Brian Kalinec

Around the Edge: Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference 2013
Written by Eddie Ferranti
Oct 18, 2013 at 02:00 AM
Rose and I were very excited to make our second visit to the Southwest Regional Folk Alliance in the great musical hot bed of Austin, Texas. The location was the same, Holiday Inn in Midtown, but the big difference for us was to actually stay on the grounds for the entire 4 days.

Last year was awesome, but being able to hang all the time at what we dub the "Folk Family Reunion" was beyond heartwarming and cool! Check-in was a breeze and the treatment by the staff was nothing but first class. This year was the 14th annual and the format was pretty much the same as the 13th. Thanks to the killer folks at Berkalin Records, we were treated to ample grub, cold beer and wine out by the pool listening to the unique format hosted by legend Butch Morgan where a total of 63 singer songwriters belted out one number a piece.

Morgan laid down the ground rules by saying: "I know you've probably written about nine good songs in your lifetime so deliver your best one without any fan fare please!" What a classic dude he is and having him jump in whenever the mood felt right only helped to enhance the experience.

The weather was a tad warm, but not as warm as the "feeling" amongst all involved. Out of the shoot dudes like Brian Kalinec, Roy Schneider and Brian Ashley Jones set the bar very high for all the participants. It really is hard to imagine how this machine gun format works without being there to witness it, but it really laid the foundation for folks to get an earful of somebody they could persue over the next 3 days.

In fact, on Saturday, they did the same thing, except due to prior obligations for BM, it was hosted by John & Jimmie Whipple in the Elm Room due to weather outdoors. Plus for good measure, the same format in the dinner hall happened before it ended on Sunday. The finale of talented Libby Koch, Kalinec and Morgan smoked down the pool with a tune called "Galveston"! The SWRFA did their best to give all a fair shot to at least play once and that's all you can ask.

On Thursday in the Elm Room also they had what they called the 6 bands that just missed the major showcase room gigs. As host Charlie Stewart said: "These performers were too good to be ignored!" Being held at 10:30pm after 4 hours by the pool the show was packed to SRO level. Impressive. Easiest way to proceed on HMR's takes will be to do a snapshot if you will of the artists who grabbed us!


EMILY HERRING

This lady not only grabbed our attention but kept us searching her out wherever we could find her. Her honky tonk cool voice on "My Heart is Waiting" was beyond sincere and a lyric she laid out of 'A fine line between a drunk and a good time" on "Turquoise Earrings" hit a home run! Plus "Austin (Ain't got no) City Limits" couldn't be a better testimony to the killer city where we were. "Austin makes the whole world smile!" Amen sister. "Terlingua" was also a touching tune we caught "somewhere" over the blur of SWRFA... Her infectious and honest straight forward personality captivated us and having a chance to visit with her in the nooks and crannies of SWRFA really was a treat. Girl is based out of San Marcos these days and we will run her down with what she says is a swingin' three piece band in tow!

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BETHEL STEELE

This lady was one who got our ear at the pool one song deal and then enhanced her presence during her 3 song follow-up. Her rawness comes across in a genuine coolness in more ways than one. Seeing her do "The Farm" and especially "Blue Skies" displayed how can she deliver both driving guiatar sound or softer finger pickin' gospel like texture to her delivery. Her 2012 release "Of Love & Whiskey" got as high as #16 on the Roots Music Report's top folk album chart and her latest EP "Broken Record" adds a 5-string banjo sound to her resume! The thing I'll fondly remember about this Boston based pepper pot was her love of hugging folks. We shared tales how Texas is a big hugging state and the Northeast and Midwest are not...Neato!

Friday and Saturday followed the exact same set up as 2012 with major showcases being held in the ballroom from 7:30pm-10pm followed by in room "mini-gigs" on the 7th thru 9th floors into the wee hours of the night. The sound was impeccable at the major showcases and framed the artists wonderfully. The in room presentations were first class with niblets of all delicious varieties coupled with beverages-both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Sweet! Again you can not really convey what it is like to enjoy killer artists giving it their all up-close-and personal in a hotel room! In no particular order I'd like to pay homage to the one - www.HoustonMusicReview.com

Harlan, Kalinec and Sanders - Marmion Park - Houston, TX

Written by James Killen
Apr 13, 2013 at 02:00 PM

What? There is a suddenly announced song swap in a park on a beautiful Saturday afternoon? Matt Harlan, Brian Kalinec… and they’ve got Don Sanders coming out for a spin? I am there!

Brian Kalinec and Lindsey Lee (of Rouse House Concerts) in conjunction with the Houston Heights Association arranged to set up a PA system in the gazebo at The Heights’ Marmion Park for a free two hour song swap. The Heights is fortunate to have many talented residents, three of which are Matt Harlan, Brian Kalinec and Don Sanders, that offered to donate their time to entertain residents and passers-through (like myself).

