It’s No Secret: Recent Episodes
Twang Twang Shock-A-Boom
Podcasts and as much free music as we can stand, plus a couple of favorites. Thanks for visiting! Twang Twang Shock A Boom is Davíd Garza, Chris Searles and Jeff Haley. They have been making music together for 30 years. "It's No Secret" is a oral history of the band produced by Catherine Cuellar and Jeff Haley
LISTENERS! Go to this link and SUBSCRIBE on your favorite (other favorite ;) podcasting host (Apple, Spotify, Podchaser, etc)
https://shinelight.transistor.fm
In our debut episode (1 of 8) Chris Searles tells the host, Jeff, about hearing an advance copy of Grace in 1994 and how it changed his perspective on music and playing the drums. Buckley took an amazing "set list" and attacked it with a muscular approach. Additionally Chris goes into why Matt Johnson's drumming is outstanding on Grace. Jeff tells Chris about hearing Grace at his house for the first time and how Chris and Jeff got to meet and open up for Jeff Buckley in November 1994 at The Electric Lounge in Austin, Texas.
Co-Produced by Konrad. Executive Producer-Chris for Biointegrity.net
As a musician Chris Searles has toured and/or recorded with Shawn Colvin, James McMurtry, Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, The Flatlanders, Twang Twang Shock-a-boom, Slaid Cleaves, Poi Dog Pondering, Eric Johnson, Bruce Robison, Davíd Garza, Abra Moore, Sara Hickman, Mitch Watkins, Casper Rawls, and many more, and played on two Grammy nominated recordings. He attended the University of Texas at Austin music school on a full scholarship. He's also been fortunate enough to perform and/or record with: Buck Owens, John Prine, Roky Erickson, Los Lobos, Ellis Marsalis, Mose Allison, Ian McLagan, Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, and more.
Additionally..... Chris Searles is a native Austinite and founder/director of BioIntegrity, a research-based advocate for protection and restoration of Earth's biospheric integrity. He devotes his time to producing content, events, and education that facilitate "biospheric literacy" and investments and actions which support the most effective solutions to our global climate and species extinction crises. Chris is also starting a new aspect on local, tree-based, drought reversal soon. The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator, executive editor of AllCreation.org. AllCreation is a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation.org has more than 400 posts on sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +100 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info.
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture... But we are going to go ahead and try anyway! Thank you for joining Peter Blackstock, Tiffany Walker and Bobby Bridger in the second half of our tribute to the one and only Butch Hancock. As Terry Allen says “He’s made his life completely about the making of amazing things ... photographs, film, video, outlandish architectural propositions, elaborate ballpoint drawings, handmade journals filled with writings, sketches and scrawls ... and always, the songs.”
In this episode we look at the effect architecture has on his songwriting. We also learn about his work as a river guide on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama for Far Flung Adventures. And we take a look at his epic group of songs entitled “Split and Slide”.
Chris has been wanting to do this podcast for a good long while. After all, we have been following his career since 1990! Would you believe we were his backing band in 2014? True Story. Something about Butch just appeals to our love of stoic songwriting geniuses! Please enjoy this podcast, follow us on SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts, and feel free to share with your friends.
Link in bio. Song links in the comments.
Photo by Butch. Incidental music by Davíd. Produced by Jefé.
Our tribute to the "West Texas Bob Dylan", Lubbock's own Butch Hancock. Listen as Peter Blackstock, Tiffany Walker and Bobby Bridger share their insights and stories about this songwriting legend. Chris Searles inspired this podcast due to his love of and many years playing with Butch Hancock. Davíd Garza provides the score. Photo by Yon Darbro. Produced by Jeff Haley. Butch Hancock song links in the comments.
