Monday, August 8, 2011


My gypsy head got the best of me last week...so I had to act on it....and hit the road....headed South to Port Aransas Tx....with a pit stop off in Victoria.
While in Victoria we ran into some old friends I havent seen in about 20 years or so, at a "I Love The 80's Reunion".......what a good time....and great music. We enjoyed awesome music fron DJ John Ocanas...and live music from the band, TIPJAR ROMEO....every sound was pure 80's. It was like a step back in time the whole night.

On down the road we gypsied on...., to Port A...., looking foward to being bums in the sun and do some body surfing.....and thats just what we did. We hung out at the Beach Lodge having a few adult beverages and eating oysters on the half shell.....ahhhh....lovin life. If I had my way.........thats where Id love to stay.

Thursday, May 19, 2011










It has been a long time since I have written a blog. So, here we go...........
For the past 2 months I have been organizing a local music festival in Buffalo, Tx. As time went on it grew and grew....up to ten bands on board for this ONE day event....and vendors as well....I was a nervous wreck ....worried that is was gonna a ll fall apart on me..., since I had never done anything like this EVER before. But with the aid of friends pulling together and helping me out.....the day finally arived on May 14th....and it turned out to be a smooth moving machine...and a success as well. Bands at the event included: The Dukes, Slyng Blayd, Erin Watson, Southern Storm, Brionna Fisk, Dave Parker(me :)), David Cargil & Nervous Breakdown, Plan~B, Thomaso, Texas Yung Gunnz, and Gypsyhead. Everyone enjoyed a full day of music food and fun........and I sold out of t~shirts too!!!!! Thanks to everyone who took the time out of their busy life to be a part of this first time event..., I hope we can do it again!!!! GYPSY~ON!!!!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

EAST TEXAS NIGHTS

I can’t seem to get enough of those, ‘lonely east Texas nights‘, going down that ‘road of life‘, with ‘two shotguns and an attitude‘, looking for ‘my girl’, back in ‘summer 2005’. They just keep on rolling around in my head. Those songs that is. Songs by the bands: Whisky Myers and John David Kent &The Dumb Angels….whom I had the pleasure of getting to see, hear, and meet, last week at a concert benefit for Kaleb Skalicky in Crockett at the Civic Center.


John David Kent & The Dumb Angels got things started…and started off right too, I might add. J.D.K really knows how to rock a stage with his Texas Country/Southern Rock style. It was the first time I had ever heard their music….and I was totally blown away…from start to finish and all points in between. The songs that continue to bounce around in my head are: “Two Shot Guns and an Attitude”, and, “My Girl”. I had a chance to talk to him briefly after his show; he is a very nice guy, not afraid to hang with the fans. I look forward to seeing more from him and his band.
John David Kent and The Dumb Angels hail from north/east Texas, and his CD will be available very soon; I can not wait to get me a copy! Check out his website at; www.johndavidkent.com .


Taking the stage next were some boys from the Palestine area, that have really been going places with the success of the first CD, Road of Life. I am talking about Whiskey Myers. Lead guitarist, Cody Tate, told me that he grew up listening to Waylon and Skynerd, and that’s the style we play, he also told me that the Crockett Civic Center was the first stage he ever played on when he was a kid in a talent show, years ago.


They had just played a show in Little Rock, Ark. the night before, drove to Houston for a show the next morning, and then to Crockett to play that night , talk about road warriors. You could not tell that the guys were tired, it never showed in their performance. John, lead guitarist, laughed saying, "we've really been putting away the Red Bulls!"

