{"id":1232,"date":"2010-04-09T20:00:59","date_gmt":"2010-04-09T20:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=1232"},"modified":"2015-10-15T16:15:19","modified_gmt":"2015-10-15T16:15:19","slug":"adam-carroll-michael-oconnor-old-quarter-acoustic-cafe-galveston-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2010\/04\/09\/adam-carroll-michael-oconnor-old-quarter-acoustic-cafe-galveston-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"Adam Carroll & Michael O’Connor – Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe – Galveston, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Daniel Barker <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apr 09, 2010 at 08:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"I want to start this review with a disclaimer by stating that I am a Gulf Coast loser born and reared in Crystal Beach, Texas. When I heard last year that Adam Carroll and Michael O\u2019Connor had been logging in some billable hours together writing a coastal themed album I was thrilled. The release of \u201cHard Times\u201d on January 1st, 2010 chronicled this collaboration of the truly talented partnership with songs that are often funny, but never flinch from the stark reality of the layered lives the characters amongst the refineries, rice fields, marsh swamps and shrimping villages endure. HMR headed down to Galveston, Texas to hear the stories told firsthand from the authors inspired by the very city and in no better venue the Wrecks Bell\u2019s Old Quarter Acoustic Caf\u00e9\u2026..<\/p>\n

Song swaps are the standard for Adam Carroll, whose father is from Angleton. In fact, I have never him seen him solo but this was way beyond the norm\u2026These solo artists had come together to write and produce an entire concept album together so not your usual back and forth all night, but an evening for them to showcase their hard work together for the fans. Every song on the album would be played amidst the light hearted ball busting that comes with the comfort of the Old Quarter. All the songs on \u201cHard Times\u201d were written by both Carroll and O\u2019Connor with the exception of two where the mutual respect the two songwriters have for one another was honored by each playing their favorite song penned by the other. MO chose \u201cHighway Prayer\u201d and Carroll chose the beautiful \u201cSleepy Town\u201d. Carroll\u2019s rendition of the simple but touching lyric was a highlight tonight and is a standout on the disc.<\/p>\n

The show tonight attracted a nice crowd for the guys… Upon entering, Wreck\u2019s had to admit that he had totally forgotten the reservation list but made up for it by putting my date and I up in a nice cubby corner. Adam Carroll had gotten his ears lowered big time and was donning a derby hat while O\u2019Connor was denim from head to toe and letting his long locks flow. A Corpus Christi resident, MO first came to my attention while researching the \u201cUnsung\u201d album by Slaid Cleaves. An album of songs that Slaid thought were great but had never really gotten the credit he thought they deserved. MO had two tracks on the disc that were exceptional pieces of writing, \u201cDevil\u2019s Lullaby\u201d and \u201cRunaway Car\u201d. O\u2019Connor travels with Slaid often and performed with him at The Mucky Duck late last year wearing a full suit\u2026For the record, Adam Carroll also had a song on the album, \u201cRacecar Joe\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Image\"It is nice to be part of something that you know is working well. With every song enveloped in the album\u2019s main themes of Billy Gibbon\u2019s beard, gulf coast losers, and hard times with the imagery of one-eyed Wanda sweeping eyeballs off the floor and worn down boozers in the shadow of a FEMA trailer, these guys were preaching to the choir. The two were enjoying the night which lead to a later than average night at the Old Quarter. The guys played for over two hours with less than a 30 minute break between sets.<\/p>\n

Beyond the songs on the duet disc, Adam Carroll treated the crowd to a few gems: \u201cRain\u201d written with Gordy Quist who is credited as a third party on the \u201cHard Times\u201d track \u201cGulf Coast Loser\u201d, and \u201cHome Again\u201d, a song off Carroll\u2019s new solo effort \u201cLive at Flipnotics\u201d, which was released in Dec 2009. An album featuring Scrappy Jud Newcomb and his fabulous guitar work\u2026and the song that must be played while in Rome, \u201cGirl With The Dirty Hair\u201d of which Wrecks Bell could not resist giving Adam hell asking him if he was going to do his \u201cHayes Carll cover song\u201d.<\/p>\n

This night was a treat for any fan of the Texas singer-songwriter genre. It is apparent that these two gentlemen are friends and inspire one another to elevate their beloved craft of songwriting.\u00a0 It has to be said that each of these men are solid musicians as well. Michael O\u2019Connor is not Slaid Cleaves\u2019 guitar player by default, and Adam Carroll\u2019s harmonica work continues to improve. In fact, there are two tracks on HT that are harmonica only. \u2018Twas a good night for Galveston and all us Gulf Coast losers abound. I will see you out supporting live music.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Daniel Barker Apr 09, 2010 at 08:00 PM I want to start this review with a disclaimer by stating that I am a Gulf Coast loser born and reared in Crystal Beach, Texas. When I heard last year that Adam Carroll and Michael O\u2019Connor had been logging in some billable hours together writing… <\/p>\n

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