The Strangest Gig

Ward Richmond was a member of the Dallas staple (dare I say 'infamous') bands, Slick 57 and Boys Named Sue. Slick 57 toured extensively throughout the country as well as overseas in Europe and Australia. He has since gone on to release 4 solo albums, two as The Warden and two under his own name. His 5th and newest album, "Big Addict Energy" drops this November. His latest single, "The Non-alcoholic Beer Drinkin Man" is out now streaming everywhere.

In this episode we get into Ward's continuing sober journey and how he handles his big addict energy. We also hear the story of that time Ward started a hip hop group and opened for Ludacris, while almost getting booed off the stage and having beer bottles thrown at him. 

Be sure to check out Ward's own podcast, Truckin' On. Where he sits down with fellow musicians, entrepreneurs, spiritual seekers, and everyday legends to talk about life without filters.

https://www.truckinon.com/

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Follow The Strangest Gig on Instagram: @thestrangestgig

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Chris J Norwood & The Knockdown Dragout's new single, a cover of the Spoon classic "I Turn My Camera On", is OUT NOW. Streaming everywhere you listen to good music. Thor Christensen of The Dallas Morning News says, "Leave it to Dallas singer Chris J Norwood to zero in on Spoon’s funky side." 

See Chris and his background singers, The Knockouts, LIVE in a special trio edition on Fri. Nov. 7 opening up for Ruthie Foster at The Kessler Theater.

Tickets at www.thekessler.org

Our guest this episode is Isaac Sloane. Isaac fronts the band Isaac Sloane & The Sound Brigade, a blues/rock/psychedelic/jazz/fusion band based out of Denton. A relative newcomer to the scene Isaac and band have already logged countless shows all across the metroplex and have even earned nominations for Best Blues Band and Best Guitarist by the Dallas Entertainment Awards. Isaac tells some inspiring stories of his dedication to the gig, like walking with his gear three miles to the venue after near totaling his car and leaving it on the side of the highway. AND going straight from the ER to the stage after a suffering a heart attack, with medical bracelet still on his wrist. And finally we hear the hilarious story of when Isaac and the Sound Brigade, in a scene reminiscent of something you'd see on "Almost Famous", played a supposed "peace" festival and got paid in bags of weed.

https://isaacsloaneandthesoundbrigade.com/

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Come see Chris J Norwood & The Knockdown Dragout May 30th at the Doublewide in Dallas with Austin soul powerhouse Tomar & The FCs.

https://www.chrisjnorwood.com/shows

Follow Chris J Norwood on Instagram: @chrisjnorwood

And Facebook: @chrisjnorwood

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Follow The Strangest Gig on Instagram: @thestrangestgig

Our guest this episode is Rob Garner. In addition to being a supremely talented bass player, Rob is also the Editor and Publisher of Buddy Magazine, The Original Texas Music Magazine. Rob also holds the esteemed designation of being a "Texas Tornado". We get into what print music journalism and physical media look like in today's digital age, as well as how important it is and what it means to the health of the local music scene. We also hear a harrowing tale of the total mayhem that occurred during a Rigor Mortis show at the old Theatre Gallery in Deep Ellum.

www.buddymagazine.com

(Thanks to Maureen Womack at Rabbit Hat Promotions for her help in setting this interview up.)

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Follow us on Instagram:

@thestrangestgig

@chrisjnorwood

www.chrisjnorwood.com

Happy New Year! Our guests this month are Corey Pond from Spune Productions and Joe Morrison from Mullen & Mullen Law Firm. They stop by to talk about the first annual Jambaloo; a free, week-long live music event in the DFW area from February 2-8, 2025. 4 venues, 8 days, 25 showcases, and100+ bands. We also hear their prospective, as avid music fans, on the importance of a vibrant local original music scene and how it should be supported. And we hear about Corey's encounter with the very paranoid lead singer of Modest Mouse, Isaac Brock.

www.spune.com

www.jambaloo.live

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www.chrisjnorwood.com

Follow us on Instagram: @thestrangestgig

The Rev. Shawn Amos has had an extraordinary life and career in the music business. His father Wally Amos, best known as the delicious genius behind the Famous Amos cookie brand, was also a successful talent scout (the first black talent scout in the country to be exact) working with the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Simon & Garfunkel and many more.

So you could say that the music business is in Shawn's blood. Shawn forged his own path, working his way up as an A&R man for Shout! Factory! and Rhino Records. Among the many great artists he worked on records with include soul singer Solomon Burke, Herb Alpert, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Matthew Sweet, and the late great Quincy Jones, who sadly passed away shortly after we recorded this interview.

Also an acclaimed author, Shawn's book "Cookies & Milk" was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens!

And on top of all that Shawn is a accomplished blues musician and singer/songwriter. His latest albums include the funk-inspired joyful blues album "Soul Brother No. 1" and a live album of 13 Rev classics entitled, "Vivir En España". Recorded on a recent tour of Spain.

We get into all that and more in this fascinating conversation with The Rev. Shawn Amos.

www.shawnamos.com

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Come check out my band, Chris J Norwood & The Knockdown Dragout, at the legendary Longhorn Ballroom in south Dallas on Fri. Dec. 6, 2024. We'll be opening for Marc Broussard.

Tickets at: www.chrisjnorwood.com/shows

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Follow The Strangest Gig on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/thestrangestgig 

Our guest this episode is comedian Paul Varghese. Paul has been making people laugh all across the country for over 20 years, but got his start Dallas and still calls Dallas home. He's opened for such comedic luminaries as the late great Joan Rivers and Dave Chapelle as well as many others. We talk about how Paul got his start in the business, what it was like to work with those legends, the effects of cancel culture on the industry, and whether or not we're in a "comedy boom". And finally Paul tells the story of working a college gig that got over shadowed by a build-a-bear workshop next door; and the story of a working-the-crowd assist from Back To The Future's Biff Tannen. Be sure to check out Paul's new stand-up special on YouTube, releasing late 2024.

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Follow The Strangest Gig on Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestrangestgig

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The Strangest Gig is hosted by Chris J Norwood

www.chrisjnorwood.com

www.facebook.com/chrisjnorwood

www.instagram.com/chrisjnorwood

My guest this episode is Jason Hays. Jason is the SVP of Brand Experience for The Great State Fair Of Texas, which means (among his many responsibilities) he is in charge of booking the music acts; of which there are 80+ local and regional. We talk about the rich musical heritage as well as the current and future stellar musical acts that the fair has to offer.

The State Fair Of Texas starts Fri. Sept 27 and runs through Oct. 20.

The Strangest Gig is back from summer hiatus with our wonderful guest, keys player extraordinaire Chad Stockslager. Chad has been a member of a number of prominent DFW bands, most notably the last ten years with Hard Night's Day (DFW's preeminent Beatles tribute act), as well as with the rowdy county group The King Bucks, and most recently with The Bastards of Soul. We get into the differences between playing in tribute bands versus original bands. Also, Chad tells some stories of his time in the King Bucks, backing up the legendary Wanda Jackson, as well as the rowdy times that occurred during their Monday night residency at Adair's Saloon. We also talk about Chad's latest creative venture.