Category: Featured Posts

MACK, JACK and MCCONAUGHEY RETURNS FOR 9TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

MACK, JACK & MCCONAUGHEY RETURNS FOR 9TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Virtual Event Announced for April 23, 2021

AUSTIN, Texas (March 24, 2021) – Austin’s premier charity event, Mack, Jack & McConaughey (MJ&M) will return in its ninth year for a virtual experience on April 23, 2021. MJ&M is the joint fundraising effort of Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, ACM Award-winning recording artist Jack Ingram, and coaching legend Mack Brown.

The program is the virtual edition of the iconic event that promises an unforgettable evening of impactful stories and a lineup of exceptional performances. Viewers will have the chance to support the cause with access to a silent auction offering exclusive and one-of-a-kind lots.

Since its inception in 2013, MJ&M continues to make a direct impact on the Austin community and across the country. The nonprofit event has resulted in nearly $16M invested into charity beneficiaries, serving organizations dedicated to children’s education, health, and wellness.

The event will aid charities devoted to children’s wellbeing, including CureDuchenne, Dell Children’s Medical Center, HeartGift, just keep livin Foundation and The Rise School of Austin.

“Now more than ever is the time for us to come together and raise awareness and money for these charities working hard to help children succeed,” said McConaughey. “Camila and I are proud to join our dear friends for this special event each year and know MJ&M 2021 will be a year to remember.”

The Mack, Jack & McConaughey virtual experience will be held on April 23, 2021 at 7p.m. CST. To access the event, individuals are asked to make a $25 donation. Register here: https://one.bidpal.net/mjm2021/ticketing.

See our coverage from MJM 2019: https://austin101magazine.com/2019/04/26/mjm-2019-fundraiser-at-acl-live-photos/amp/

MJ&M 2021 sponsors include: American Airlines, American Campus Communities, Covert Cadillac, H-E-B, Lone Star Ranch Water, Neiman Marcus, Nike, and Sewell Automotive Companies. Sponsorship opportunities are still available; please contact Jessica Balladares-Bennett at jessica@jhlcompany.com.

For more information about Mack, Jack & McConaughey, or to sign up to receive further announcements about the 2021 event, please visit www.mjm2021.com.

by jerristarbuck

Concert Photos of Legend Hank Williams Jr. Live at Billy Bob’s Texas

photos by Brooks Burris

Hank Williams Jr. brought all his rowdy friends to Fort Worth last night selling out the world’s largest honky tonk- the iconic Billy Bob’s Texas. He sold out both shows on the 2nd and 3rd. Williams is among an elite group of musicians booked to help Billy Bob’s Texas Commemorate their 40th anniversary the entire month of April. Upcoming anniversary shows include three nights with both Midland and Dwight Yoakam and a five-night run of both Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett.

The country music hall of famer, also known as Bocephus, blazed through his whiskey-soaked hits that included “Born to Boogie”, “A Country Boy Can Survive” and crowd favorite, “Family Tradition”.

photo by Brooks Burris

The set was tight and short with no encore- but didn’t really need one. He paid tribute to artists before him including Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, ZZ Top, and more.

Dressed in all black cowboy attire, Jr. switched between his cool black caps and baseball caps. Williams always has great lines that are often quoted by fans; “You’ve got to dress like an icon.You’ve got to shine like a beacon”, Jr. said at one point.

photo by Brooks Burris

The multi-instrumentalist bounced from electric to acoustic, to keys, and to fiddle. WIlliams jumped on keys for a rousing cover of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. Many don’t know that he learned to play piano from legends Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis and that he played on ZZ Top’s epic “La Grange”.

Set list
Kalaiya (played fiddle) (Hank Sr. cover)
Your Cheatin’ Heart (Hank Sr. cover)

All My Rowdy Friends
Whiskey Bent and Hellbound

La Grange (ZZ Top cover)
Od’d in Denver

Acoustic solo set

Outlaw Women
There’s a Tear in My Beer
All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down
Walk the Line (Johnny Cash cover)
A Country Boy Can Survive
Born to Boogie
Family Tradition


by jerristarbuck

Oprah Winfrey Brings 2020 Tour to Texas

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Oprah brings her 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus tour to Dallas’ American Airlines Center this month! She wants to inspire wellness in others so they can live their best life.

