Backstage Notes: December 2015

We kicked off the month of December with a special Thursday Night Live concert with a true ambassador to Texas Red Dirt with not only an excellent performance, but also a 70^th birthday bash with Gary P. Nunn. He headed up to Horseshoe Hill for a pre-show birthday dinner, played a 90 minute set with his friends, and had Joe T’s brought in for an after show meal with enough cake to go around for all backstage here at the World’s Largest Honky Tonk.

Colt Ford returned to the main stage and if he was tired from golfing all day you sure couldn’t tell. Maybe he gained new found energy from his favorite restaurant here in the stockyards as he had dinner at the famous Joe T’s. He saw around 50 lucky fans in a pre-show M&G and performed for over ninety minutes on the main stage.

Cody Johnson and the Rocking CJB band made a triumphant return to our main stage on December 5. Cody and his wife spent part of the day doing a little shopping up on Exchange and enjoyed some of the great food prepared right here in our very own Honky Tonk Café. Prior to the show Cody had a M&G with well over 75 fans and performed to a near capacity crowd for over two hours. After the show he took his place on the backstage wall amongst some of the legends that have played here over our 34 year run.

Prophets and Outlaws made their debut performance here at the World’s Largest Honky Tonk on an electrifying Thursday night. The did a special VIP M&G in conjunction with a promotion with 95.9 the Ranch prior to a two hour show and afterwards they spent hours at the top half of the club visiting with all in attendance.

Mike Ryan played his first performance on the main stage here at BBT. The excitement was evident backstage as he and the band were both nervous and amped up for their debut. It was evident that his fans were equally excited as he held a M&G for nearly one hundred of his enthusiastic fan following. He hypnotized the audience for well over ninety minutes.

The talented Mr. Wade Bowen returned to the main stage here at Billy Bob’s and had stacked schedule ahead of him. He had a Fan club dinner and function over at Cooper’s Old Time Pit BBQ and performed a private backstage M&G for our BBCC members prior to performing for over ninety minutes. Mike Ryan made another appearance backstage as he came out to watch Wade’s show.

Stewart Mann & Statesboro Review wrapped up our fall series of Thursday Night Live here at BBT. They did a pre-show M&G up at their merch table by the fake backstage photo prop prior to performing for over ninety minutes on the honky tonk stage. After the show they signed autographs at their merch table and visited with all in attendance until 1am.

The Randy Rogers Band returned to Billy Bob’s for back to back shows. You never know who will show up backstage here at the World’s Largest Honky Tonk since on Friday one of the backstage guests was none other than J.B. Mauney (two time and current champion of the PBR) was in attendance for Friday night’s concert, and on Saturday Mike Harmier (of Mike and the Moonpies) came over prior to his show at another local venue. Randy did a M&G prior to both shows, and he and the band went out to the merch table after Friday night’s concert to sign autographs for everyone that wanted one.

Who can say they celebrated Christmas with Charlie Robison and Tuff Hedeman (3 time PRCA World Champion Bull Rider), well if you threw on some of those new duds that Santa brought you and came to Billy Bob’s you can. After a playing for over an hour and forty-five minutes Charlie signed autographs and took pictures for all in attendance. What a way to celebrate Christmas.

We wrapped things up for a blessed Christmas season backstage at The World’s Largest Honky Tonk Billy Bob’s Texas with a great night with Casey Donahew Band. What an eventful day for Casey and his band, they began the day backstage with a band gift exchange backstage, followed by a pre-concert autograph session at his merch table from 9 to 9:45, a fan club and radio winner M&G from 9:30 to 10, and a second M&G for our nation’s finest current and past veterans from 10 to 10:25. You would think that with such a packed schedule Casey and the band would be a little tired, but if they were you sure couldn’t tell it by the high energy concert which lasted over ninety minutes.

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The bronze statue of Billy Bob Barnett’s mentor
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Filming of Pure Country
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Tanya Tucker
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“Black & Black, Back to Back”
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Shooter Jennings
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The Dancing Machine
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Rock the house
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