In 2009, six musicians with varied backgrounds from tejano to metal came together after a chance meeting at a Christian retreat.
They came together to create Trinity, a Christian rock cover band. Since forming, the band has performed at other retreats, private functions and at Island of Praise at South Padre Island.
You can catch a performance by Trinity at the ACTS Eucharistic Celebration at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Mercedes Livestock Show Grounds.
Until then, read more about the band and the retreat that brought them together when Festiva spoke with drummer Reynaldo Reyes III.
FESTIVA: What is an ACTS retreat, anyway?
REYNALDO: It’s a retreat you go on for a weekend to get rid of the daily life. To get away. It’s to put things in perspective. It gets you connected back with what’s really important.
FESTIVA: And now you guys perform at those retreats. What’s that like?
REYNALDO: We’ve been playing on many different occasions on Candlelight. It’s a particular thing at the retreat … I’d love to tell you more about it, but you have to experience it yourself.
FESTIVA: How did you decide to go on retreat?
REYNALDO: My wife went on retreat and she said, “You know what? You’re going to go.” She
literally packed my bags. I experienced it with everyone else in the band and everyone plays everything from tejano … to heavy metal music and they all just decided to leave it and play this.
Valley artist Rocky “A1″ (a.k.a. “Tha Sauwce”) Gonzalez had to reschedule the release of his mixtape “Swisha Sweets ‘n’ Wet Sheets” due to a power outage to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Nox Diem in McAllen.
There will be several door prizes, drink specials and performances by some local artists, including DJ Jon Wayne Eaden, Jandre, Kold Ice and Killa.
WHEN: 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9
WHERE: Nox Diem, 202 S. 17th St., McAllen
COST: No cover for the club, but $5 cover for the release party
CALL: Rocky, (956) 330-2821 or Marco, (956) 607-7815 (for reservations)
The McAllen Artwalk will kick off its eighth season at 6 p.m. tonight on Main Street in Downtown McAllen. There are many veterans returning this year as well as some new faces among the venues participating in the event. The popular outdoor concert series Music After Hours returns to Artwalk night at Archer Park.
From paintings and handcrafted jewelry to performance art and music, there’s something for almost anyone who appreciates the arts.
Artwalk happens the first Friday of each month from September through May.
Here’s a look at a few of the events happening at Artwalk.
1. Jac-Lin’s Florist and Gallery, 1307 N. Main St.
Caroline Moore will be the featured artist this month. It’s her first time showing at Jac-lin’s. The painter will showcase her landscapes. There will be hors d’oeuvres and more artists showing and selling their work.
2. Art House, 1009 Laurel Ave.
A reception is planned during Artwalk for a new exhibit at Art House. “Transcending the Print: A Non-Traditional Approach to Printmaking” will debut.
The front parking lot at the bar and restaurant will host an artist’s market, featuring local arts and crafts for sale.
5. J’aime Les Livres (I Love Books), 1219 N. Main St.
Several middle school and high school students will have their art featured on the used bookstore’s walls. Curl up in a chair with a good book and mark your page with bookmarks made by local artists. Also, members of a high school choir may be performing.
6. Arts Village, 800 N. Main St.
Several businesses at the Arts Village will be participating in Art Walk, including the newest resident The Tipsy Canvas. Visitors are welcome to bring a beverage, friends and register to paint. The subject for Art Walk night is a koi fish.
Also check out McAllen Stained Glass, Susy’s Dance and Fitness, art + DKOR, ZM Gallery and Pineda Covalin and Imagine Showroom.
7. Arts Business District Center, 813 N. Main St.
The ABDC will be featuring contemporary artist Rebecca “Keka” Kuri’s work.
8. Nuevo Santander Gallery, 717 N. Main St.
9. Douglas Clark Studio, 700 N. Main St.
Aside from professional art on display at the studio, poet Daniel Garcia Ordaz will have a reading at 7:30 p.m. Other poets will also have readings, and their books will be available for purchase.
10. McAllen Public Library, 601 N. Main St.
A couple of visual artists, a photographer, ceramics or pottery artist, glitter tattoo artist who will be demonstrating, a student group and young artists from FRIDA will be there. There will be a teen art activity and children’s art activity – paper flowers. The library will also have new library ambassadors who will inform the public about the new library, which is scheduled to open Dec. 2011.
11. S. Klein Galleries, 521 N. Main St.
12. Bisque-it Shop, 200 N. Main St.
13. Renaissance Casa de Palmas Hotel, 101 N. Main St.
14. Music Afterhours, Archer Park, 101 N. Broadway
Many artists and vendors will be displaying art, crafts and items for sale at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s artisan market.
ART WALK AFTER DARK
WHEN: 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
WHERE: Jackie O’s, 2000 Nolana Ave.
Once Artwalk wraps up and the galleries close their doors, head over to Jackie O’s to keep the night going. A group of local artists will be showing at the bar and lounge.
