One band got a shot in the arm. The other got a knife in the heart.
Such is the music business.
The Troubaderos prevailed last night at the 6th Annual Texas Music Showdown hosted by KHYI 95.3 “The Range” personality Brett Dillon at the White Elephant Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The Dallas-based Troubaderos won cash, studio time, and other prizes, but none more important than a slew of plumb gigs, including invitations to perform at the Larry Joe Taylor’s 23rd Annual Texas Music Festival & Chili Cook-off coming up on April 26, and Tommy Alverson’s Family Gathering later in the fall.
Taylor and Alvarez were on hand last night to serve as judges alongside Dillon, saloon owner Tim Love, Winding Road Music owner Rick Lovett, and Fort Worth Weekly‘s little ol’ me.
Weeks of competition led to last night’s final showdown between The Troubaderos and FM2865, both solid bands. The Troubaderos went first and reminded everybody why they became such a hit during this year’s competition. The four-piece band is tight, their three-part harmonies are spot on, and their songwriting is creative.
FM2865 brought a crowd of fans with them all the way from North Zulch (near Commerce) and put on an intensely energetic show. Maybe too intense. The band was wound tighter than a two-dollar watch and the six-band members put the pedal to the metal right out of the gate. The subtleties and dynamics they’d exhibited during previous shows got lost, and the performance overpowered some of the judges.
Afterward, Alverson hit the stage to sing a few songs. In between songs he gave FM2865 — the nicest bunch of young musicians you’ll ever meet — an encouraging bit of advice. “I never won one of these contests,” he told them. “My band entered several and we never won. But if you think you’re better than the next guy, then go out there and do it and don’t give up.”
