John "RG" Stark, John Sirman, Kevin Kelnar, Eric Hisaw, Vicente Rodriguez, Larry Tracy, Mark O'Boyle, Bill McCullough, "Doppler" Bob...
Influences
Waylon Jennings, Doug Sahm, Charles Mann, Calexico, Patsy Cline, Buddy Holly, Neko Case, Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Paycheck, The Knievels, The Byrds, Wynn Stewart, Los Lobos, Bobby Charles, Cookie and the Cupcakes, Gram Parsons...
In the Jan. 5, 2007, Austin Chronicle, "Shrimp Boat Town" made Christopher Gray's local top ten list for 2006. Thanks, Christopher!
On Jan. 21, 2007, Charlie Martin of KOOP 91.7 FM named "Shrimp Boat Town" among his favorite Austin-related albums of 2006. Thanks, Charlie!
"Austin fivepiece Blue Diamond Shine's Shrimp Boat Town evokes a place where, in frontman John Stark's elegant bayou poetry, 'The jukebox is your only friend.' His well-spent quarters pay handsome dividends: the timeless swamp-pop of 'Lonely, Lonely Eyes,' Tex-Mex chug of 'The Desperate Side,' forlorn honky-tonk of 'Karaoke Queen,' and clever nods to R.E.M. and Rockpile on 'Karankawa Daughters' and 'The Judge.' -- Chrisopher Gray, Austin Chronicle
"Blue Diamond Shine are a smart outfit led by one John G. Stark, and their 'Karankawa Daughters' is tough, swampy and efficient and a great update of Creedence Clearwater's potent sound." -- Tim Peacock, Whisperin & Hollerin
"This is haunting, gorgeous Country music." -- Will Sheff, Okkervil River
"Led by John Stark, Blue Diamond Shine twangs with the kind of gothic/desperate-men-do-desperate-things lyrics that haunt while propelling the boot-scooting." -- Jim Beal, San Antonio Express News
"Blue Diamond Shine plays classic outlaw country based on the blueprint drawn by Johnny Cash... That Godforsaken Road uses the same jumping off point as the Bloodshot set, but with more reverance for and adherance to the sound laid down by folks like Merle Haggard..." -- The Onion, Madison, Wis.
"John Stark of Blue Diamond Shine writes about moral struggles just the same way Gram Parsons once did it, and sings 'em much like Jimmie Dale Gilmore does today. 'That Godforsaken Road' traveled by this five-piece is hard one, but its also going somewhere special. The production is sparse, yet the playing is tight and focused. The song 'Jet Planes and Rattlesnakes' gives a good overview of how Blue Diamond Shines tales describe a world where the modern jet age meets the harsh barren country like, that exists way outside of town. Stark writes the kinds of songs that may bring empathy to the listener one moment, then pity the next. Whatever the emotion, however, one can't listen to this music and still remain unmoved. Blue Diamond Shine is a sparkling example of what traditonal country music is all about." -- Dan Macintosh, The Roughstock Network
"The very real strengths on this Austin group's second album are John Stark's offbeat songwriting, Eric Hisaw's crisp lead guitar and Larry Tracy's lush steel ... Stark's lyrics make the effort very worthwhile on all ten originals, particularly 'Jetplanes and Rattlesnakes' and 'Comedy and Tragedy.'" -- John Conquest, 3rd Coast Music
"With touches of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and Tom Russell, Blue Diamond Shine offers an excellent collection." -- Robert Wooldridge, Country Standard Time
"You generally cannot miss with a band whose singer has hair that tall and jet black. Trad rock meets Mavericks meets, well, you tell me." -- WILCO Great American Airwaves Radio
"Austin-based Country Rock that isn't afraid to get a little surreal. Blue Diamond Shine peppers its sound with dreamy pedal steel slides, rattlesnake rhythms, and a singer who sounds like Chris Isaak with a longer inseam." -- Listen.com
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I played "Ill Have Somebody ELse-bonus track)on the newly GRAMMY nominated cd, Willie and the Wheel (Willie Nelson and AATW)!!!!!BRAND NEW SONGS UP TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the band just got on reverbnation..check it out..www.reverbnation.com/therubyjaneshow
How is everything, I hope good? Comment and rate my new video "Strictly Bout My Cash"on youtube, and download my mixtape if you haven't already. Make sure you burn a copy to a cd so you can bang it in the ride. Thank you, enjoy. I'll halla!
