The Rick Show Rocks Beaumont Twice A Month
The Rick Show actually began 10 years ago when singer-songwriters Rick Busby & Rick Danna began teaming up at The Logon Cafe in Beaumont, Texas. For more than five years, the duo performed every third Friday of the month as an acoustic duo, featuring their own compositions scattered among the many choice covers by songwriters ranging from Ryan Adams to Warren Zevon and all points in between. Along the way, each of the Ricks independently released solo CDs, both of which garnered “Song of the Year” nominations at the Texas Music Awards respectively in 2003 and 2004.
Five years ago, the acoustic duo became a band that featured the stellar talents of Kenny Wiebusch (Lead Guitars, Vocals), Stephen “Doc” Watson (Bass, Vocals) & Josh Courts (Drums, Vocals). Together, the musicians in The Rick Show know hundreds and hundreds of songs and on any given night, the audience never knows what combination of songs to expect. As they say at The Rick Show, “You never know what you’ll hear!” But, every 3rd Friday of the month they rock up their “home court” at The Logon Cafe from 9:00 PM until well “after midnight.”
In late 2009, The Rick Show had grown so popular in the Beaumont area that other club managers came calling. They booked the 1st Saturday in November at Mackenzie’s Pub, and it has been their second home ever since. For a band that never rehearses, (mainly because Busby lives in Austin), they are relishing the second opportunity to play together each month. However, it means the sets are becoming even more diverse and unpredictable to keep it fresh for The Rick Show faithful who are at virtually every show.
Among original compositions from both Ricks, The Rick Show features songs from a wide range of songwriters with each show tending to spotlight specific songwriters and artists by featuring three or more of their songs throughout the show. Songwriters and artists that have been featured in past shows include Dylan, Lennon, Neil Young, Ryan Adams, Allman Brothers, James Taylor, John Hiatt, Eagles, Rodney Crowell, Tom Petty and Van Morrison, among others.
They also give nods to lesser known or cult-sized songwriters and artists like 13th Floor Elevators, Thunderclap Newman, T-Rex, Donovan, The Turtles, Joseph Arthur, Teddy Thompson, Hal Ketchum, Joe Ely, Tom Waits and J.J. Cale, just to mention a very few. The set lists are always eclectic and cover a wide swath of music from all eras of rock history, including blues, psychedic, protest, alt-country, classic rock and pop. In short, “You never know what you’re gonna hear at The Rick Show.”
Along the way, Wiebusch and Watson have added their own original compositions to the mix, which now gives The Rick Show four songwriters. Presently, they have begun working on tracks for their debut record, which has not yet been set for release. In addition to their 10+ year “3rd Fridays” residency at The Logon Cafe, The Rick Show now also rocks the bar on “1st Saturdays” at Mackenzie’s Pub from 8:30 PM until “after midnight.”