Matt Harlan, this year’s Texas Music singer/ songwriter of the year and nominated for “Darker Shades of Gray” in the 2013 bluegrass(?) song category by the Independent Music Awards committee is the youngest of the three. His career seems to be on a steady upswing and is looking forward to another tour this summer with his Danish friends that backed him up on his latest CD, “Bow and be Simple”.

Brian Kalinec was born in Beaumont, moved to Houston and has been exclusively in the music business for the last twelve years. His traditional folk songs have been nominated and won for numerous awards, including second place in the 2008 Woody Guthrie songwriting contest for “Fences”.

Brian is also founder and president of the Berkalin Records Label that has released a number of records including Matt Harlan’s. In addition to being a great singer/ songwriter, Kalinec is one of the most intuitive acoustic lead guitar players that I’ve seen. He seems to be able to sit down and lay out a lead with anyone that he shares the stage, getting straight to the heart of the melody of the other writer’s song.

Don Sanders is a patriarch of Houston folk music. He was featured prominently in the Anderson Fair tribute documentary, “For the Sake of the Song” and has influenced many songwriters, including Brian Kalinec and Lyle Lovett. Sanders has been involved politically in the Houston area for decades, having actively petitioned city council on issues and being one of the people that brought a Pacifica Station to Houston by being a founding member of KPFT in 1970.

Over the last few years, Sanders has spent his time teaching grade-schoolers bi-lingual songwriting, story-telling and music appreciation across the Southwest.

Since the release of “For the Sake of the Song”, Sanders has gotten with Rock Romano and put the finishing touches on some tapes that Rock had been hanging onto for years and releasing the CD, “El Mosquito in my Kitchen”. Sanders’ songwriting style is witty and saucy, and likely to sneak his point across before you see it coming.

Each of the artists played a nice selection of his best known work. What was truly noteworthy for the day was that people got up from their couches and from behind their computers, gathered friends and family together and went out to spend the day in the park listening to music. There were handshakes all around as neighbors got to know each other. Teens rode their skateboards on the sidewalks of the park. Preschoolers laughed and played chase. It was a wonderful afternoon that brought back memories of a time when a diverse group of people were tied together by being a community and enjoyed each other’s company. And, it was all free.

Get up, get out, and support live music.

- www.HoustonMusicReview.com

- For Immediate Release - January 17, 2013

Payline Productions / Texas Music AwardsTM / Academy of Texas Music, Inc.
P.O. Box 148
Linden, Texas 75563
Contacts: Lucky Boyd – Jinelle Boyd - 1-866-49-TEXAS

Nominees named for 11th annual awards show; voting has begun


LINDEN, TX – The Academy of Texas Music, Inc. released the list of official nominees for the 11th annual Texas Music AwardsTM in a worldwide Facebook event this week.

Lucky Boyd, President of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. was given the distinct honor of officially posting the list of nominees to the Texas Music Awards organization page on Facebook on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Boyd remarked, "This is such an exciting time for the Texas music-loving public and the musicians who create that music...being able to reach an unlimited number of fans around the globe was quite a thrill, and being able to personally watch the responses from Facebook visitors was exceptional."

Voting is also now open for the public at http://www.texasmusicawards.org/ and will continue until January 31st.

The awards show, which will be March 23rd, 2013 at The Texas Music Barn, the venue inside the World Headquarters of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc., 301 E. Houston St. in Linden, Texas, is presented by MyTexasMusic.com, the retail partner of the Texas Music AwardsTM and the show’s production company, Payline Productions.

The annual event also serves as a fundraiser for the non-profit Academy of Texas Music, Inc. which seeks sponsorships and donations to further its efforts toward music education programs, scholarships, recognition projects, and benevolence programs for musicians in need.

Jinelle Boyd, who is also the Producer of the Texas Music AwardsTM explains how important this process is to the nominees.

”These outstanding artists need something to bring them recognition for their regional success and help them gain the national attention they deserve. Even though some of our nominees are already quite popular in the music world, the Texas Music AwardsTM serve to give many of the newer artists a stepping stone to bigger and better things.”

One recipient in each category will hold the award title for the next year based on a complex voting system. The voting process includes a public involvement component, and interested fans are encouraged to visit the Texas Music AwardsTM website to learn more about the voting process which is now open and continues through midnight on Thursday, January 31st. Fans can listen to clips of music by all the nominees and can hear the tracks in their entirety for five Song of the Year nominees, five Record of the Year nominees, and the five Popular Cover Award nominees prior to voting.

“The public vote is important,” says Boyd, “because it proves that the artists have a connection with their fans, but the bulk of the voting is done by the Academy Board of Honorees. This group of past award recipients casts 70% of the ballots which decide who gets the award in the majority of these categories. This year’s recipients will be added to the Board of Honorees. This is how we insure that the awards are more about the music and less of a simple popularity contest.”

Boyd continues, "There is however, a popular element to the Texas Music AwardsTM. A few of the categories are decided by the public vote. The Live Band award and all the radio awards are decided in that fashion, and this year the Popular Cover category will be added. These results will tell fans who really is leading the charge in Texas music."

