Traveling Music Show From Texas To The Florida Keys
Artists performing: Jerry Diaz and Hanna’s Reef, Donny Brewer and Kelly McGuire
After a late night enjoying the company of the San Antonio Parrothead Club it was an early morning wake up to begin lining up along the road to prepare for departure to Kemah, Texas.
It took some time to safely get everyone outside the gate of Isla Bella but it was done with no injuries or damage. That is a good start to a day.
Of course, when you’ve got this many RVs you know something will go wrong at some point. It didn’t take long.
One person had trouble finding his keys, while the lead vehicle had issues with their tow bar. Once all that was cleared up the “Karavan to the Keys” began to roll the 239 miles to the next stop, T-Bone Tom’s along the Kemah Boardwalk.
We arrived in the parking lot near the boardwalk and all got parked just in time to head across the street to T-Bone Tom’s and begin day three’s festivities.
T-Bone Tom’s is a very well know live music venue with the stage and seating area under one of the largest palapas west of the Mississippi. It is consistently nominated by the Trop Rock Music Association for “Live Music Venue of the Year.”
However, it’s much more than that; it also has great food. My personal favorite are the Armadillo Eggs. No, they are not really armadillo eggs, they are jalapenos that are stuffed with bbq brisket then battered and deep fried. Do not visit Kemah Texas without trying these things.
Donald James kicked off the night of music followed by Joel Block. Jerry Diaz (The “Godfather of Trop Rock”) and Hanna’s Reef consisting of Jerry Diaz, Mark Mireles, Trey Newmiller, and Nick Montou, had a small issue about 10 seconds into the first song when about half of the stage power went out. While Jon Burns, working sound, worked on the issue, Jerry was able to stall telling silly jokes and at times, doing a “play-by-play” of what was on the television screens.
Once power was restored, they got the crowd up and dancing. By this time it was a packed house at T-Bone Tom’s. It was standing room only, or maybe I should say “dancing room only”. Jerry Diaz and Hanna’s Reef is well known for their own style of “Texas Beach Music”.
Barry Terrell, owner of T-Bone Tom’s ordered a round or two of shots for the band and myself. He made sure Donny Brewer always had a shot in his hand since this was Donny Brewer’s birthday. About half way through Jerry’s set Kelly McGuire, a well known trop rock artist that lives nearby, stopped in and joined the band on stage. It was an unexpected treat for everyone and was certainly appreciated.
Another treat was when Tom Klinker, the original trop rock “superfan” from Florida got on stage to sing with Jerry, Donny, Kelly and Hanna’s Reef.
Another two Jake Sullivan Series books donated by author Chip Bell were raffled off. Kevin and Michelle Ware of HatLadyBling.com were also present at the event.
The evening’s show was one of the rare one’s when you have several different artists all on stage playing each other’s songs. It was difficult to tell if the people on stage were having the most fun, or those in the audience watching. The night ended with about forty karavan participants on stage with the band singing “The Beer Song.”
Between the music, food, beer and shots, there were smiles all around the place.
DAY 4 – OCTOBER 22ND – CAJUN PALMS RV RESORT – HENDERSON, LA
RVs rolled out of the parking lot at 10:03 AM heading to Henderson / Breaux Bridge Louisiana, the “Crawfish Capital of the World”. There were a couple of RV tires issues and one slide-out issue but everyone made it to Cajun Palms safely in time for the “meet and greet.”
Each member shared where they are from along with how they became a parrothead. Following that was a group dinner at Crawfish Town.
Once back at “camp” Donny Brewer, Donald James and Joel Block pulled out their guitars for some great tunes. Between songs stories were shared about previous Meeting of the Minds experiences while others laughed about the “first time we met” anecdotes.
Another great day of friendship on the Karavan To The Keys.
DAY 5 – OCTOBER 23RD – ISLAND RETREAT RV PARK – GULF SHORES AL
Artists performing: TBD
DAY 6 – OCTOBER 24TH – GLEN LAKES GOLD CLUB – FOLEY AL
Artists performing: Brent Burns, Bill Whyte and Eric Stone
DAY 7 – OCTOBER 25TH – PARKING LOT PARTY – GAINESVILLE FL
Artists performing: TBD
DAY 8 – OCTOBER 26TH – FLIP FLOP STOCK – KISSIMMEE FL
Artists performing: Drop Dead Dangerous, Thom Shepherd and Coley McCabe, Bill Cockrell, Kristine Jackson,
DAY 9 – OCTOBER 27TH – MARGARITAVILLE CAFÉ – ORLANDO FL
Artists performing: None – visiting DJ J.D. Spradlin
DAY 10 – OCTOBER 28TH – CASINO NIGHT – MIAMI FL
Artist performing: TBD
DAY 11 – OCTOBER 29TH – MEETING OF THE MINDS – KEY WEST
Artists performing: All of them!
For more information on Karavan to the Keys visit DonnyBrewer.com.
For more information on Radio Trop Rock visit RadioTropRock.com.
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