Upon realizing I'd be in Dallas rather than LA on Grammys Night, I sprung into action to RSVP for a Texas Chapter party after checking in with amazing Denton, TX (30 miles north of Dallas) guitarist and sometimes Paula Boggs Band sub Robert Gomez to see if he'd go with me. Two years ago I was in Atlanta on Grammys night and had a blast so knew what was possible.
Well Dallas didn't disappoint. Country singer Easton Corbin opened at Gilley's -- The Loft, a cool bar and music venue not far off I-35. Robert and I got there around 6:20pm and everyone was really polite...even the guy helping us park the car.
After checking in and receiving our red ID wrist bands, I spotted some empty seats at a table not far from the stage and a mega-screen so quickly introduced myself to the folks already there. They included a guy who'd won a Grammy in the 80s for gospel from Atlanta, his Dallas girlfriend and an indie rock trombonist from Cedar Park just north of Austin.
Easton Corbin played a stripped down acoustic set and entertained the crowd well for 30 minutes before the show kickoff. The food was tasty and the folks serving it seemed happy to be there.
Once the show began, with TVs throughout the club, the Grammys crowd turned its attention to LL Cool J and onscreen activity. During the commercial breaks the hosts quizzed us with Grammys trivia. Not sure what it says about us but both Robert and I won Grammys blankets -- that is, the prize, from answering some arcane question correctly before anyone else.
I was happy to see Mumford & Sons and Frank Ocean win, Elton John perform with Ed Sheeran and Alicia Keys with Maroon 5. On the flip side, Adele again, really? And, I didn't get Carrie Underwood's projector-aided gown. Personally, I'd love to see more jazz, folk, blues, Americana and real rock on the televised show but again, maybe that's just me.
All in all, it was a great evening. I got to hang out with some of the "beautiful people" of Dallas/Austin, Robert and I reconnected, I made a couple new friends/contacts and hey, I've now got my very own Grammys blanket!
Well Dallas didn't disappoint. Country singer Easton Corbin opened at Gilley's -- The Loft, a cool bar and music venue not far off I-35. Robert and I got there around 6:20pm and everyone was really polite...even the guy helping us park the car.
After checking in and receiving our red ID wrist bands, I spotted some empty seats at a table not far from the stage and a mega-screen so quickly introduced myself to the folks already there. They included a guy who'd won a Grammy in the 80s for gospel from Atlanta, his Dallas girlfriend and an indie rock trombonist from Cedar Park just north of Austin.
Easton Corbin played a stripped down acoustic set and entertained the crowd well for 30 minutes before the show kickoff. The food was tasty and the folks serving it seemed happy to be there.
Once the show began, with TVs throughout the club, the Grammys crowd turned its attention to LL Cool J and onscreen activity. During the commercial breaks the hosts quizzed us with Grammys trivia. Not sure what it says about us but both Robert and I won Grammys blankets -- that is, the prize, from answering some arcane question correctly before anyone else.
I was happy to see Mumford & Sons and Frank Ocean win, Elton John perform with Ed Sheeran and Alicia Keys with Maroon 5. On the flip side, Adele again, really? And, I didn't get Carrie Underwood's projector-aided gown. Personally, I'd love to see more jazz, folk, blues, Americana and real rock on the televised show but again, maybe that's just me.
All in all, it was a great evening. I got to hang out with some of the "beautiful people" of Dallas/Austin, Robert and I reconnected, I made a couple new friends/contacts and hey, I've now got my very own Grammys blanket!