Sponsorships are available for the 11th annual awards show. Sponsors are important in order to raise the needed funds to fulfill the Academy's mission. It's also "the best marketing opportunity in Texas Music", Jinelle Boyd added.

More than a dozen performers will be showcased at the show between award presentations. Plans include performances on three additional stages in Linden. Additionally, there will be an after party in Jefferson.

For more information on voting, the awards, or sponsorships, visit www.texasmusicawards.org. Tickets will go on sale February 1st at the TMA website.

A list of the 2013 nominees appears below:

MALE VOCALIST
Mike Amabile for vocal performance on OPEN YOUR EYES by Mike Amabile (Houston, Texas)
Mark Allan Atwood for vocal performance on BURNED AT THE CROSSROADS by Mark Allan Atwood & Brimstone (Burnet, Texas)
Cameran Nelson for vocal performance on RECKLESS IN TEXAS by Cameran Nelson (Blanco, Texas)
Alex Smith for vocal performance on TRUE STORY by The Bigsbys (Palestine, Texas)
Robby White for vocal performance on SMALL TOWN OUTLAW by Robby White & The Tejas Gringos (Dallas, Texas)

FEMALE VOCALIST
Ashlee Rose for vocal performance on SONGS IN A SUITCASE by Ashlee Rose (San Antonio, Texas)
Jessie Samford for vocal performance on PARKER HEIGHTS by Parker Heights (North Zulch, Texas)
Myrna Sanders for vocal performance on BIG HEAD DIV - Academy of Texas Music

- For Immediate Release - January 17, 2013

Payline Productions / Texas Music AwardsTM / Academy of Texas Music, Inc.
P.O. Box 148
Linden, Texas 75563
Contacts: Lucky Boyd – Jinelle Boyd - 1-866-49-TEXAS

Nominees named for 11th annual awards show; voting has begun


LINDEN, TX – The Academy of Texas Music, Inc. released the list of official nominees for the 11th annual Texas Music AwardsTM in a worldwide Facebook event this week.

Lucky Boyd, President of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. was given the distinct honor of officially posting the list of nominees to the Texas Music Awards organization page on Facebook on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Boyd remarked, "This is such an exciting time for the Texas music-loving public and the musicians who create that music...being able to reach an unlimited number of fans around the globe was quite a thrill, and being able to personally watch the responses from Facebook visitors was exceptional."

Voting is also now open for the public at http://www.texasmusicawards.org/ and will continue until January 31st.

The awards show, which will be March 23rd, 2013 at The Texas Music Barn, the venue inside the World Headquarters of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc., 301 E. Houston St. in Linden, Texas, is presented by MyTexasMusic.com, the retail partner of the Texas Music AwardsTM and the show’s production company, Payline Productions.

The annual event also serves as a fundraiser for the non-profit Academy of Texas Music, Inc. which seeks sponsorships and donations to further its efforts toward music education programs, scholarships, recognition projects, and benevolence programs for musicians in need.

Jinelle Boyd, who is also the Producer of the Texas Music AwardsTM explains how important this process is to the nominees.

”These outstanding artists need something to bring them recognition for their regional success and help them gain the national attention they deserve. Even though some of our nominees are already quite popular in the music world, the Texas Music AwardsTM serve to give many of the newer artists a stepping stone to bigger and better things.”

One recipient in each category will hold the award title for the next year based on a complex voting system. The voting process includes a public involvement component, and interested fans are encouraged to visit the Texas Music AwardsTM website to learn more about the voting process which is now open and continues through midnight on Thursday, January 31st. Fans can listen to clips of music by all the nominees and can hear the tracks in their entirety for five Song of the Year nominees, five Record of the Year nominees, and the five Popular Cover Award nominees prior to voting.

“The public vote is important,” says Boyd, “because it proves that the artists have a connection with their fans, but the bulk of the voting is done by the Academy Board of Honorees. This group of past award recipients casts 70% of the ballots which decide who gets the award in the majority of these categories. This year’s recipients will be added to the Board of Honorees. This is how we insure that the awards are more about the music and less of a simple popularity contest.”

Boyd continues, "There is however, a popular element to the Texas Music AwardsTM. A few of the categories are decided by the public vote. The Live Band award and all the radio awards are decided in that fashion, and this year the Popular Cover category will be added. These results will tell fans who really is leading the charge in Texas music."

Sponsorships are available for the 11th annual awards show. Sponsors are important in order to raise the needed funds to fulfill the Academy's mission. It's also "the best marketing opportunity in Texas Music", Jinelle Boyd added.

More than a dozen performers will be showcased at the show between award presentations. Plans include performances on three additional stages in Linden. Additionally, there will be an after party in Jefferson.

For more information on voting, the awards, or sponsorships, visit www.texasmusicawards.org. Tickets will go on sale February 1st at the TMA website.