Valley artist Rocky “A1″ (a.k.a. “Tha Sauwce”) Gonzalez had to reschedule the release of his mixtape “Swisha Sweets ‘n’ Wet Sheets” due to a power outage to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Nox Diem in McAllen.
There will be several door prizes, drink specials and performances by some local artists, including DJ Jon Wayne Eaden, Jandre, Kold Ice and Killa.
WHEN: 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9
WHERE: Nox Diem, 202 S. 17th St., McAllen
COST: No cover for the club, but $5 cover for the release party
CALL: Rocky, (956) 330-2821 or Marco, (956) 607-7815 (for reservations)
We Light the Night, a Christian rock band from Brownsville, just returned from a tour that covered 10,000 miles and two weeks.
The group is a big family. Lead singer Ryan Moore, lead guitarist Chris Moore and bassist Marcus Moore are all brothers. Ryan’s vocals are also accompanied by his wife Jacquelyn. Long-time Moore friend Brophy is also in the band.
Their recent tour took them to North Texas, Ohio and even Canada. Lead singer Ryan Moore was kind enough to answer some of our questions recently.
Q: What is the biggest influence for your music?
A: We all listen to alot of different music and when we come together we kind of put it all together. My wife and I listen to bands such as Coldplay, Mutemath, 30 seconds to mars, Future of Forestry, Brooke Fraser and Paper Tongues. My brothers and our drummer listen more to bands like Emery, Underoath, Hawkboy, Memphis May Fire, Closure in Moscow and similar artists. When we come together we bring all of our ideas to the table to make one sound, but at the same time trying to bring originality to the process.
Q: What is the band’s mission?
A: Our mission is to make a difference in our community, our church and the world. We are all about spreading the name of Jesus everywhere we go. We are all about teaching young people about having a relationship with God instead of being in religion. We have a passion to see Churches Awaken to the cause of fighting injustice wherever it may be found and to see God’s kingdom come on this earth.
Adaptation seems to be an art local David Garcia has mastered.
Last year, the 26-year-old from Mission auditioned for FOX’s “American Idol” in Dallas, but he didn’t make it through to the next round.
This year, Garcia tried for a spot on NBC’s “The Voice.” The singer was the winner of a local Valley contest held by KVEO Channel 23, an NBC affiliate, which paid for him to attend the audition in Houston.
Garcia said there were noticeable differences between the auditions for “AI” and “The Voice.”
Three judges sat in front of the singers in a packed arena for “AI.”
“Everybody is thrown into the same room … and everyone is singing (at the same time),” Garcia said. “It’s so stressful.”
The setup for “The Voice” was more tolerable, and Garcia didn’t have to stand in line all day. One judge sat in a room where Garcia and nine others gathered to show off their talents.
“‘The Voice’ was a little better,” Garcia said. “It was more one-on-one.”
As the lead singer for local band Tanke, Garcia has shifted his musical style and genres to change with the demand.
“We started doing a little more hip hop because that’s what people wanted, you know, downtown,” Garcia said.
So the former rock and blues band added more funk, r&b and hip hop to their repertoire.
“There are rock bands still down here, but they’re not gigging as much as they used to,” Garcia said. “I’m fortunate to have at least two gigs per week.”
While Garcia didn’t make it to the next round for “AI” last season or “The Voice” auditions last week, he’ll keep singing.
“It’s weird how I just transitioned,” he said. “The Valley changed with downtown, and I just went along with it. I just like music, so I’m not going to just not do music because nobody wants to hear rock. I’m going to go out there and find the music people want to listen to and play it.”
SEE TANKE LIVE
WHEN: Wednesday nights
WHERE: Santa Fe Steakhouse and Cantina, 1918 S. 10th St., McAllen
Local artists and fans of those singers, songwriters and bands have a new home on the internet. ToneFrame, created by Harlingen musician Xavier Gonzalez, features artists of the Rio Grande Valley.
The free website allows users to create a profile, complete with space for a bio, a status update, tour information, artist links and videos. There’s also a comment section for fans to connect with their favorite singers and bands.
Think of it as a locally-based combination of MySpace and Facebook, but with a focus on music.
It’s been five years since the members of Holy Smoke stashed their guitars and drumsticks, but come Saturday, Sept. 3, fans of the local cover band will get to see them rock again.
Whisky D will warm up the stage for the Holy Smoke reunion concert at Paradise Roadhouse Bar and Grill in Weslaco.
Festiva is the Rio Grande Valley’s prime source for live music, entertainment, nightlife, food, arts and human interest stories. E-mail your event notice (two weeks in advance), story suggestion, comment, complaint, etc., to festivamagazine@gmail.com.
In 2009, six musicians with varied backgrounds from tejano to metal came together after a chance meeting at a Christian retreat.
