Renfest 2026...

Cathy was a bit under the weather this past weekend. She marshalled enough strength to sit in a lawn chair and praise the almighty soccer on Saturday morning but was not up to a trip with the Zamora clan to the Texas Renfest. I was up to the task. It had been a few years since I had attended the Renfest and as usual I tried to recall past trips that had been documented on blog posts but with Cathy's help we remembered that once upon a time pre internet when Mary was one year old we took my mom to renfest with us. Mom was probably just a bit younger than I am now. Thanks kids, for taking me. 

We met up with the Smith family there and with all in costume we made an afternoon of medieval times.   

 Nico is not going to recall this trip but they will tell him, "that time you went with pop-pop."

 I took as many photos of drummers and belly dancers as I could. This is an old renfest favorite, Tartanic. 

You can check out some 20 year old old renfare blog posts here and here. I'm pretty sure we've been sometime between my mom's trip in probably 1992 and the 2007 links and now but I don't have the info at hand. 

There are many shows to see and though we made only an afternoon of it I feel we caught a good sample of the entertainment and excitement the fair offers each year. 

There were some horns...

...and I got this one after dark photo of a brass quintet with tuba playing from a balcony as I passed by. 

More music. 

Won't somebody tell me, just what does a plague doctor do? 

Some people lost their hang chops before the fireworks. 

A photo from 2007. Still my favorite belly dancer.

Still a few weeks left. Check out some renfest if you can. 

 

 

Great Concert Last Night...

 The Angelina College Visual and Performing Arts Department put on a fine small ensemble concert last night. There was a handbell choir, a sax trio a drum duo, a piano solo, a flute choir and two polka bands including our Lufkin Brass Group which I played in. The participants ranged from community members to students to members of the Angelina Civic Band all combining to have fun and provide free entertainment for anyone interested in good music.  I should have taken more photos of each group but I was partial if there was tuba onstage. 

The Lufkin Brass and that's me on tuba. I think our formation dates to 2019 and we have played off and on through this time at The Texas Forest Festival, the occasional BBQ joint, benefit or church and have had a few membership changes but it was enjoyable to play again with our latest lineup for an appreciative crowd.  

The other polka band on the program was "The Hungry Five." That's Phil on tuba. 

They called this group the "AC Chamber Winds." Since we were in the small hall at the college it's the main band reduced in size a bit performing one of the tunes that will be on our Nov. 19th Temple Theater Concert. 

Word in the bandhall after the concert was that this was a great success and the next small ensemble will be in Early April 2027. 

It's Not Every Day You Find Your Photo in a Book You are Reading...

 I read this book, "Making Music for the Snarks" by local author and historian the late Bob Bowman. It's a great history of an early community band The Hoo-Hoo Band, from Lufkin, Tx which rose to great prominence. I was surprised to find two photos of me in the book. I've long participated (on and off) in the local community bands since my high school years and still play in the current Angelina Civic Band.

The Hoo-Hoo Band was formed in the early 1900s in Lufkin, Tx as a community or what they called "Trib" band. You would recognize many of these organizers and players as there are street and parks that carry their names today. Since these were the important movers and shakers of the time many were involved in the timber industry and the book tells how the Hoo-Hoo band became the official band of the Fraternal Order of the Hoo-Hoo which is a fraternity for those involved in this business. The band traveled nation wide and played at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. 

It must have been some fun to be in the band and the order because there were many nonsense words, mysterious ceremonies, costumes, offices such as the Grand Snark and I suspect large amounts of alcohol involved.

In fact I recall once in the 1980s when I was participating in a revival of the band that included replica uniforms provided by the TLL Temple Foundation the Grand Snark himself, who was based in Australia at the time visited Lufkin. I recall the band being invited to a dinner at the old Henderson Red Barn. I don't really remember anyone from the timber industry being present but the Grand Snark played ukulele, sang dirty limericks and the booze was free. When in Hoo-Hoo do as the Hoo Hoos do. 

Here's a photo from a gig outside the 1987 Service League Ball. We played as guests arrived. There are a couple of people in this photo I played with at Civic band rehearsals last night. 

