From the President

Not long ago, all active members received the letter from Jon, our membership chair regarding our upcoming elections and budget approval. I hope each of you has taken time to review the responses of the candidates for the Board of Directors, as well as the 2009 proposed budget. Please take a few minutes to vote and let your voice be heard. Online voting ends December 12th.

I want to take a minute to thank the current board of directors for giving of their time over the last year: Frank H - Secretary and Web Master; Beth B. - Corresponding and Recording Secretary and BHT rep; Ivan C. - Treasurer; Jackie T. - Vice President; Matt K. - Rodeo Events & Training Chair; Jon H. - Membership Chair; Jymmye J. - Social & Entertainment Chair; Tom L. - Bylaws Chair; Lonni L. - Elections Chair and Mike B. - IGRA Trustee. Your work during the course of this past year has benefited the association we all love, and I thank you for your service.

We still have positions to fill for next year's board. Up for appointment are Rodeo Events & Training, Public Relations, Fundraising & Sponsorship and Secretary. If you're interested in serving the association in any of the vacant positions, please contact me at [an error occurred while processing this directive].

Join us on Saturday December 13th at 5pm on the 3rd floor of the DC Eagle for our annual election and budget meeting. Come out and be part of your association.

Mike S.
ASGRA President

"Hard Candy" Benefit Night for ASGRA

When: Saturday December 27th @ 10pm Where: Be Bar 1318 9th St., NW Washington, DC

Come out and enjoy a fun night of drag queens and male underwear models all to benefit ASGRA.

Stormy will be hosting her infamous male underwear auction with hot males she has brought and ones she will pick from audience.

Featuring:
Esmeralda Kane Jaymes-Miss ASGRA 2008
Jymmye Jaymes

The Wonderful Queen Back From Hiatus, Teena Marie Cromwell

And special guests

Bring lots of $$$$ and tip graciously
no entertainer is paid for their appearance
Event is sponsored by Manhunt and Andrew Christian

Music Reviews

1 star - Sucks, save you money and buy a beer
2 star - Borrow it from someone
3 star - Wait for it go on sale
4 star - Don't leave Wal*Mart without it
5 star - Stop whatever the heck you're doing right now, and download this puppy

Craig Morgan
That's Why

Craig Morgan's fifth musical offering proves once again why this former soldier-turned-country-artist still has what it takes to make great hits. Craig has a great voice and it is paired well with some awesome songs on this CD, and, well, let's face it, he ain't all that hard to cast your eyes upon, too.

My favorite of all the songs on the CD is Every Red Light". It's a clever, fast moving song about your first vehicle and how, most of us, were a lead foot hell-on-wheel's when driver we were in our early years behind the wheel.

Slidin' Sideways though the town square/
Peelin' out...
...Catching air on railroad tracks...
...peeling paint off a city hall...
Only braking for the badge/
Had the man in blue burring through/
Tickets by the pound/
Yeah, I paid for every red light in my home town/

"Sticks" is an ode similar to "International Harvester" singing the praises of being "raised in the sticks." It contains all the requisite items that you expect to find in a song like this: tailgating, six-packs chillin' in the creek, muddy boots and tires and such. What keeps it from being just another run-off-the-mill ode to the joys of country life is the enthusiasm that Craig puts into the song. He really puts his heart into the song. You know that this is a man who really believes this, lives it and is truly proud of it. It makes us city and suburban bred folks think 'damn, that does sound nice!'

"That's Why", the title track of the album will soon be the new national anthem for the blue collar worker. It talks about all the reasons that you get up, go to work at a job you don't like for a person you don't care to work for. Those reasons can be varied for all of us (Personally, mine is rodeo and dancing). In this particular song, it revolves around that other country song staple - family. But we can still relate to that; by the families that we may still keep in touch with, have built or created (I know that there are a few of you out there working for sons and daughters).

"Ordinary Angels" is one of the slower offerings on the CD and the best of them all. The song honors in lyrics those ordinary angels that we encounter in our daily lives. What makes this song stand out from the rest that are like this is that it mentions people outside of the typical earthly angels that come to mind: nurses, firefighters, teachers, mothers, etc. The song talks about those angels who we meet every now and then that lift us up, not matter who they are or what they do, even when those angels are ourselves.

Someone walking down the street/
A stranger on a bus/
A little kid on his way to school/
or any one of us

That's Why is one of those CD that just grabs me from the first listen. I judge a CD by the songs that 1) really stick with me 2) make me want to play them again and again and 3) make me want to sing along with them. There are a number of those types of tunes them on this CD. I predict that That's Why will be that tipping point CD that comes in an artists life that pushes Craig Morgan into that next level up in the country stardom ladder. The only negative to the CD is the first tune "Love Remember" which sounds more like a power rock ballad which sounds like it would be more at home being sung by Richie MacDonald, former Lonestar lead singer, rather than Craig Morgan. I did not like the melody in this song very much at all. That's why (you know I had to use that somewhere) this CD missing out on that 5th star.