A list of the 2013 nominees appears below:

MALE VOCALIST
Mike Amabile for vocal performance on OPEN YOUR EYES by Mike Amabile (Houston, Texas)
Mark Allan Atwood for vocal performance on BURNED AT THE CROSSROADS by Mark Allan Atwood & Brimstone (Burnet, Texas)
Cameran Nelson for vocal performance on RECKLESS IN TEXAS by Cameran Nelson (Blanco, Texas)
Alex Smith for vocal performance on TRUE STORY by The Bigsbys (Palestine, Texas)
Robby White for vocal performance on SMALL TOWN OUTLAW by Robby White & The Tejas Gringos (Dallas, Texas)

FEMALE VOCALIST
Ashlee Rose for vocal performance on SONGS IN A SUITCASE by Ashlee Rose (San Antonio, Texas)
Jessie Samford for vocal performance on PARKER HEIGHTS by Parker Heights (North Zulch, Texas)
Myrna Sanders for vocal performance on BIG HEAD DIV - Academy of Texas Music

Texas is home to some great songwriters. Brian Kalinec may not be a household name outside of Texas but he’s definitely worth a listen or two or three or more. Brian’s heartfelt lyrics and impeccable playing and production are testament to the hard work that he has given to his craft. Songwriting awards are accumulating on his resume as more and more people come to appreciate his gift for words and music. These are songs that stick to your soul and refuse to budge.

For more information about Brian Kalinec, spend some time on his website.

What was it like growing up in Beaumont, Texas? I checked out the map and I see that it's fairly close to the Louisiana border, and also right up the road from Port Arthur, home of Janis Joplin.

Beaumont is an intriguing cross between a small town and a city, and was a great place as a youth. If you stay there any length of time, you will eventually meet just about everyone. The area has a recent but rich history due to the influence of the oil industry. It's primarily a blue collar, working class town and those values were instilled in me at an early age by my parents. I went to Catholic school for eight years, and those friendships are as strong as ever, as are those from high school and college which I also attended there. Being that close to Louisiana, we had a lot of people of French descent and thus a large Cajun influence in the culture there. As is the case with most cities in the south, Beaumont has a sizable African-American population, and I grew up at a time when the nation was trying to shake off the last vestiges of segregation. Interestingly enough, there is also a large Italian population that settled there in the late 1800's, so the food was great growing up. The place was a veritable cultural crossroads, but I didn't truly appreciate that until later. Port Arthur was just a smaller version of Beaumont--and all the towns in between. And yes, Janis was a musical hero, as was George Jones, Johnny and Edgar Winter, and the Big Bopper.

What music resonated with you as a child? You picked up the guitar early on; what did you want to learn to play?

I was influenced by a lot of different music. Of course, the blues were big in Beaumont, due to the African-American culture--Lightnin' Hopkins played there all the time, and Blind Willie Johnson, a gospel singer whose bottleneck slide playing was later studied and emulated by every premier slide player in the world, spent his last days there in the 40's. Country music was everywhere, at dancehalls and nightclubs. The Beatles and the rest of the British invasion hit just before I picked up the guitar, so that music influenced me a lot early on. And in elementary school, I played at some of the first Folk Masses in Beaumont when I was about 11. And we learned folk songs--Woody Guthrie, Peter Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, et al--from the nuns. I'd play about three hours a day, practicing rock & pop songs, and eventually playing in dance bands in high school. So I played a lot of different music, and enjoyed it all.

I actually picked up the guitar with a childhood friend, Kenny Scarborough, and we pushed each other. Kenny would learn a lick and then I'd have to try to outdo him. His dad was in a country band, so we were taught a good bit by him as well. Kenny is still a great friend and an incredible player.

When did you first start writing your own songs? Were you one of those people who wrote secretly in your bedroom and never shared your music with anyone or did you have an outlet to receive feedback from others?

I probably wrote my first song when I was about 11. All of the major groups wrote their own music so it just seemed the normal thing for me to do. I wasn't shy about sharing my music with others, although I'm certain some of those early songs didn't really need to be heard by an audience...

In college, I began to write more, but still played in groups that did mostly covers. I played a couple of summers five nights a week in clubs in Houston while working during the day. My songwriting improved substantially during this time, and there are a couple of songs from that period I occasionally play. Although I played professionally briefly after college, I didn't really get serious about writing until the 90's, while my daughter was in high school and college. That's when I joined the Fort Bend Songwriters Association (now called the Houston Songwriters Association).

Tell us about the Houston Songwriters Association. Did this organization help you get more serious about songwriting?

What a great move my involvement in that organization turned out to be for me! I found out about it in 1990 from a friend, Freddie Matthews, with whom I occasionally played. The critique sessions helped me immensely in learning what makes a song tick, so to speak. I learned how to edit songs and to make them as tight and cohesive as possible. We also had seminars - NoDepression.com

Texas is home to some great songwriters. Brian Kalinec may not be a household name outside of Texas but he’s definitely worth a listen or two or three or more. Brian’s heartfelt lyrics and impeccable playing and production are testament to the hard work that he has given to his craft. Songwriting awards are accumulating on his resume as more and more people come to appreciate his gift for words and music. These are songs that stick to your soul and refuse to budge.