I don't recall this quintet gig at all (maybe still hungover from the Grand Snark visit) and while I remember the euphonium players name I do not recall any of the other musicians and Denum. Piano Company has gone out of business. Photo is captioned "rehearsal for Christmas concert 1985" but we are in the replica uniforms so I suspect some kind of busking event. That's me with the sousaphone.  

I'm not the only family member mentioned as the book covers quite a bit of the town history. My 3rd great uncle Benjamin Franklin Nerren gets a brief shout out as Angelina County Sheriff and Marshal during the time of the Hoo Hoos.

This was a great little book and I bought it at the local library for $10.  

I might get this black cat with the 9 tail for a tattoo. When in Lufkin, do as the Hoo Hoos do. 

 

          

    

Fun With Music...

 Of course a grandkid is always up for honking on something around here but musical endeavors have been very fulfilling of late. 

There's been a new season of civic band rehearsals begin and in addition to the big time Temple Theater concert on Nov. 19 we have a small ensemble concert for various sub groups scheduled on Oct 29th in Hudgins Hall. Our polka band The Lufkin Brass will ride again with 2 or three numbers on that program. I am squeezing in extra rehearsals with the college band this week also just because it's fun. 

This past weekend I played a few jazzy numbers, folk songs and old spirituals at a birthday party Dr. Guessipina Bonner. Dr. Bonner is a member of our church, helps with SVDP, has a hand in preserving local history, is on the city council and is just generally a local good person of note. I was proud to play and the plate of oxtail, fried catfish, greens, field peas and cornbread I was paid with was on point. The event was catered by Bigg Boyzz  and I suggest you check out the spice line he sells. 

Finally one of the most rewarding musical adventures has been playing with the St. Patrick's Bilingual Children's Choir. We came into this job when one of the group leaders, Hugo who I worked with at the old papermill began cancer treatments that has limited his teaching of music to these kids which he was doing a very great job of. The other leader Maria was in one of our choirs when she was a teen so you can see while it may seem like we are doing something new this is just a continuation of long productive relationships in our community. 

The kids are playing guitars, percussion and flute so well under Hugo's coaching that all Cathy and I have to do is give some tips on things they need to know about presentation, basically getting stopped and started in an orderly fashion with a tune, setting up of music stands and music to be ready and just an occasional "thousand picks and patch cables" thing you have to know that no one tells you. 

I do have some good video from a rehearsal this past weekend we set to Hugo during his treatment stay in Houston but I'll get parental permission before posting. Here's an audio recording at this link to get the idea. 

Speaking of the parents of these kids they are a great group. They get the kids to rehearsal, help with set up and music distribution and do what they call "raising them right." This past weekend as always the group sings the old 14th century prayer, Anima Christi after Communion and we just used one 9 year old playing acoustic guitar for accompanist. I looked out and saw his mom crying because it was so pretty and because he played so well. I told her later my mom cried a lot when I played but it was because it was either tuba or what she called "honky tonkin'" songs.     

So say what you will. My brother says I will never get a job again after posting this and I say "good!" and this digeridoo rain drone is bringing a tropical depression ashore somewhere south of here. 

 

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New Blog Character Nico Manuel Zamora...

 New blog character Nico Manuel Zamora arrived today right on schedule and to quote the pediatrician,  "he's perfect."  Parents are doing well and should discharge from the hospital tomorrow. 

Of course the brothers are very excited. 

They all wanted to hold him. 

Of course grandma wanted to hold him. 

And you can expect that baby in the tuba photo soon.

Mary is off work for three months. The boys start school Friday and Milo begins 3 year old pre-k. When Mary goes back to work that's when Pop-Pop's tutoring will begin. 

Brass Against at The Great American Brass Band Festival...

Despite this photo of some of my instruments, the tuba, the resonator guitar and the washboard (I don't really play the washboard I just take it to backyard party jams where it attracts people that play nothing and think, "I can play this" and it makes my tunes more interesting)  I'm not a metal guy. I'm talking about the particular genre of heavy rock music, not instruments made of metal' It's music that I really can't define because I know so little but I can tell you I enjoyed the performance of Brass Against at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Ky. which we attended a few weeks ago very much.   

Brass Against covers music by heavy rock bands such as Tool, Rage Against the Machine, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden and Led Zeppelin in a brass band format fronted by a lead singer in a kilt. 