Hey, Im posting new videos today! and if you are in Texas, come on out to Six Flags (san Antonio) Friday where I'll be performing with Drake Bell (of Nickelodeon's Josh and Drake) and Saturday with Drake in Six Flags Dallas. Sunday I will be at Jo's on Congress in Austin! Hope to see some of yall out this weekend! And TUESDAY July 14, the band will be filming a performance for the tv show at SAXON PUB! Be in the audience for the tv show 4:30 to 6!!!!!!!! Ruby Jane
My new single is now out to radio "FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LOVE LIFE". A special thanks to "The Conman Radio Show" at CONMANRADIO.COM" for debuting it world wide! Also don't forget to request FIRST DAY with your radio stations!
What's Up Fam!!! haven't really hit the myspace messages in a bit!! just thought I'd update ya with new info from urs truly...The first Chapter of my latest mixtape series..."I Give...They Take..." is on the way, hit me up at my blogpage at gyfted. blogspot. com with details for more new music and my website Gyftonline. com coming soon!!!
much luv
-G
Hey! We need your help! We're in this contest and the top four bands get an opening spot on the Little Big Town tour! All you have to do to help us out is click the yellow demand it button below and put in your zip code!
Hey John, thanks for the friendship. As the tire hum shifts and the karoke queen keeps on singin, I'm just sittin' here drinking, and thinking, about the good times I had playing steel with ya'll. See ya soon... Doppler Bob
I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT DAY! I AM HONORED TO HAVE YOU AS A FRIEND HERE ON MYSPACE.. I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE TUNES.KEEP IN TOUCH MY FREIND. YOUR GOOD TIME BUDDY, KJ
What's Goin' On? I hope you're well. I've got a new song up titled, "Honky-Tonk Honeymoon." And I'm having another drawing for a free KC Roberts hat, the hat is in my pics. 116 people entered the last drawing by commenting on the song "She's Mine." And the winner is.......................Nancy, of New Market, Tennessee. To Enter the next drawing, All You have to do is send me a comment letting me know that you've listened to "Honky-Tonk Honeymoon," and preferably whether you liked it, and I'll enter you into the October hat drawing. The deadline is Nov.1 at midnight. So stay warm this winter in a Brand new KC Roberts hat. I hope you win. Thanks for your support. -KC
Oct 9 2008 9:00P The Brickmakers - UK Norwich Oct 10 2008 8:00P The Leopard-UK Doncaster, South Yorkshire Oct 11 2008 8:30P Hark to Towler - UK Tottington Bury gtr: Manchester Oct 12 2008 8:00P Half Moon - UK Putney, London Oct 15 2008 7:30P The Chequers Inn Hook, Hampshire Oct 16 2008 9:30P The Diamond -- UK Sutton in Ashfield, Notts Oct 17 2008 8:30P Riga Music Bar - UK Westcliffe-on-Sea Oct 18 2008 9:00P Riff’s Bar - UK Hook, Swindon Oct 19 2008 8:00P British Legion Allestree -- UK Derby, UK
How you doing? Did I already ask you to listen to the drums on the song, "She's MIne" Everyone who enters a comment on that song before the end of the month will be in a drawing for a KC Roberts Hat, The Hat is Awesome, it's very thick, black with custom embroidery with my logo that's on my site on the front and it's trimmed out in this fine barbed wire looking embroidery. I'll post a picture of it Saturday. So if you've already commented, then good luck, but if you haven't then let me know what you think about the drums and the song. Thanks, KC
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