Billy Currington
Little Bit of Everything

When Billy Currington released his "Must Be Doing Something Right" he stated in an interview I read that he wanted to try and do a song that was reminiscent of the older Alabama tunes; something that you could put on when you and your sweetheart were alone for a romantic evening. He wanted a song that could be used as make out music (yes, I did imagine me and Billy and that song in our own little romantic evening). Billy continues holding the torch for those types of songs with Little Bit Of Everything and he sure does have the voice (and body) for those sexy songs.

Those of you who have heard "Don't" on the radio know what I'm talking about. You boys and bi girls know you've thought of Billy as he sings the lyrics in this song about blowing off a day of work to "get to work" in the bedroom. "Heal Me" is another song that has that deep soul sound to it. Billy sings to his current woman about being a broken man by time and love and begs her to heal all that hurt "with your sweet and sexy ways." Something that a few of us think we could do--I've got the exes to prove it! Additionally, "Everything" also falls into this category; though it is decidedly more upbeat than the previous two with its four tops-like beat to it. In each of these Billy proves that his raspy male-Kathleen-Turner type voice fits well with the songs. However, this voice does have a weak point and it is with the lead track; "Swimmin' in Sunshine".

"Swimmin' in Sunshine" is one of those fun summer tunes like Clint Black's "Summer's Coming", Faith Hill's "Sunshine and Summertime" or, to give some credit to our first reviewed artist, Craig Morgan's "Redneck Yacht Club". Billy voice sounds like it is straining at some points of the song and because of its rasp, it doesn't achieve the light feel of the other three afore mentioned summer tunes.

His voice does do some justice to another light and fun tune, "That's How Country Boys Roll". This song references all those things about country fellas that make them great. My favorite line being "from their ball and a glove to their falling in love, they do everything heart and soul." On this particular song Billy's not trying to hit or hold notes as hard as in "Swimmin' in Sunshine." So, the fun aspect of "Country Boys" works much better with his voice. A particular favorite of mine on this album is "Walk On". This is a very unique song that is about a situation that all of us have encountered. The man in the song sees a beautiful woman walking down the street and desires to meet her. He sings in the chorus about all the things that he wants to do with her.

I want to stop and ask your name/
take a picture of your pretty face/
shout to heaven/
Steal a kiss...
...I want to beg you to be mine/
for the rest of both our lives/

Sounds pretty good doesn't it? Sounds just like your typical guy and gal who meet on the street, but then the last line of chorus is the action that a lot of us follow through with when it's real life.

But instead/
I catch my breath/
Shake my head/
and I walk on

How many of us have done the same thing and later wondered "what if?" This song realizes that tantalizing question with the twist ending that isn't really a twist after all. Since, it's what most people do anyway.

Speaking of which, what is it with twist ending songs lately? Seems that country has been littered with them lately and Billy Currington is not stranger to picking some up on this album. Fortunately, it doesn't result in being just trash.

Those of you who have listened intently to "Good Directions" from Billy's previous album, Doing Something Right, know that he has done a twist song before. On Little Bit of Everything, he does two. I won't spoil the twist for you, but will tell you what they are. "People are Crazy" is the first and "Every Reason Not to Go" is the second and the better of the two. Give a listen and you will see what I mean. Play close attention to the very last (and sweet) line to get the twist. "Crazy" spoils the twist because you know what's going happen right before the twist is revealed. Plus, it's a story we've all heard before. Listen to it and you'll know what I mean.

Little Bit of Everything does live up to its name because it throws a lot of stuff in one album. It's got soul songs, a country song, some love songs and it even has a wink-wink song called "I Shall Return." It's got a Caribbean beat with lyrics about a rambling man. Think if Brad Paisley sung one of his comedic well known type tunes to a Kenny Chesney melody and you get the idea for this one. Billy Currington does this mis-mash of formats much better than Jessica Simpson's try (see Octobers review) and it is Billy's voice that causes the songs to so easily blend. Save for the first tune on this CD, he's got a very relaxed voice. It's like he could just be singing in his own living room. It sounds that casual, which adds to the fun of listening to this CD.

Before I close out this review, you know I would be remiss if I did not talk about one of my favorite subjects, the CD booklet. Many of you who have read previous reviews know how disappointed I am when the booklet lacks adequate photos and with a man as good looking as Billy Currington, you know I'd be desperate to see a whole host of photos in the booklet. Heck, I'm still searching for the Playgirl with him in it! Alas, for those of you, like me, who would love to see Billy's buff, sculpted, hair fuzzed chest, you will be disappointed in the booklet, but what it does have is something that I think it very clever. It has each song on its own page of the booklet rather than being crammed up on two or three pages. Each of the songs is placed on a photo background that is really artistic and there are a couple of really good shots of Billy and his big handsome blue (or in this case grayscale) eyes under that nice mop top of curly hair. (Whooo-doggie! I'd like to play with those little ringlets.) In no way does this detract from the CD at all. It only detracts from my daydreams. In the meantime, I'll still enjoy the music. While I google a variety of keywords still in search of those Playgirl images.