For more information about Brian Kalinec, spend some time on his website.

What was it like growing up in Beaumont, Texas? I checked out the map and I see that it's fairly close to the Louisiana border, and also right up the road from Port Arthur, home of Janis Joplin.

Beaumont is an intriguing cross between a small town and a city, and was a great place as a youth. If you stay there any length of time, you will eventually meet just about everyone. The area has a recent but rich history due to the influence of the oil industry. It's primarily a blue collar, working class town and those values were instilled in me at an early age by my parents. I went to Catholic school for eight years, and those friendships are as strong as ever, as are those from high school and college which I also attended there. Being that close to Louisiana, we had a lot of people of French descent and thus a large Cajun influence in the culture there. As is the case with most cities in the south, Beaumont has a sizable African-American population, and I grew up at a time when the nation was trying to shake off the last vestiges of segregation. Interestingly enough, there is also a large Italian population that settled there in the late 1800's, so the food was great growing up. The place was a veritable cultural crossroads, but I didn't truly appreciate that until later. Port Arthur was just a smaller version of Beaumont--and all the towns in between. And yes, Janis was a musical hero, as was George Jones, Johnny and Edgar Winter, and the Big Bopper.

What music resonated with you as a child? You picked up the guitar early on; what did you want to learn to play?

I was influenced by a lot of different music. Of course, the blues were big in Beaumont, due to the African-American culture--Lightnin' Hopkins played there all the time, and Blind Willie Johnson, a gospel singer whose bottleneck slide playing was later studied and emulated by every premier slide player in the world, spent his last days there in the 40's. Country music was everywhere, at dancehalls and nightclubs. The Beatles and the rest of the British invasion hit just before I picked up the guitar, so that music influenced me a lot early on. And in elementary school, I played at some of the first Folk Masses in Beaumont when I was about 11. And we learned folk songs--Woody Guthrie, Peter Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, et al--from the nuns. I'd play about three hours a day, practicing rock & pop songs, and eventually playing in dance bands in high school. So I played a lot of different music, and enjoyed it all.

I actually picked up the guitar with a childhood friend, Kenny Scarborough, and we pushed each other. Kenny would learn a lick and then I'd have to try to outdo him. His dad was in a country band, so we were taught a good bit by him as well. Kenny is still a great friend and an incredible player.

When did you first start writing your own songs? Were you one of those people who wrote secretly in your bedroom and never shared your music with anyone or did you have an outlet to receive feedback from others?

I probably wrote my first song when I was about 11. All of the major groups wrote their own music so it just seemed the normal thing for me to do. I wasn't shy about sharing my music with others, although I'm certain some of those early songs didn't really need to be heard by an audience...

In college, I began to write more, but still played in groups that did mostly covers. I played a couple of summers five nights a week in clubs in Houston while working during the day. My songwriting improved substantially during this time, and there are a couple of songs from that period I occasionally play. Although I played professionally briefly after college, I didn't really get serious about writing until the 90's, while my daughter was in high school and college. That's when I joined the Fort Bend Songwriters Association (now called the Houston Songwriters Association).

Tell us about the Houston Songwriters Association. Did this organization help you get more serious about songwriting?

What a great move my involvement in that organization turned out to be for me! I found out about it in 1990 from a friend, Freddie Matthews, with whom I occasionally played. The critique sessions helped me immensely in learning what makes a song tick, so to speak. I learned how to edit songs and to make them as tight and cohesive as possible. We also had seminars - NoDepression.com

"Husband, father, son, brother, singer-songwriter, guitarist, president of Berkalin Records, retired girl's and women's softball coach, geoscientist, recycler, Eagle Scout, well-trained by chihuahuas." That's how songwriter Brian Kalinec (www.briankalinec.com) describes himself. Kalinec's new cd, "The Fence", has been receiving rave reviews and large amounts of radio airplay in the folk/Americana world, reaching #22 on the EuroAmericana chart in July. Brian is also the founder and President of Berkalin Records (www.berkalinrecords.com), a label which has released in addition to his own projects CDs by a number of notable award winning artists, including Matt Harlan, Jeff Talmadge, Bob Cheevers, the late Tim Henderson (whose last CD was produced by Brian), Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus, and George Ensle. He has won and been nominated for many awards, including : Winner of the 1st Annual Texas Songwriter’s Serenade songwriting contest at Fiddler’s Frolics - 2007, his music has been featured on ABC News’ World News Now, Nominated in the category of “Musician of the Year,” Texas Music Awards - 2008, chosen as one of three finalists in the Rose Garden Songwriting Contest in Massachusetts - 2008, Regional finalist, Kerrville New Folk Competition - 2008, Finalist, Susanne Millsaps Songwriting Competition/FT (now Snowbird) Festival, Snowbird Resort, UT- 2008, 2nd Place, Woody Guthrie Song Contest with his song “The Fence” - 2008, Winner, Big Top Chautauqua Song Contest, WI - 2008, “Singer/Songwriter of the Year” Nominee—Texas Music Awards - 2009, Regional Finalist-Southwest in the Mountain Stage New song Contest - 2010, Finalist-Great American Song Contest-Contemporary Acoustic Folk - 2010, and Recipient of Texas Music Awards' "MyTexan" Award for support of My Texas Music efforts and the music of their fellow members. Brian recently answered 10 questions for me.

