Monday, March 15, 2010

An Odd Couple Indeed!



We have a few different and exciting shows left to come and see at the Uptown in March. I would not pair them together like a fine red wine and chocolate, but there will be wine…and our infamous margaritas will return with a slew of south of the border beers.


First up, is the incomparable (and Grand Prairie natives) Tejas Brothers with Mingo Saldivar. Now, if it was just the Tejas brothers that would be an amazing show all on its own, BUT with the addition of Mingo Saldivar (added star and accordion power) this show will be on another level musically.


This Friday, March 19th @ 8 p.m. Get your tickets in advance and save $5 - $11 in advance and $16 at the door.

The Tejas Brother's stack up like this:

Dave Perez, accordion and vocals, was born and raised in Grand Prairie. He bought his first accordion in 1998 at the age of 22 and after six very dedicated weeks of practice, he began performing at a small Mexican restaurant just a few blocks from his home. Over the next eight years, Dave would form a vocal and playing style that allowed him to cover many different types of music. He began jamming with various musicians in the Fort Worth Stockyards, eventually putting his first band together, the Tejas Brothers.

On upright bass and vocals, John Garza began playing bass in the late 1980s and preferred his father’s love of early rock and roll music. Born in Irving, he was a member of Pat Boyack and the Prowlers, and he has played with Holland K. Smith, and the Kenny Traylor Band before joining the Tejas Brothers.


Danny Cochran, on drums and vocals, began playing drums for local Wichita Falls bands in the 1970s. In 1976, he briefly played with the Dave Mason band in California. Over the years, Danny has played with two of Texas’ most influential bands, Delbert McClinton and blues great Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets.


Lex Cochran, on guitar and vocals, was born in Houston and came from a musical family of eight. At age 12, he found a Fender Telecaster under the Christmas tree, plugged it in and immediately began playing “Smoke on the Water,” “Purple Haze” and “Heartbreaker.” Lex has spent much of his life working with various blues, country, rock and western swing bands, most recently with the Lonesome Losers before joining the Tejas Brothers.



Mingo Saldívar was born in 1936 in Marion, Texas, not far from San Antonio. He began playing professionally in 1959, but from early on he was influenced by "hillbilly," blues and other forms of American popular music. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and at President Bill Clinton's inauguration. His most important recording was Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," which Saldívar adapted both musically and linguistically to the conjunto style, demonstrating some of the possibilities for ethnic and stylistic cross-fertilization.




We will close out the month of March with a little madness of our own – the fabulously funny Grand Prairie Arts Council production of The Odd Couple – The Female Version. Rehearsals have been going great and it truly will be a comedic gem. This production will be unique in that it will be in the Studio theater presented in-the-round! Tickets are $11 - seating is limited to 100 people – don’t delay!



GIVE-A-WAY!!!

Family 4 Pack of Tickets to THE TEJAS BROTHERS with MINGO SALDIVAR!



The Uptown is hosting its first ever give-a-way...here's how to enter...


First become a follower (you do not have to have your own blog to do so) and second post a comment with your favorite thing to do during Spring Break! We will randomly draw on Wednesday for the Friday Night show! Last chance to enter is Wednesday at noon central.