Whiskey Myers had the audience from the get go…and never lost touch with them….lead singer, Cody Cannon, would ask every so often, “Ya’ll still with us?”, and the crowd would yell out their response like thunder. They played songs from their current cd, including, ‘American Outlaws’, Gone Away’, ‘Lonely East Texas Nights’, and Road of Life’, as well as songs from their up coming cd, “Firewater”. And they even threw in a killer cover of ZZ Tops, ‘LaGrange’. Yes they rocked the night with their duel lead guitars and fiery showmanship. It was one of the best shows I have seen in a long, long time.
Oh, I just might mention, during a conversation with lead singer, Cody Cannon, after the show, I was telling him about how we have open mic at THM in Buffalo…, his response was, “That is cool! Hey! Wonder what would happen if we came and crashed one of those open mic nights sometime?” All I could say was, “It would be great if you do, feel free to crash in anytime!”
The Whisky Myers guys; Cody Cannon on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. John Jeffers on lead guitar. Cody Tate on lead guitar. Gary Brown on bass. Jeff Hogg on drums. I highly recommend you get their cd and check them out on the web.

Monday, February 7, 2011

no excuses

Its been hard but Im trying to get back into the groove of writing my blog......I know there is no excuses. Just time and doing it. I seem to have been keeping myself more busy lately and neglecting my writing, which is good and bad. Good that I am busy...bad that Im havent been writing. There is always time to write no matter how busy I may be...there is always some point that I have the time to express myself...even if its just a shot note.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Shine





There is a light...a special light. It will never dim, but shine on and on. There is a place...a special place. A place where that light is bright for all to feel and see when they visit. I go there each day...I drink coffee there...I work there...I meet friends there, old and new....I write there....I sing and play there....I love it there. And I feel that light shinning through me....moving me....leading me.
Ther is a light....a special light. And She will never dim, but shine on and on.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011


THIS IS A WHAT I WROTE FOR MY NEWSPAPER COLUMN:

WHERE THE MUSIC PLAYS
By David Parker


This week has found me feeling a bit numb. I realized over the weekend that, during all of the turmoil of this past weeks tragedy of losing a dear friend, I had not talked to any musicians, or been to see any perform, or anything of the sort. So now what do I do? Before, when I had trouble with my ideas, I called on my mentor, and she would set me on a path that would open my mind and the ideas would just flow from my fingertips. But now…, it’s a different story, she’s not here to call on. So, as I said before…, now what? Well then there now,…..lets just see where the spirit of music takes us.

It’s a new year….and a new song plays. So I’ve decided to incorporate some newness in this corner of the paper.
I have told you in the past about several local musicians, and some that are not so local. All different, but the thing they all had in common was love and passion of music. And believe me when I say, you truly have to love being a musician to do it, because surviving the art of starving is a hard passion. So many musicians go unnoticed for so long because they have no place to bring their talent to the public. They spend all their time honing their craft in their living rooms…, on their back porches..,or, in their showers, and still, no one is their to hear what they have done. Its time these talented people have their spot light. That light started shining a few years ago in Buffalo, thanks to the person I referred to earlier as my mentor. When Glenn and Laura St. John started having open mic nights at The Horses Mouth Bookstore/Coffee Shop, they opened the door for local talent to entertain, to be seen and heard. It has been growing with each new month, and it has been awesome. People have told me, they are so glad there is a place doing this, that they love being able to go enjoy live music of such diversity, in a smoke free and alcohol free environment. A place the entire family can go together and have a nice evening of music and entertainment.
Now I am sure most of you know about the passing of Laura, my mentor and dear friend (as she was to so many). And I am sure many of you have wondered what will become of The Horses Mouth. Well, rest assured, Laura’s dream will live on through Captain Glenn. The open mic nights will continue, since Laura was such a lover of music, and she gave me the job of music director at THM, but changed the title to “music man”, because, as she put it, “music director just sounds too stuffy!” I think from here on out the open mics will all be in memory of her….maybe titled, ‘THM Open Mic Night: Live For Laura’. What do you think?
So I ask you, please support the local music, go where you know it’s going to be. Listen close and let it take you away….to where the music plays.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

A LIGHT IN THE DARK (the toughest blog Ive ever written)


