The Write Stuff - Atlanta, TX

04/06/2026

Proving Zappa wrong for 53 years now!

Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read. - Frank Zappa 😆

The Original Texas Music Magazine

01/13/2025

I've been a fan of Miranda Lambert ever since I first heard the opening lick of "The House That Built Me" came floating out of my car stereo over 20 years ago.

I first saw her in person singing on a flatbed trailer in a crowded Shreveport K-Mart parking lot - sometime around 2005. A decade later I had great seats at her 2015 concert in Bossier City, LA (As well as in 2017 and 2019).

That night, in 2015, Miranda was on fire - despite having just decided upon divorce with then-husband Blake Shelton the day before in Dallas. It was one of the best concerts I've attended.

When I got the opportunity to interview Miranda for Buddy Magazine in Fall 2022, I was more than thrilled.

FROM TEXAS BAR ROOMS TO VEGAS STAGES
By Kate Stow, 2023

Twenty years ago, Texans knew that Miranda Lambert was the queen of country music. It didn’t take long before the rest of the world knew it, too.

The journey from Lindale, Texas to Vegas has taken Miranda all over the world and landed her as one of the most awarded country music artists in history. The 2022 ACM Entertainer of the Year has achieved much more than the young lady from Lindale could foresee.

READ MORE IN COMMENTS

01/13/2025

As a freelance photographer for a music magazine, I have visited many venues, and I've shot many great artists. I've also dealt with many types of audience members while trying to do my job and simultaneously not get in the way too much.

I've been cussed at, tripped, pushed and threatened. But I've also been treated like a queen. It balances out.

For those audience members who don't get it, I am the lens of familiarity between the artist and the world. How I present them to our global readership is critical to them.

The article I write about them is their story to the world. I'm just relaying the message they want people to know.

I'm not their buddy, or pal (although I have become such with many of my subjects). I'm there because of what I offer. Therefore, I strive to offer the very best quality.

I keep my gear maintained and ready. I communicate with the venue and the artist to gain acceptance when I need to cover something.

I go to venues small and large, fancy and not - whether I can normally afford to be there or not. Sometimes I stand for hours with no seat, watching people eat food that I can't buy, while sipping my watered down tea between positions.

A lot of times, the venue owner or manager ignore me. Sometimes the artist on stage ignores me.

Why am I constantly moving and taking so many shots? A concert is a lot like like a football game. Just like a sports photographer stays ready for the next intercept, kick, tackle or touchdown, I stay ready for "that" expression, hair toss, jump, drumstick twirl, crowd interaction, etc.

The better the shot, the better chance I have of it being used. Photo credit on a global scale is a hefty paycheck for a freelancer - and might be accompanied with very little money.

So why do all this if it doesn't pay a lot? It's a passion more than a job. It's an addiction - chasing the best shot is like chasing a hit of speed. And when you do catch it, you've won. That shot keeps you in the game. It tells people you are justified to be there. And it gives you leverage when you charge for private shoots.

Having said all of that, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the owner, management and staff of 1852onAustion in Jefferson, Texas. Their gracious hospitality and level of professionalism is unmatched in the industry.

Not only was I invited twice in a 10-day period, but I was fed the most delicious food I've eaten in a while. I thoroughly enjoyed the NYE party, and getting to know them through the interviews.

And the artist - Wes Jeans - isn't just another musician. He's one of those who truly has become a friend (along with his sweet wife), and he opens up because he knows I won't print anything he says not to. He has never ignored me, and it means a lot.

These people make being a freelancer worth it. Ill never not be grateful.

12/25/2024

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we congregate in person and online during this joyful season, we thank You for the gift of friendship. We are grateful for the laughter, support, and memories we share. May this Christmas fill our hearts with love and gratitude for one another.

We pray for Your blessings upon each friend here. May they feel Your presence and the warmth of Your love surrounding them. Grant them joy, peace, and hope in the coming year, and may our bonds grow stronger with each passing day.

Help us to be a source of encouragement and kindness to one another, reflecting Your love in all that we do, say or post. May the spirit of Christmas inspire us to reach out to those in need and to share our blessings with others and offer encouragement

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who brings us together in love and unity. May we carry the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts today and always.

Amen.

Bless you all,
Kate

12/21/2024

12/21/2024

Why do high school band students no longer march with mallet instruments?

As a former band student who marched with a xylophone, I can answer this. (The first photo is of me, QCHS 1982).

The instrument and harness weigh 50 lbs. When I graduated in 1983, I was 5'2" and weighed 120 lbs. For three years I marched with the xylophone for 5 daily practices and two evening practices in the Summer and Fall. Not to mention the football games and contests. I was fit and I loved everything about my instrument, but I had back pain at a young age.

High school marching bands largely stopped marching with xylophones (and other large keyboard percussion instruments like marimbas) around the early 1980s, as the concept of a "front ensemble" or "pit" became more prevalent, allowing these instruments to be played while stationary instead of being carried on the field by performers; this shift was largely influenced by the development of Drum Corps International where the idea of a dedicated pit area emerged.

Xylophones are used in marching bands as part of the front ensemble, which also includes other mallet instruments like the marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel, chimes, and crotales.

Before the widespread adoption of the pit, marching percussionists often carried instruments like the 46 lb. xylophone on the field.The difficulty of marching with large, cumbersome instruments like xylophones contributed to the move towards a stationary pit. Another factor was complaints of lower back pain by the teenagers who strapped them on.

While some marching bands do incorporate mallet instruments like marimbas or vibraphones in specific contexts (such as in the drumline or in concert settings), these are less common in traditional marching formations.