As holiday frenzy moves into the home stretch, there's live music to take the edge off. When it comes to fusing Tex-Mex conjunto and rock 'n' roll, the team of Augie Meyers and Max Baca the Texmaniacs are among the best in the business.
Meyers' latest CD, My Freeholies Ain't Free Anymore, features bajo sexto ace Baca and other Texmaniacs working as the Rocka Bacas.
Thursday night, Casbeers will feature Meyers and the Rocka Bacas, with the Texmaniacs opening.
The storied Meyers has toured the world with the Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornados. He's also recorded with Bob Dylan and Tom Waits and many other artists.
These days the Vox organ legend, accordionist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and character hits the road with Baca and the Texmaniacs.
The My Freeholies CD features Meyers' near-patented mixture of humor and seriousness and music from revved-up polkas to ballads.
Baca the Texmaniacs are intrepid.
Known for serving up traditional conjunto with rock 'n' roll and blues twists and turns here and there, the band has taken its music from Texas dance halls to war-zone military bases. The 'Maniacs just released a Christmas CD, A Blue Cat Christmas, that includes the talents of Meyers and guitar man Willie J. Laws.
The Thursday show promises to be a festive affair, and there will be free frijoles. Friday night at Casbeers it's Claude Butch Morgan the Happy Camper Jammers with guests the Flying A's and Matt Harlen.
There's lots of midweek jazz on the calendar.
Luna Friday night has Border Palace and Azul with Latin sounds and guitar licks. Thursday night The Jazz Protagonists take over with the cool side of jazz and humor enough for several jazz outfits.
Saxophonist John Magaldi will lead the Primetime Jazz Orchestra into The Cove Friday night at 8 for an evening of big band action.
John T. Floore Country Store steps into the midweek music whirl with a Thursday show featuring Jason Boland The Stragglers and Sunny Sweeney. Boland and company are working with their new CD, Bourbon Legend, which was produced by Pete Anderson.
Sweeney, a new real-deal singer on the country scene, is working with a disc called Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame. Sweeney released the CD independently, and it's been picked up by the Big Machine label.
Rolling Oaks Sports Bar Grill continues its Thursday night country/rock gatherings to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank.
This week, music will be provided by the Scott Wiggins Band and David Lee Kaiser. Admission is a nonperishable food donation for the food bank. Kevin Fowler and his band and Mark McKinney will work the Cabaret in Bandera on Thursday.
Rock from the alt-side will rule The Limelight on Thursday when Beso Negra, The Offbeats and Transfers work the room. Acoustic music fans will find Joseph King and Aaron Barrera at The Red Room Friday night.
Thursday is blues jam night at Sam's Burger Joint courtesy of the San Antonio Blues Society and host band the S.
A. Blue Cats. The evening starts with a Blue Cats set followed by the jam.
Jim Beal Jr.'s Night Lights covers the area music scene Wednesdays in S.A.
Life and Fridays in Weekender. He also plays bass in the local band Miss Neesie the Ear Food Orchestra. Send e-mail to jbeal@express-news.
net. Beal is the host of the Third Coast Music Network show from 3-7 p.m.
Thursdays on KSYM, 90.1 FM. San Antonio Express-News publish date Dec.
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