Kenny Chesney
Lucky Old Sun

When I think of the title of Kenny Chesney's latest CD, the following thought that accompanies it is 'Yeah, the sun's lucky. It gets to glare down on Kenny's defined, coppery, shirtless body!' Something that I dream of doing whether I'm at the beach or sipping cocoa in front of a winter fire. Unfortunately, again, in this CD that gazing will not even happen with the booklet. There are very few pictures of Kenny with it and in addition there were not any lyrics with the booklet; just a bunch of thanks and a bit of background on each tune. I'm sure that Kenny's crew appreciates the thanks and knowing a bit about each song is nice, but I really like something more with my booklet; at the very least the lyrics of the songs. Why not have both?

Aside from my problem with the booklet, the music of the CD is a lot of what we have come to expect from Kenny. The songs all have a calypso beat or tinge to them. One song rolls easily into the next like clouds floating through a coastal summer blue sky. This also happens to be the CD's drawback as well. As I mentioned in the review for Craig Morgan, I like a CD that jumps up and grabs me (much like a handsome cowboy). If a CD can make the music stick with me after the first listen and make me want to listen to it more, then that's a good CD. Kenny fails to do that with this offering. I enjoy the CD and would play it as background music to a beach party or a nice warm evening of summer spent outside while my mind focuses on a good book or during the winter months when I want my place to at least sound warm and beachy. I just don't enjoy it enough to put it on the top of my playlists.

There are a couple of cute songs on the CD. "Everybody Wants to Go To Heaven" is the current single that a lot of folks will be familiar with from its radio play. The whole song is actually pretty clever; the chorus most of all for the truth that it speaks.

Everybody wants to go to heaven/
Beats the other place, there ain't no doubt/
Everybody wants to go to heaven/
But nobody wants to go now

"Two with a Ten" is another. This song sings about that often told bar phrase where you've never gone to bed with anyone ugly, but you sure have woke up with someone ugly.

And I did learn from a recent interview that read in an interview that the song "Way Down Here" speaks about the time after his marriage to Rene Zellweger. And no boys, there isn't anything that the hopeful among have learn from this tune. It mainly sings about being glad to be down in the Caribbean with where folks don't ask too many questions and I can be left alone and recover. A song that many of us again can relate, too after a break up.

I, actually, bought the deluxe version of this CD from iTunes. It contains some cool extras. There are a couple of live performance that are included. "Boston" is my favorite. Though it is cheesy, it mentions one of my hometowns (yup, this cowboy grew up in New England). There extras also contain some banter between Kenny and a fan that talks about the name of her boat. You have to hear it to believe it, and the irony of it won't be lost on any of us with our own Kenny fantasies. It comes just before the "Guitars and Tiki Bars" song. I also got the video for "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven".

The disappointment in the download comes from the Pirates and Poets opening video. This was a big jip. The video is a one-and-a-half minute animation with a pirate flag. The only entertaining thing about it is the brief opening remarks that come near the very end of the video. And even that is just a simple introduction; nothing great about it. I thought that I was getting to see some stage time of Kenny, but nope.

Overall, the CD is worth its money for true and hardcore Kenny Chesney fans, but for those more casual country listeners, you're better off just listening to the tunes as they become singles on your radio while you lounge around in your beach chair with your own rum mix.

Patrick Hunter
Trail Ride Coordinator
Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association (ASGRA)

Coosie's Corner

TRAIL SOUP

10 oz dried navy or pinto beans 2 Tbsp oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 bay leaf, 7 cups beef or chicken stock

1. Soak dried beans in water overnight.
2. Heat oil in a large pot and sauté onion, celery, carrots and garlic until they are soft.
3. Add drained beans, bay leaves, and stock.
4. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 3 hours.
5. Season to taste and serve.

Cowboy Music

Cowboys all love springtime
On this we do agree
Grass 'n trees the birds and bees
Play their symphony
My spirit sings
My hos has wings (horse)
Because I'm gona be
Ridin' for the roundup in the spring time

Yippy yea ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime

You can hear those cowboys roustin'
From their bunks at early dawn
They've checked their gear and riggin
As they chinched their saddles on
They've had their beans and bacon
Caus' the day is hard and long
A ridin' for the roundup in the springtime

Yippy yea ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime

It's out and ridin' circle
Cross a rough and rugged land
Astride an eagar pony
Sittin' tall and lookin' grand
A-hazin' to the gather
My ol' ponies a-dippin' sand
A ridin' for the roundup in the springtime

Yippy yea ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime

You can smell the hair a burnin'
And the calves are all frustrated
They're mighty scared and lonely
From their mother's separated
They feel the loop that drags them
To the brandin' iron that's waiten'
To mark em' for the roundup in the spring

When the doggies are all branded
And we've turned the critters out
We're headed for the tavern
Every cowboy knows the route
As we're rollin' back the carpet
All the cowboys give a shout
We'll be riding for the roundup come next springtime

Yippy ya ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime

Ridin' for the roundup in the springtime.

The January newsletter deadline is December 29. Send your articles to [an error occurred while processing this directive]