Of course with heavy rock music you need heavy instruments and my favorite dude in the band was tuba player Joe Exley. If you have heard tuba on records, TV and video game soundtracks it was probably Joe. 

There is actually a message to the music and the group chooses political songs to raise awareness of issues, encourage activism and change. According to quotes attributed to guitarist Brad Hammonds, they "wanted to do something besides simply expressing views on social media."

This band brings to mind the words of my grandchildren when they try to pick up something and are surprised when it is beyond their strength, "Heavy!" 

Brass music can open up the world for you. As I said I'm not familiar with many of the tunes they cover but check out he video of their mashup of The White Stripes and Curtis Mayfield. Anyone covering Curtis is cool in my book and Jack White is a favorite around here. It might just make you grab up a washboard.  

 

Sooza Brass at The Great American Brass Band Festival...

 We saw many bands at The Great American Brass Band Festival on our recent trip and they were all great. One that stood out for me was Sooza Brass from Gainesville, Florida. 

I could plagiarize from the band's website to describe their music but using my own words I'd say they have some similar elements to a couple of dual sax and drum bands which I have seen and bought cds by called Moon Hooch and Big Blitz. Afterwards I met the band, a bunch of friendly nice young people who when I told them my impressions they said, "Yeah!" 

Seems a popular brass band style of dress is the Dickies zip up coverall type garment which is how my dad dressed to go fishing. Louie Meshoit, the Cajun fiddle player in the Lost Bayou Ramblers wears a pair on his gigs. Like Louie my dad chose the lighter browns and sky blues while the brass bands choose black or maybe dark blue. I happen to have one of these garments in dark blue but it's never occurred to me to wear it to a gig. I do like the look. It gives the band a post apocalyptical/tech/punk/Devo sort of vibe that they fine tune with their music to get the message across.

I did meet the tuba player, Bianca at the merch booth and bought a t shirt with a tuba on it. She had a nice tuba tone with a bit of grit to it and I ask how she got that sound. She said "plug ins" which is some kind of digital thing and makes me think she might be good at math since I'm still using tube amps, Big Muffs and envelope filters to chase sounds I hear in my head and they need no math.  

I suggest adding Sooza Brass to your playlist.

 

   

 

The Hot 8 Brass Band at The Great Americian Brass Band Festival...

 We saw the Hot 8 Brass Band at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Ky. I think the last time I saw them was in New Orleans at a Frenchman Street club in 2018.  The tuba great Bennie Pete was still leading the band. Bennie passed away due to COVID in 2021 and their latest release is in his honor and remembrance and is called "Big Tuba." Naturally this release is my new favorite and I bought it as soon as it came out. The Hot 8 has always been one of my favorites and they do a great job of bringing all the elements of New Orleans culture that I love so much together in a rocking show. 

Of course I think the tuba player in this band (I couldn't find a list of band member names) is great but my favorite guy in the band is one of the trumpet players. He's the guy on the left in this photo. 

Last time we saw them in New Orleans he was stone cool onstage but he seems to have a more prominent role center stage singing, second line style dancing, sweating and soloing that really highlights the joys of New Orleans brass band street culture. It makes me feel happy watching him. 

That looks like a happy drum and tuba section right there.

Trumpet and trombone.

Big Tuba!

I guess if I would have headed over to the merch tent I could have met the guys and I'd had names and probably a new t shirt but the weather was iffy and the Hot 8 set was cut short by rain and lightening. Actually when lightening was reported the band said "they say lightening but we will play one more," but festival officials quickly said, "no you won't" and that was it. It was enough and I though a great set.

 Instead of heading to meet the band we headed for the parking lot in the rain and our car was the last one there.

In 2014 my family, or most of us as I remember (only two grand kids at the time) all went to New Orleans for some of the early season Mardi Gras. There were no big floats but mostly walking parades and low crowd numbers with many brass bands and tubas. I snapped this photo after a parade and I did not know who it was at the time but it's Mr. Big Tuba, Bennie Pete of the Hot 8 with family. I don't think we saw the Hot 8 as such that weekend but Bennie was just out sitting in on the parades and enjoying the community, culture and this photo shows what kind of guy he was. 

Join the family. Get some Hot 8 right now.