roaming and greeting each other in anticipation of the evening’s headliner, Billy F Gibbons.
I joined the party relatively late at 7 p.m. and found, what I believe, was the very last place to park behind the 5,000 square foot banquet hall. For several long moments I was transported to the Italian countryside while taking in the towering trapezoidal stone hall with its supporting buttresses and clay tile roof. Outside, the vineyard, like the hall, was immaculate and serene.
Inside, as I mentioned, was a different story. After checking in with Rose Gabriel of the Hill Country Honeys, who bravely staffed the check-in table, a gentleman in a leather coat passed a wand over my silhouette to scan for what I assume were weapons. I dodged photographers and videographers who circled the room looking for the best place to land. Musical artists Eve Monsees & Mike Buck and Lindsay & Brad performed for fans while guests sampled food, drank wine and bid on signed guitars, LPs, CDs and other music memorabilia at the auction table.
Rodney and James took to the stage to talk about Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame performing before a crowd of about 350 people,” Mike wrote. “Gibbons, who was joined by bassist Mike Flanigin and drummer Chris Layton, played ZZ Top crowd favorites like “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Dark Sunglasses.” Also on the playlist were blues standards that Gibbons grew up with in southeast Texas. During the set, he asked the crowd for requests and one of them was for a ‘60s hit that preceded the formation of ZZ Top. Gibbons’ band, The Moving Sidewalks, recorded ‘99th Floor’ in 1968 before ZZ Top formed. Gibbons was pleased that the song was remembered by fans. He reminisced about opening for a Jimi Hendrix tour at the time and launched into a cover of ‘Foxy Lady.’ At first, the sound was true to the original, but Gibbons soon made the song his own by launching into an incredible guitar interpretation.”
This second fundraiser to help finance the bold, “True South” documentary met an important goal for the million dollar undertaking. According to director James D. Cooper, Phase One, which entails