Who are your songwriting influences?

Paul Simon, Sonny Throckmorton, James Taylor, Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, John Prine, Michael Martin Murphey, Townes Van Zandt, and probably a Beatle or two.

When and where was your first public performance?

I was 12 and a couple of buddies and I performed at a BBQ at the Knights of Columbus hall on Concord Rd in Beaumont, Texas

What was the first record or cd you purchased with your own money?

Probably the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" 45. Yep...true.

What was the first live concert you attended?

The Who at the City Auditorium in Beaumont. They were great, and for the final song, "I Can See for Miles" he took off his show guitar and replaced it with some gray spray painted beater before smashing it. I later learned reading an interview with him that he had to personally put those back together himself because his guitar sponsor wouldn't provide replacements...

Which venue would you most like to play that you haven't yet/ and which is your favorite venue to play?

I don't know if Europe counts as a venue, but I'm hoping to tour there sometime in the next year. As far as the second question, I've had the opportunity to play some wonderful venues, but my favorite has to be the Bugle Boy in LaGrange. Played there about five times and the ambience and the sound are incredible. Lane Gosnay and her cohorts are wonderful people who have truly created one of the best listening rooms anywhere.

What is the best career advice you've been given, and by whom?

Believe in yourself and be true to yourself, and give more than you receive. My mom and dad told me that.

Who are you listening to now?

Right at this moment I'm listening to Ryan Murphey. Perfect with a morning cup of coffee.

What is your best story about life on the road?

I don't know if I would consider it as "best", but it was definitely interesting. I was living in Houston one summer during college...my roommate was Steve McClintock, whom I met and played in a band with in high school. We were doing a gig together in Houston. We were heading back from Beaumont where we had performed for his parents' high school reunion. On the way back Sunday night as I was driving through the Baytown area on I-10, I saw a big brown object appear in my headlights...it was the tail end of a horse. I was in the left hand lane and the horse was in the median area, poked out onto the highway. Right after I hit the horse, Steve woke up and pulled my steering wheel to the right, thinking I had hit a barrier. Fortunately for us, I was driving a 68 Chevy Impala, a direct descendant of a tank and we were not hurt. Unfortunately for the horse, he was hit a second time by another vehicle, which stopped right behind us. And we were never able to locate the horse after going back to search for it.

What recordings are available to the public and where can they be purchased?

I have two CD's "Last Man Standing" and "The Fence". Both are available through mytexasmusic.com and are available on Itunes and the like for digital download. "The Fence - examiner.com

The new Americana/Roots album released from Berkalin Records featuring Brian Kalinec is making radio dj’s turn up their studio headsets.

Brian Kalinec is one of the most creative songwriters from the Texas music scene we have heard this year at Roots Music Report. All 12 tracks on his new album “The Fence” are simply wonderful to listen to.

There is something special about listening to songs by a singer of this caliber that seem to invite the listener into the private life and thoughts of the songs creator Brian Kalinec. You can actually become part of these songs if you close your eyes and let Brian lead you on a wonderful melodic trip of your own.

Good music is something to be revered and this new album is one that is.
Yes I must say “Revered” says it all.

Robert Bartosh
Roots Music Report


Reviewed By: Robert Bartosh - Roots Music Review

The new Americana/Roots album released from Berkalin Records featuring Brian Kalinec is making radio dj’s turn up their studio headsets.

Brian Kalinec is one of the most creative songwriters from the Texas music scene we have heard this year at Roots Music Report. All 12 tracks on his new album “The Fence” are simply wonderful to listen to.

There is something special about listening to songs by a singer of this caliber that seem to invite the listener into the private life and thoughts of the songs creator Brian Kalinec. You can actually become part of these songs if you close your eyes and let Brian lead you on a wonderful melodic trip of your own.

Good music is something to be revered and this new album is one that is.
Yes I must say “Revered” says it all.

