Tim DeLaughter's First Ever Solo Show, A Ride With Bob Returns & Dennis Gonzalez Announces New Record

Tim DeLaughter

​Tim DeLaughter has never played a solo show. Not one anybody can remember, anyway. But last week, the Kessler Theater added his name as the opening act for YES lead singer Jon Anderson on Tuesday, February 28. The show is part of the venue's "Storytellers" series, which has already featured legendary shows from Ray Wiley Hubbard, Joe Ely, Marc Ribot and more.

The pairing is a bit odd, but after speaking with the Kessler's Jeff Liles, it makes complete sense.

"This is something I kind of challenged [DeLaughter] with, because he was a big YES fan as a kid," Liles said earlier this morning, emphasizing that one of the goals of their "Storytellers" series is "to just show the influence of the headliner on the next generation."

And far, far, far from Broadway -- Richardson's Eisemann Center, to be specific --  Ray Benson's A Ride With Bob returns tomorrow and runs through New Year's Eve.

The musical was written by Benson, who stars in it along with his band Asleep At The Wheel, and was inspired by the music of Bob Wills. The story has it that Benson came to Texas in 1973 to meet the Western swing legend, but before he had a chance, Wills died from a stroke. The musical tells the story of Benson encountering his spirit while on the road to Oklahoma, and features 15 of Wills' songs.

And on New Year's Eve -- the same day Yells At Eels perform at the Texas Theatre -- Dennis Gonzalez, the father of the local family jazz band, will release yet another record, this one titled Resurrection and Life, featuring Alvin Fielder on drums.