She’ll have a live interview as part of the packed full day with Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish). She’s planned these US events to be a start to 2020 with renewal and celebrating all we are meant to be. Expect some motivation to be about her WW and some surprise special guests (perhaps Tina Fey?).

The event is February 15th (what a perfect, loving Valentine thing to do for ourselves). Doors open at 7:30 am and the event starts at 9am. There are very few tickets available- you can try to find them here. Find more info here.

by jerristarbuck

Legend Celine Dion Returned to Texas in Epic Courage Tour: Review

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The night opened with a cool video of Celine getting ready, putting on her makeup and she appeared in a stunning red glitter slit dress with matching pumps, flawless makeup, and toned arms. The sold-out show had fans singing and cheering from the get go, and Dion appeared as happy and healthy (incredibly fit) as we’ve ever seen her.

Dion is on her 14th tour in support of her 2019 album “Courage”. Her first words were about how ten years is way too long for her San Antonio return, and she spent much time talking about “What went wrong? It’s unacceptable and we’re going to fix it” and then shared how Vegas stole her for awhile. She was fully prepared to make up for her absence.

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We knew the show would be an incredible performance, but she blew us away. She is the ultimate performer and has been doing it for decades-has it nailed down. Celine was engaging with the crowd throughout the entire show and she was brimming with emotion, and often smiling and then touched her eye as if stopping the tears, and would say, “I think something is in my eye….maybe a bug, I don’t know”. In another moment she raised her glass and said “cheers to your health”. Her wit and humor (sometimes cheesy) is part of her flirting with the audience and she enjoys it. One moment while taking off her jacket, “that’s all that’s coming off” with a grin.

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The set list was a robust mix from her massive catalog that perfectly blended timeless classics, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Because You Loved Me”, “All By Myself”, “My Heart Will Go On”, with mid-range stuff and new songs “Courage” and “Lying Down”. She also sang beautiful songs in French. Celine did a beautiful job playing Andrea Bocelli in their duet “The Prayer”. Her ability to hit incredibly high notes, gave us chills. It’s clear she has worked very hard to take care of her voice and her health. Her voice skills are a piece of art with the height and octave range.

The stage was massive, the lighting and set were elegant and tasteful, as is Celine, and the piano was incredible; the full strings and brass section and back up singers- plus 3 raised percussion/keyboard sets gave such a volume of sound. The mix of the bands classy outfits and her red dress was stunning.

CELINE-DION-2020-0130-193Celine strutted confidently in very high heels (more than 6 inches?) and covered large distances to reach every part of the audience. Towards the end of the main set, a video of her doing ballet with her friend, showed off her fit body and her dance skills (who knew?). Wow.

We couldn’t help think of Kobe Bryant who had just passed away that week, as we were looking at Tony Parker and other NBA jerseys hanging in the rafters in ATT Center where the Spurs play.

Her career will continue to “go on” and we can’t wait to see how she continues her self-reinvention. It’s clear why the Courage World Tour was one of the top shows of 2019 and we think it will make our 2020 list. Don’t expect many empty seats.

Check out all our show photos on Austin 101.

Set list:

  1. It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
  2. Dans un autre monde
  3. Terre
  4. A vous
  5. I’m Alive
  6. The Power of Love
  7. Beauty and the Beast
  8. Encore un soir
  9. You’re the Voice
  10. Regarde-moi
  11. Ziggy
  12. Courage
  13. All By Myself
  14. Lying Down
  15. Tous les blues sont écrits pour toi
  16. S’il suffisait d’aimer
  17. Let’s Dance / Another One Bites The Dust / Flying On My Own / Kiss / River Deep, Mountain High / Lady Marmalade

Encore
18. My Heart Will Go On
19. Pour que tu m’aimes encore

by jerristarbuck