Robert Bartosh
Roots Music Report


Reviewed By: Robert Bartosh - Roots Music Review

The album "The Fence" the Texas singer-songwriter Brian Kalinec shone proudly in the June edition of the Euro Americana Charts. A list of twenty-five albums is composed each month by critics, broadcasters and promotional staff. (The Fence) is recently promoted by its Swedish distribution company with Peter Holmstedt Hemifran the European promotion of American interests. As there are people who spread the gospel, so is the objective of "Good Music For All People" is paramount to the likeable Swede. None other than Tom Pacheco wrote for "The Fence" liner notes as appropriate praise, not too high seized: "In this 100th anniversary of Woody Guthrie's birth, these songs resonate in our own times. I'm sure Woody would have loved them. Brian sings, writes, and plays so seamlessly That it feels these songs have always been there... Together with Michael Mikulka produced in the Lucky Run Studios in Houston moves the storyteller on the acoustic album "The Fence" on the border between genres like folk, country and Americana. He has a pleasant singing voice and is also sincere and honest. Besides the beautiful A Song I Heard , written by Maury Muehleisen, the backing band of guitarist Jim Croce, is "The Fence" is composed of eleven original songs with beautiful melodies and great musical decor. Music as a breeze blows through your room. Fine music that is disarmingly modest pounding at the door of your heart."--Johan Shoenmakers, altcountryforum - altcountryforum (Netherlands)

Brian Kalinec is a born and bred Texan (Beaumont, Houston), and grabbed by music at a very young age. His thing is to write songs, for which he has won the requisite prizes and received much recognition. After 'Last Man Standing' in 2007, 'The Fence' its successor, is a very good CD from a real troubadour, a man who knows how to pen a good song. No lack of inspiration, his own insecurities and struggles with life are in fact sufficient "Demons falling down "( You've seen me at my worst, but you're still hanging around, I've become uncursed see those demons falling down ), "Paint "(I'm gonna paint these walls in a pearly white or maybe yellow as sun. I need a change of view so I'm gonna paint them bright, I'm tired of living with this lonely shade of blue, a little paint might get me over you), " Stranger in this line" and "Nowhere at all", but he also sees some things around him: "Uncle Joe" is an ode to the hard working outdoors, the 'stone cutter', the 'oil driller "and the 'truck driver '," Carla Moore" drawn in by her boyfriend's crime and accomplice to a robbery with deadly outcome.
Except for one ("A Song I Heard" by Jim Croce's right hand man Maury Muehleisen, who along with Jim crashed after a concert in September 1973) all are songs by Brian (sometimes with help from others). Brian is not only a singer-songwriter is also director of a quality, Berkalin Records, which he minded the opportunity to bring their CDs: Jeff Talmadge, Matt Harlan, Bob Cheevers, Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus and George Ensle. A great group of good songwriters, each CD is a success! Back to 'The Fence'. Brian has a nice voice, very in tune with his songs. The guidance is an important role for fiddler Jeff Duncan, percussionist Merel Bregante (late 70's was part of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), bassist Rankin Peters and multi-instrumentalist Patterson Barrett (mandolin, dobro, pedal steel). We also hear cello, trumpet, piano and synthesizer and a host of harmony vocalists. The music is folk, country, bluegrass and blues, a nice Americana mix accordingly.
Brian Kalinec's 'The Fence' is a true singer-songwriter hit. Jewels of songs, texts that matter, beautifully played by a bunch of outstanding Texans, produced by Kalinec himself. Take a listen and you're sold.
- Real Roots Cafe (Netherlands)

Brian Kalinec is a born and bred Texan (Beaumont, Houston), and grabbed by music at a very young age. His thing is to write songs, for which he has won the requisite prizes and received much recognition. After 'Last Man Standing' in 2007, 'The Fence' its successor, is a very good CD from a real troubadour, a man who knows how to pen a good song. No lack of inspiration, his own insecurities and struggles with life are in fact sufficient "Demons falling down "( You've seen me at my worst, but you're still hanging around, I've become uncursed see those demons falling down ), "Paint "(I'm gonna paint these walls in a pearly white or maybe yellow as sun. I need a change of view so I'm gonna paint them bright, I'm tired of living with this lonely shade of blue, a little paint might get me over you), " Stranger in this line" and "Nowhere at all", but he also sees some things around him: "Uncle Joe" is an ode to the hard working outdoors, the 'stone cutter', the 'oil driller "and the 'truck driver '," Carla Moore" drawn in by her boyfriend's crime and accomplice to a robbery with deadly outcome.
Except for one ("A Song I Heard" by Jim Croce's right hand man Maury Muehleisen, who along with Jim crashed after a concert in September 1973) all are songs by Brian (sometimes with help from others). Brian is not only a singer-songwriter is also director of a quality, Berkalin Records, which he minded the opportunity to bring their CDs: Jeff Talmadge, Matt Harlan, Bob Cheevers, Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus and George Ensle. A great group of good songwriters, each CD is a success! Back to 'The Fence'. Brian has a nice voice, very in tune with his songs. The guidance is an important role for fiddler Jeff Duncan, percussionist Merel Bregante (late 70's was part of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), bassist Rankin Peters and multi-instrumentalist Patterson Barrett (mandolin, dobro, pedal steel). We also hear cello, trumpet, piano and synthesizer and a host of harmony vocalists. The music is folk, country, bluegrass and blues, a nice Americana mix accordingly.
Brian Kalinec's 'The Fence' is a true singer-songwriter hit. Jewels of songs, texts that matter, beautifully played by a bunch of outstanding Texans, produced by Kalinec himself. Take a listen and you're sold.
- Real Roots Cafe (Netherlands)

