Green provides musical spark

Green provides musical spark
BY ROBIN BRISCOE
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL


A woman stands in the front row, with screaming fans packed behind her, anticipating the first strum of the guitar.

She is inches away from the stage.

Sharla Hovden arrived early Saturday evening to get as close as possible to Texas country singer Pat Green.

"He's awesome!" she said of the performer, who is dear to Lubbock's heart, having graduated from Texas Tech.

Hundreds of students, along with fans of all ages, packed into the blocked off streets in the Depot Entertainment District to see Green perform as part of the Lubbock Music Festival.

It was almost concert time and excitement was high.

Many couldn't wait to hear the rhythmic and soothing words 'You came upon me, wave on wave,' - from the popular song "Wave on Wave."

Hovden said it's her favorite, adding that she was excited to hear it live, seeing the performer for the first time.

Friend Leah Ray said the best part about Green, other than his music, is that he's from Texas.

While most fans watched and screamed from the ground, some got to mingle a bit closer.

Josh Palmer was one of few who had backstage passes.

"I'm pretty excited," he said, adding that he has been a fan since the very first album.

The best thing about Green's music: "Texas Country."

Many had already attended a Green concert, but that didn't stop true fans like Stephanie Freeman.

Positioned in the front row, she geared up to watch him again, having already seen him perform in Austin.

She likes that his music is down to earth.

Others came to "rock out" Texas style, meeting up with old friends to enjoy the night.

Buster Tarplex of Merkel came to Lubbock with college buddies to take in the atmosphere.

The man, donning a cowboy hat, said the outdoor concert with a good country singer was an excellent way to have a good time.

"I'm a big fan," Tarplex said.

Then the lights on the stage lit up, as the country singer walked to the center, guitar in hand.

The crowd erupted with screams.

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Fellers applies exquisite tuning to Eagles songs

Jason Fellers

Fellers applies exquisite tuning to Eagles songs
BY WILLIAM KERNS
A-J ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR


Interviewed at different times on different days, producer Don Caldwell and performer Donnie Allison shared an identical memory when asked to reflect upon the growth of Jason Fellers, 26, as a professional vocalist.

Fellers had worked with the Cactus since age 18 and was not much older when invited to join doo-wop group The JDs. Later, when the band was in the studio working on its recording "The JDs: A Self-Proclaimed Doo-Wop Phenomenon," the time came for Fellers to record his own solo titled "Tears on My Pillow."

"In just one take, he nailed that thing," recalled Caldwell. "All we could do was say, 'Wow.' He'd never worked in a recording studio before."

Allison said, "We were working on the JDs' album. Jeff Bailey and I were in the control room when Jason walked out to cut his first solo vocal ever, his first studio experience. He just nailed it in one take.

"I looked at Jeff and said, 'Remember when we got to work with that kid named Jason. Wasn't that cool?' "

Allison, whose professional vocal experience dates to his teenage years, was not through dishing out compliments.

He said, "Jason's strong point is his tuning, which is something a lot of people take for granted. What I've learned is that, if you are singing with Jason and something sounds out of tune, it's you."

Look for Allison and Fellers to headline an Everly Brothers tribute concert at the Cactus Theater in August. Much closer at hand, however, is Feller's Saturday night concert of songs made famous by the Eagles.

A graduate of Coronado High School and Texas Tech, Fellers was born during the same time period that the Eagles were breaking up. Yet the prevailing reason behind Caldwell's decision to feature Fellers is that the young vocalist already knew the songs.

"Most Eagles' stuff, I know by heart because of my dad," Fellers explained. "He's the one who got me started listening to them. He's also the one who got me started singing and playing guitar."

Fellers' early singing experience arrived via choirs. He and his father sang at Southcrest Baptist Church, usually hymns or contemporary Christian music.

He credits high school choir director Brett Farr for recognizing where Fellers could most excel.

"He taught me that I have a voice and I should continue to use it," the singer said. "When I came in as a sophomore, he had me singing bass, but that was too low. He heard me sing higher in a talent show, and he said, 'Oh my gosh, Jason, you're a tenor.'

"I hadn't been singing that high, and he helped me develop a range."

Fellers probably would not have pursued change on his own. After all, he played football, and recalled, "Back in junior high, nobody wanted to be the tenor kid. They were usually the kids whose voices hadn't changed."

It was Fellers' mom who suggested that he attend one of the Cactus Theater auditions. He was chosen after his second try, but appeared very nervous during his early appearances.

"Yeah, I was nervous, trying to figure out who I was through this process. At the first JDs show, I was scared to death.

"I'd only sung with the school choir. I'd never sung in front of more than 300 people. ... I remember feeling real inhibited and not wanting to bring any attention to myself. Luckily, it was also fun working with the guys in the JDs; they really make it feel like family."

Fellers has his own family.

He and his wife, Kameron, married July 12, 2003, and Fellers has since begun working in operations at City Bank. He considers the Cactus a "second job, an opportunity to continue doing what I've loved doing since I was little.

"Now the biggest challenge is to remember when to start singing. I catch myself staring and feeling awed by the band playing behind me." He's referring to the Lubbock Texas Rhythm Machine.

Caldwell says that Fellers represents the theater's purpose.

"Stage presence was not there at his audition," Caldwell said. "But he was in tune, his style was very good and I was blown away by his singing.

"It took a while for Jason to feel comfortable on stage. But that's what the Cactus does. We take people who need a showcase and help them learn how to open up for the public. Jason's a shining example."


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