KDRP Larry Monroe Tribute

2015-03-11 - KDRP Larry Monroe Tribute: On our last night in Austin we went to a KDRP Sun Radio Live Broadcast a Guero's under the live oaks. The live radio show is a regular Wednesday event for the last three years -- last year we luckily caught a Joe Ely show on our last night. This show was a special all star tribute and another stroke of luck for us.

The show is to become an annual tribute to Larry Monroe, a DJ at Sun Radio who died in January of 2014. Sun Radio is an independent station funded by the community and very supportive of local music. You can find them on the Internet and stream all their shows. Larry Monroe, who we knew nothing about, was a mentor to many of the DJ's and a free spirit who refused to be bound by corporate playlists. He carved his own path and is much admired by performers, listeners and fellow DJ's at KDRP and other stations.

The first hour of the show you might recognize Butch Hancock who was the first performer (with his son Rory), then Jimmie Dale Gilmore (with his son Colin). We were very impressed with Guy Forsyth with his band (and very young daughter joining in). We had caught Guy at a Saxon pub show one Monday night and were well entertained both times. Butch, well, can you ever get too much of Butch.

The second hour had Bill Carter with Gabe Rose (we saw Bill last year at Strange Brew), then an older fellow Tex Thomas (aka Harvey Young?) and ended with Van Wilkes (an amazing guitarist).

The last hour (yes this was a three hour free/donation show) had Two Tons of Steel from San Antonio (we had seen them here earlier in our trip), Eve and the Exiles (she looks like a young Chrissy Hynde) and the Le Roi Brothers. This set was really rocking.

The show closed with the ensemble singing "I'll Fly Away". Quite the show and a wonderful ending to our Winter Escape to Austin Texas.