Award-winning Houston, Texas based Americana/folk singer/songwriter Brian Kalinec's single, "Nowhere At All" from his new CD The Fence is a quality song that reflects on living life, and the things that matter - the simple things. Encouraging us not to take anything for granted, the song is beautifully composed and arranged, and features a nice small string section, and lyrical solo violin. There's steel string guitar with a beautiful finger style, and tasteful use of a shaker and percussion. The mix is not in your face, and the lead vocal weaves the lyrics with solid harmonies along with 2 other singers. The female's voice compliments the lead singer nicely. The drums keep it flowing tightly with a great arrangement. "Nowhere At All" is the kind of song that you'll want to listen to repeatedly, and will definitely pique your interest in hearing the full CD. This one is both musically and lyrically strong, and is solid throughout. - mi2n

Award-winning Houston, Texas based Americana/folk singer/songwriter Brian Kalinec's single, "Nowhere At All" from his new CD The Fence is a quality song that reflects on living life, and the things that matter - the simple things. Encouraging us not to take anything for granted, the song is beautifully composed and arranged, and features a nice small string section, and lyrical solo violin. There's steel string guitar with a beautiful finger style, and tasteful use of a shaker and percussion. The mix is not in your face, and the lead vocal weaves the lyrics with solid harmonies along with 2 other singers. The female's voice compliments the lead singer nicely. The drums keep it flowing tightly with a great arrangement. "Nowhere At All" is the kind of song that you'll want to listen to repeatedly, and will definitely pique your interest in hearing the full CD. This one is both musically and lyrically strong, and is solid throughout. - mi2n

Following five years after his debut album ‘Last Man Standing’, the Houston-based veteran folksinger-songwriter Brian Kalinec returns in the spotlights with his new album ‘The Fence’... a collection of beautiful and melodic folk songs... the roots of Texan Brian Kalinec are clearly audible and if you want to compare him, then you can think of artists like James Taylor and Jim Croce, who both also made career as storytelling singers...--Freddy Celis, Rootstime - Rootstime (Belgium)

Following five years after his debut album ‘Last Man Standing’, the Houston-based veteran folksinger-songwriter Brian Kalinec returns in the spotlights with his new album ‘The Fence’... a collection of beautiful and melodic folk songs... the roots of Texan Brian Kalinec are clearly audible and if you want to compare him, then you can think of artists like James Taylor and Jim Croce, who both also made career as storytelling singers...--Freddy Celis, Rootstime - Rootstime (Belgium)

Interesting lyrics, poetic touch and personal reflections combined with a supple musical setting. There is a combination of Woody Guthrie, John Steinbeck, James Taylor and Rodney Crowell in the stories he tells...Brian is a fine singer - songwriter... he sings with a soft and strong singing voice, a voice that captivates because it has such a strong ability to convey the words, tie them together with music to a functioning whole. He is a brilliant guitar player...the combination of fine thoughtful lyrics, strong melodies and a clever musical cast make "The Fence" a strong album..."The Fence" takes its well-deserved place on the Euro Americana Chart...--Staffan Solding, Rootsy - Rootsy (Sweden)

Straight from the heart acoustic magic If ever a musician was in the perfect place musically, it has got to be Houston singer-songwriter Brian Kalinec with Last Man Standing.

Somehow it's difficult to imagine him playing anything other than the acoustic magic that runs through the album like a golden thread. However, Kalinec is no fresh-faced young poet, he began playing guitar aged 10 and that was 32 years ago.

Last Man Standing is certainly the album of a mature performer, a series of gentle but precisely observed stories. While Kalinec is undoubtedly a skilled and sympathetic guitarist, it is apparent that song writing is his first love and he is one those natural storytellers who can fire the imagination.

The acoustic blues of Last Man Standing is performed without fuss or unnecessary frivolity, Kalinec's music is as unadorned as it is beautiful. The real surprise is that it has taken him 30 years to get his songs recorded - Last Man Standing is his debut - given the quality it can only be by choice that the man who wrote the superb The Book I Can't Put Down, hasn't been in a studio on his own accord before.

One of the real appeals of Last Man Standing is its honest humility, the title song and I Don't Know are written from the heart of an intelligent man. Brian Kalinec is no disinterested bystander he is an integral part of every note and lyric.

Last Man Standing is something of a throwback, recalling a time when singer songwriters wrote from the heart and personal, often bitter, experience. You don't need to be told to realise that this is a deeply personal journey for Brian Kalinec.

We've become so programmed to expect fireworks, twists and turns with our music like extras with a pizza, that when someone comes along and plays it as straight as Brian Kalinec, it is a shock to the system but a very welcome one.

Michael Mee, Americana UK
Thursday, July 31, 2008

- americanaUK