Bronzed Willie

From Rolling Stone Magazine; A bronze sculpture of Willie Nelson will be erected later this month in Austin, Texas. The statue, a gift to the city from the non-profit group Capital Area Statues, Inc., will be unveiled at 4:20 p.m. on April 20th as a nod to the country star's reputation as a stoner.

The eight-foot tall, one-ton bronze statue was created by sculptor Clete Shields. "Creating a sculpture of such an icon while he is still living presents its challenges," Shields said in a statement. "For many, the Willie they connect with is the Outlaw Willie of the Seventies, or the influential advocate for Farm Aid in the Eighties, while others – especially a younger generation – grew fond of him during his more mature years. The sculpture needed to appeal to a broad audience and conjure up the fond memories of so many different people." The unveiling event will include an appearance by Nelson himself, who will be in town to perform at ACL Live at the Moody Theatre as part of the We Walk the Line show celebrating the music of Johnny Cash.

Cy Ranch Lip Dub

On March 28, 2012, students at Cypress Ranch High School came together to create an original Lip Dub video and to Stand Up to bullies by asking "Who Do U Think U R?" The entire project was created, filmed, sung, and performed by actual students. We'd love this video to help make a difference and to enforce that we, the students, the teens, want bullying to stop! Please share on your Facebook, tweet, email or pass the video on to help make a difference. Also, be sure to vote for us here. Video produced and directed by Triple Oswald (triple@oswaldfamily.com), a Cypress Ranch Student

Don't Vote For Foster?

Even though Arian Foster was seeded higher, many people predicted Tim Tebow would advance in fan voting for the cover of  Madden 13. He is Tim Tebow Foster advances to the "Sweet Sixteen" however by picking up 54% of the vote. I don't think we want Foster anywhere near the cover of Madden. Why? Do you believe in curses? John Madden had always graced the cover of the video game bearing his name until 199. That year, EA Sports decided to put one of the players on the cover. The curse is born. 1999 - San Francisco running back Garrison Hearst broke his ankle the year he was on the    cover and missed two  seasons. What was once thought to be a Hall of Fame career fizzled. 2000 - Green Bay running back Dorsey Levens. The Packers had appeared in back-to-back Superbowls, but the year he was on Madden's cover Green Bay failed to even make the playoff's and Levens suffered a knee injury and was never the same player. 2001 - Tennessee Titan running back Eddie George. The Titan's were coming off a Super Bowl appearance and George was considered the best back in the league. The Titan's were Super Bowl favorites and had the top seed in the AFC. George bobbled a pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown and Baltimore bounced them from the playoffs. George was injured the next season. 2002 - Minnesota Viking quarterback Daunte Culpepper led one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. The Vikings started the season with a whimpering 4-7 record before Culpepper suffered a season ending knee injury 2003 - Marshall Faulk was part of the "The Greatest Show On Turf" with the Saint Louis Rams. After appearing on the cover he was injured and missed two games that season. He was never the same player and retired a few seasons later. 2004 - Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick broke his legthe day afterMadden was released with him on the cover. He missed 11 games. 2005 - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis broke his wrist and recorded no interceptions for the first time in his career. The Ravens finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs. 2006 - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a sports hernia the first game of the season after appearing on the cover. Before 2006 Mcnabb had appeared in 5 Pro Bowls. Since then...none. 2007 - Seattle Seahawk running back Shaun Alexander was a no brainer for the cover. Considered the best back in the league. He fractured his foot and missed six games and was soon out of the league. 2008 - The second Tennessee Titan player to grace the cover would fare no better. Quarterback Vince Young would suffer a hamstring injury, was eventually put on suicide watch, walked out on his team and then released. 2009 - Brett Favre feuded with the Packers the season he was on the cover, was traded to the New York Jets and lost 4 of his last 5 games. With an injured bicep. 2010 - Ea Sports decided to get slick and put TWO players on the cover. Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu and Phoenix Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald. It's not nice to fool the curse. Polamalu suffered injuries and only played in five games. The Super Bowl Champion Steelers failed to make the playoffs. Larry Fitzgerald suffered a rib injury and was knocked out of the playoffs. 2010 - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he didn't believe in curses and was honored to be on the cover. New Orleans was the biggest favorite in playoff history facing the Seahawks, the only team in the history of the NFL to reach the playoff's with a losing record. New Orleans lost in a shocking upset. 2011- Cleveland Brown running back Peyton Hillis was on top of the NFL when he was chosen for the cover. He would go on to miss five strait games and suffer a nagging hamstring injury and his season was a disaster both on and off the field.  He is now in Kansas City and believes in the curse. So, are you sure you want Foster to make the Madden cover. Do you believe in the curse or is all this just a coincidence

Eli Young Band Getting Younger

Eli Young Band frontman Mike Eli has revealed that he and his wife Kacey are expecting their first child this summer.

