About Me
ARANSAS PASS - Bold and brazen pride in Texas and its music, Ray T. and the City Crew are the first to tell you the ways of small town people with big dreams and even bigger attitude. Dirty blues guitar drives this four piece from Aransas Pass, and after playing and growing together for nearly their entire lives, these men are now venturing outward, bringing their Texas country and blues-influenced rock to Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas.The four have been best friends since Kindergarten, and their aspirations in music grew with their friendship. Even when Ray (Estevan "Ray" Tijerina) was away for a time, he returned to Aransas Pass to find his friends exactly where he'd left them. It was then that he picked up his acoustic guitar and began using his experiences to guide his music."I'd take my acoustic guitar and started getting a little following by myself," Ray said. "And Juan joined me a couple of nights and then Lewis did too."Ray, who sings and now plays lead guitar, was speaking about rhythm guitarist, Juan Jimenez, and Lewis Meza, who plays bass.But it wasn't until the three were seen by their old friend and drummer, David Adame, that the band really came together."When I saw what Ray was doing on guitar, I said I want to be a part of that," Adame said. "It's real."Adame joined his friends and was instantly challenged when he was told that he had only two weeks to learn all the material because the band was heading into a the recording studio."Learn it or die," Adame said laughing, to which his friends quickly agreed."That was the definitely the anthem," Lewis said.The band's first album is called Where I Am, and the music is that of life experiences - some hard, some fun, but all those which form character and build strength in individuals.And for Ray there was no exception. Not only did he manage to work his way through personal issues, but he also got himself clean and sober, and he's been that way for three years.Juan is also sober and has been for over a year, and Lewis also doesn't drink. The men emphasized that boozing it up is not the goal for this band. They work all day and a gig or practice at night is the second job they love."One of the things that drew me to Ray was that I know where it's coming from," Juan said. "I've seen it. I've lived it, and I know exactly what he's talking about...where he went, what he lived through, that's what it's all about."Past times were times he and his friends shared, and with humor and heartbreak, listening to Ray sing is like listening to the story of his life.The guys, however, were not always influenced greatly by blues and country. Their musical beginnings, like many others, began with greats like Metallica and Slayer. Then later spanned to artists like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Reckless Kelly and Johnny Cash.Listening to Texas radio ..ed mold Ray's songwriting style, but he keeps some of his old love of metal by using enough distortion to push what might ordinarily be considered blues to what Ray and the band like to call Texas rock."It's all real; it's all about hanging with your friends and having a good time," Lewis said.The band plans on recording a new cd every six months, pumping new material out to keep their shows diverse. After all, it's their live shows that get crowds going, watching Ray solo, not only during his own tunes, but during various blues and country covers.The recently played in Victoria on a stage that was much bigger than they're used to, and although the experience was one the guys will never forget, most would agree that playing the Time Out Sports Bar and Grill in Aransas Pass is like coming home to a massive family."Last weekend, it was wall to wall," Juan said. "Everyone was standing up, and they really got into it, and that's what we feed off of - the crowd and their energy."Ray T. and the City Crew have taken their show from the small town they call home (with the exception of David whose dedication drives him to AP from his home in Port Lavaca) and have played around Port Aransas and in Corpus Christi.They want more gigs in Corpus, however, and they said they're constantly trying to network and find their place in the Corpus Christi music scene.They're musicians to the core and they are ready to show you a good time. See them June 15 at Flats Lounge in Port Aransas and June 16 at Timeout Sports Bar and Grill in Aransas Pass.http://www.myspace.com/raytandthecitycrewOnline Reporter: Vanessa Perez
www.myspace.com/vmarieperezShare this storY
Guitar MySpace Layouts - Fender Guitar MySpace Layouts
Guitar MySpace Layouts