You may have noticed, if you have read any of my past blogs...., I mention a place called THM ( The Horses Mouth), and a name that is associated with it, Laura. Well, THM and Laura have been a a big part of my life. Laura has been my inspiration ..., my mentor..., my guru...,my coach..., my friend..., my Sis. She helped me pull myself together when I was in a major state of a 6 month depression, she shined light into my darkness and helped me to see. Through her help, I began playing guitar and singing again...,she told me that I should start giving guitar lessons....,that I should start writing a blog....,that I should grab my dreams and run with them...,don't wait to see if they will come true, MAKE them come true. With THM, she gave me the title of THM's MUSIC MAN,(she said Music Director sounded too stuffy), my thing was and is, Hosting Open Mic Nights, and booking acoustic concerts.
Laura and I had many conversations with topics ranging from music, art, travel, religion, nature, just to name a few...there was nothing we didn't talk about. She wanted input on her ideas, to make things happen. She would always ask me, "Dave, what do ya think about this....." And I would always give her my thoughts. I could always go to her with my ideas and she would tell me what she thought too. When I would miss a few days writing my blog..as I often do..she would always call me on it...telling me, "whats the hold up...your readers are waiting!" She would light the fire I needed to get myself to thinking and it was always instantly, I would have a subject. I'm telling you, shes inspirational to me. The last conversation I had with Laura was over my usual double latte at THM on Monday morning Jan.3rd, 2011. She was telling me she hadn't gotten her column submitted to the newspaper yet. And I told her, I didn't even have one for this week...that I sent the editor an email that I wouldn't have one in. Well, that did not set well with Laura at all. She dropped what she was doing and spun around, giving me her total attention and said, "WHAT?! Dave, you cant do that! You have devoted readers that look forward to your music column every week. You have to turn in something!!" I told her, "But its too late." And she said to me, "NO its not. I haven't turned mine in yet....we have to figure something out for you!!!"
So, after a little banter, and discussion, we struck a chord and I had a topic to write about....and she could then go back to finishing her column. I left to go let Mac the editor know I DID have column to turn in but I needed about 30 minutes. It was a go, and all was good. I just wish I would have went back by THM to let her know it was done, and to thank her once again for all she had done for me. Little did I know, that would be the last time I would see her alive. Just a few hours later that afternoon, Laura was killed in a one car accident.
Now, physically, my mentor, friend, inspiration, guru, sister in spirit....is gone from this earth.....I cant go see her at THM anymore....I cant talk to her...cant hear the laugh or see the smile. But, I can feel her.....she moved through me when I sang at her funeral,I felt her arm on my shoulder, I could hear her singing with me.
I have been at THM assisting Glenn through this. I'm even learning the art of making lattes. Glenn told me He is not going to stop doing what Laura started, it was her dream to have this Bookstore/coffee shop....and he plans on keeping it going at all cost...for as long as he can. She would want that.

In spirit,Laura is still my guiding light...she will always be everything to me that she was to me in life. I will truly and deeply miss her. But I know she will be waiting to talk to me when its my turn to go.....and if they didn't have lattes in heaven before.....I bet they do now. LAURA LYNN COX St.JOHN....Dec.23,1965-Jan.3,2011.....May you make your latte art in the clouds for all to see. Love ya sis!!!

~~~~Dave~~~~

Monday, January 3, 2011

FROGGY


For the past 2 weeks now Ive been fighting with my voice. Its been a nightmare since I love to sing. So Ive been playing my guitar and trying my best to save my voice and not sing......man!!! Thats hard for me to do...I get so stressed..lol. Ive been doing the home remedy gargles and drinking ginger tea....its helping. I just have to be patient and let it run its course and stop trying to force my vocals cords. Anyone how loves to sing...., or loves to talk, will understand..., its not easy to be patient. So...., Ill continue to play my six-string, and write new lyrics...amd try....TRY....to shut up for awhile and wait for my voice to return......and hopefully return, better than before!!!