Jeff talks with good friend Seela Misra about her career and her latest release "Cool". Seela has been releasing records since 1992 but has never been her own Executive Produce until now. Twang Twang Shock A Boom celebrates this amazing singer, songwriter, guitar player, back up singer and bread maker. Bonus: hear how Jeff tricked her into becoming a jazz singer. Seela's latest record, "Cool" can be found on Bandcamp. Check it out! https://seela.bandcamp.com
Jeff describes his love of the South Carolina/Texas Trio Uncle Walt's Band which comprised of Water Hyatt, David Ball and Champ Hood. Jeff got to play with Champ a few times and tell him what a mega fan he was. Special thanks to Ominvore Recordings for the unreleased track and to Michael Arthur for the heavenly drawing. Songs: Mock, Mock, Mockingbird; As The Crow Flies; Brisk Young Widow; Aloha; An American In Texas; So Long Baby; Lean On Your Mind; Early Morning Love
Producer Catherine Cuellar @ccwriter brings our It's No Secret podcast to a close with a careful look at the last Twang Twang Shock A Boom album, #hashTwang, released in 2014. Some secrets are revealed as songwriter Davíd Garza tells Cuellar and bass player Jeff Haley the inspiration and meaning behind each of the 9 songs. Additionally, percussionist Chris Searles and Leigh Tenhet discuss the song "Yonder Bro" which is a tribute to the Twang sound man and mentor Don Yarbro. Thanks for listening, y'all! Please share us on your social media so others can hear this extensive oral history of our "fairly buzzy little band". We truly hoped you enjoyed all eight episodes. Peace, Love and Fishsticks, Catherine and Jefé
In this episode, Jeff and Catherine @ccwriter discuss Twang Twang Shock A Boom's 10-titled 1995 release, commonly called "Twang '95". Topics covered are: Love, Prog Rock, Star Trek Next Generation, What is a true Davíd composition, and why did Twang get back together again in the first place? A very special "Cookie" contains Chris reading a list of unused titles from the session. Cheers! Here is a link to the album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/twang-95/948124987
In the spring of 1990, Twang Twang Shock A Boom released Me So Twangy and showcased for major label talent scouts at South by Southwest and in New York City. By fall, they played what they billed as their farewell final show. Brace yourself for The End of the Beginning — and even 2020 reunion shows! Produced by @ccwriter and Jefé
We take a deep dive into a single song, “Heaven Sent,” about two of Twang’s closest friends and biggest fans. Produced, chopped, tweaked, and recorded by Catherine Cuellar @ccwriter and Jeff Haley
Twang Shock A Boom’s enduring cassette, Me So Twangy, was initially released in 1990, During a 2019 early morning road trip across North Carolina, Davíd Garza, Jeff Haley, and Chris Searles reminisced about best-known work, sharing memories about making Me So Twangy and its songs, from “Nicotine Queen” to “Big Stick” Produced by @ccwriter and Jefé
In this episode Twang Twang Shock A Boom reminisce about live jams captured on four track and jambox which became their debut cassette. Podcast Produced by Catherine Cuellar @ccwriter and Jeff Haley "The First Semester" album is available at these platforms and more....
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1481743689?ls=1&app=itunes
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Twang_Twang_Shock_A_Boom_The_First_Semester?id=Bs3d6wrnrfbscmyo5ickhaglaha
https://www.amazon.com/First-Semester-Twang-Shock-Boom/dp/B07YJKMNV7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+first+semester+twang&qid=1571945569&sr=8-1
"I'd Rather Be Lost" Welcome to the It’s No Secret podcast! This week’s episode recalls’ Twang Twang Shock-A-Boom’s formation, from communal, impromptu jams on the University of Texas campus West Mall, to the band’s first gig at the legendary Cactus Café. Also, we interview 3 people who were there at the beginning: Yon Darbro, Tommy Tenhet and Leigh Tenhet. Thanks for listening and subscribing! Produced by @ccwriter and Jeff Haley
"I'm second guessing all my first impressions" In 1989, an acoustic pop trio took the sleepy blues hamlet of Austin by storm for a brief 13 months. In our debut, Davíd Garza and Chris Searles tell Jeff Haley how they met as teenagers through music education, and reflect on Texas’ music scene. Produced by Catherine Cuellar @ccwriter and Jeff Haley
Jeff anticipated interviewing David from New York, but LA based DG quickly turned the tables. A variety of questions and history and future plans are discussed. Sorry for all of the snap, crackles and pops. This was a phone convo wth music added later by Jefé...