One of the least expected places to find for live music in Tyler is Brookshires on Rice Road. Most students don’t know that inside of this grocery store is a café called Java Jams.
Although Java Jams doesn’t have live music every night, there is typically some sort of acoustic show going on Saturday nights. Shows like these are just one example of ways that concerts and live music venues can keep students busy throughout the summer heat.
“Java Jams is one of the few places in this town that gives me an opportunity to play and showcase my music. It’s laid back and it offers a good playing atmosphere,” guitarist Caden Crawford said.
This summer Java Jams is hosting Ramoth Gilead, a regular player at the café, on June 6 and Mike Harper on June 20. The summer is not completely planned out yet, but will be soon. The best part of Java Jams, apart from the live music, is that it is free, and many times during the shows, drinks are discounted.
Even though the drive to Dallas is two hours long, it may be worth the time and money to make trips to places such as Six Flags Over Texas for their Starburst’s Concert Series. This series lasts all summer and is free with admission into the park. Expected performers this summer include Miranda Cosgrove, Boys Like Girls, and Mitchel Musso. Another event taking place throughout the entire 2009 season at the amusement park is the “Live and Local” concert series that kicked off in February. Live and Local is a concert series that welcomes local Texas bands to perform in order to help expose their music to as many people as possible. Tyler’s own Seymoure and The Rad participated this year.
Celebrating their 15-year anniversary, The Van’s Warped Tour will be stopping in Dallas again this year at the SuperPages.com Center. The Warped Tour will be July 5 for those music lovers wanting some post Independence Day excitement. Just a few of the 52 bands scheduled to play include 3OH!3, Senses Fail, and Underoath. Tickets are available at TicketMaster.com and vary in price.
For those students who can’t afford trips to Dallas, Click’s Billiards has various concerts each month and supports Tyler’s music scene by giving local bands a place play.
Not only has Click’s hosted Tyler’s Cinder Cell and the Longview band The Vehicle Reason, they have also played host to bands such as Hinder and Flyleaf.
“I like playing there because of the atmosphere. You can be on a big stage just like the big and famous bands that play there and still be right in front of your hometown fans,” Cinder Cell drummer Kip Krugler said.
Upcoming shows at Click’s include: Sevendust with Born 2 Nothing and Early Pearl on May 6 and The Toadies on May 15.
“We also do tournament style Texas Hold ’em Mondays and Wednesdays, no buy in and cash prizes,” Mike Gillespie, a manager at Click’s, said.
For those willing to drive just a few minutes down the road there are plenty of musical events happening all across East Texas. According to the popular website Eventful.com, there are around 50 events in the Tyler, Kilgore and Longview areas. Events range from Rush of Fools performing at Teen Mania Ministries in Lindale on July 20, to multiple concerts at Kilgore’s popular venue The Side Pocket Lounge.
For more information visit http://www.clickslive.com, http://www.sixflags.com, http://www.warpedtour.com, or look up any concert or event at http://www.eventful.com.
