Worth venue that closed decades ago, with a band called The Untouchables. (“It was my first gig,” he has said, “and I’ve still never played a place rougher than The Cellar.”) Fast-forward 40 years: Nicholson has played guitar with the likes of Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, and Delbert McClinton; produced two Grammy-winning McClinton albums; and had his songs performed by George Jones, Garth Brooks, George Strait, The Dixie Chicks, and Willie Nelson, among others. Nicholson also has created an alter ego, Whitey Johnson, who’ll be playing Keys Lounge (5677 Westcreek Ct., in Fort Worth, 817-292-8627) on Fri., June 19, with celebrated Dallasite Anson Funderburgh. There’ll be a cover charge, though no word yet on the amount. (Reportedly, Keys has never charged a cover before.) Visit www.myspace.com/garynicholson. For more on Keys and its new look and mission, see this issue’s Last Call on pg. 38.
Contact HearSay at hearsay@fwweekly.com.