The great folks at KICKS 105 tell us the couple are going to have a baby girl on or around August 2. The band has made sure they’ve got a few scheduled days off before and after the due date. They’ll begin the Great American Band Tour with Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town and Edens Edge in June. Between rehearsals and preparations for this weekend’s ACM Awards, Eli says he’s been learning how to be a good husband in the birthing room.

“She and her mom got me a couple books that I am reading, and it can be a little overwhelming,” the singer tells People. “I recommend reading them for the basics and what to expect during pregnancy, but they can’t teach you to be a good dad and a good partner. That’s up to me to figure out.”

The couple are celebrating their second wedding anniversary today, March 27. Eli was the first in the band to get married and now he’s first to have a child. “I think all four of us agree, now that we’re all married, the urge to get home is a lot stronger than it ever has been,” he said, speaking about the long trips across the country. “Now that Kacey’s pregnant it’s even stronger,” he adds. “I can only imagine what it will be like once the baby is born. It will be extremely hard to leave them.” Eli Young Band are up for three 2012 ACM Awards, which they are hoping to cash in on Sunday’s (April 1) broadcast on CBS. Find complete coverage of the award show here.

Steve Rixx & His Fav New Texas Band

KILT's afternoon guy - and fellow Texas music pusher - Steve Rixx posted a new blog entry the other day about his favorite new Texas band!

I love it when he finds one I've not heard of before - oh, sure I like finding them first but it's nice to share. The Damn Quails!

Understanding the caliber of songwriters that are indigenous to this particular part of the country is the only thing that makes a debut release this good seem plausible. Having been exposed to local storytellers like Tom Skinner, Mike McClure and Gene Collier, both Gabriel and Bryon sank their roots into songwriting early on and remained close to that art while earning their music chops on stage indulging in music styles that ran the spectrum. It’s a very lucky thing for anyone who considers himself a music aficionado that Bryon and Gabriel would emerge from the same stompin’ grounds and eventually come stool-to-stool in a highly respected ritual among writers known as the Song Swap

. It was in this survival of the fittest setting where two songwriters, both equally fierce in measure, would set into motion a pairing that resonates a lifetime of compatibility despite its level of humble beginnings.

Backed by the “Quail Philharmonic,” the live show spills off the stage with a pooled sound that makes veteran performers stand up and take notice, and on any given night the philharmonic fills to include some of their peers from other bands. After all, the jam is what it is really all about and Bryon admits that they have never performed a song the same way twice. (See them at the County Line in Montgomery May 4.) The Damn Quails debut studio release appropriately titles “Down The Hatch” is available now, and was produced by the legendary singer/songwriter Mike McClure.

I’ve recently been very excited to discover the talented Damn Quails, and need to share this experience with you. It’s not often that I hear something that sounds “unique, and fresh”, however these guys are the real deal, and bring it! I’ve included their brand new single, “So So Long”, for you to listen to, and a video of them performing at the world famous Wormy Dog in Oklahoma! So dig in, and enjoy some Damn Quails…dammit!—Steve Rixx

Looking For A Job?

The Dynamo’s new stadium opens in May, but this Saturday you can attend a job fair and be working there. WHAT: BBVA Compass Stadium, home of the Houston Dynamo and Texas Southern University football, will hold its inaugural Job Fair on Saturday, March 31st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Houston-Downtown Special Events Center. The stadium will hire approximately 200 part-time employees leading into the building’s grand opening events, which features the first Dynamo home game of the season on Saturday, May 12th. Available positions include: guest services, ticket sellers, cashiers, greeters, ticket takers and more!

Potential employees should have customer service experience and be available to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Additionally, employees must be able to stand for long periods of time and withstand various weather conditions such as rain and high temperatures. Interested candidates may apply in advance online now for application pre-screening and the chance to move directly into the one-on-one interview process the day of the event. On-site interviews will be conducted by hiring managers and applicants are encouraged to dress professionally and are required to bring a current resume, driver’s license and Social Security card. Eligible candidates must be at least 18 years of age in order to apply. FREE parking is located at the UHD Daly Street Lot located at 500 North Main Street, additional cash lots are available in the downtown area. For maps and parking directions. WHO: BBVA Compass Stadium will be a state-of-the-art, open-air stadium designed to host Houston Dynamo matches and Texas Southern University football games as well as additional professional, collegiate and community sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, conventions and special events. Opening in May 2012, the 340,000-square foot, 22,000-seat stadium will be the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer located in a city’s downtown district. With its downtown location, the new stadium will be a part of a true ‘Stadium District,’ which includes Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center, as well as the George R. Brown Convention Center, Discovery Green, Warehouse Live and House of Blues. WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2012 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. WHERE: University of Houston-Downtown, Special Events Center One Main Street 3rd Floor Houston, TX 77002 PARKING: FREE parking available at the UHD Daly Lot located at 500 North Main Street; additional cash lots are available in the downtown area. For maps and parking directions.