October
2, 2005
Texas Music Beat
Ray Wood
The Robert Socia Orchestra
A new group and a new sound from
an old hand.
Robert Socia played some fine
electric guitar lead with Southern Fried. His instrumental
breaks were always great in the ãtime honoredä tradition of
southern rock.
So, when the Robert Socia Orchestra
was booked at the Saxon Pub, my bride and I took a trip down
to Baja Austin to check them out. The band was just getting
set up when we arrived. In came a huge 1950's vintage bass
drum. There were all the usual guitar cases, and
paraphernalia. Then in came a cello. That's right. A cello!
Well, we could tell it was going to be an interesting
evening.
Robert
doesn't romp around the stage anymore like he did with
Southern Fried. He has laid down his Stratocaster and
renewed his friendship with his acoustic guitar. Now he sits
on a stool in front of a mike. He still throws in a few
licks, but his style is more akin to the country/folk that
underlies so much of great Texas Music.
The first song began with an intro of
six or seven notes picked on single strings. It sounded like
a pretty standard opening to a pretty standard country/folk
song. Robert sang a couple of bars along with easy
strumming, and that's when the music started to show some
character. A sequel into a strong steady strumming
reminiscent of Tom Rush. Then suddenly, that big bass drum
and the bass guitar shot the rhythm across the room while
the fiddle whispered a faint sound of a melody. Next the
deep drone of the cello found its own place among the
spectrum of harmonious sounds to lend a sweet flavor to the
recipe.
The songs of the Robert Socia
Orchestra, as good songs should, tell stories. Stories of
love, stories of life's struggles, stories of sadness and
happiness, and of how great it is to be in Texas. With
strings, percussion, and poetry, the Robert Socia Orchestra
paints portraits of real people and real places.
The orchestra also got the club
hopping more than once when the fiddle and the mandolin were
allowed to let loose with some fine musical gymnastics along
with Robert's own version of flat picking.
It was a fine evening of music and a
fine time of seeing old friends and making new ones.
Don't miss a chance to go and hear
the Robert Socia Orchestra.
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Artist
Information
Bio
Fact Sheet
Press Release
February 13, 2006
Press
May 12, 2006
March 9, 2006
October 12, 2005
Listen: “Black
Texas Gold”
Visit Artist Website
Robert Socia Band CD Released Feb. 21, 2006
Promotional Material:
Click Below for High Quality Full Size Images
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