At 51, having entered the music business on a professional level here in my home town of Dallas when I was 20, I can't remember a time I didn't know about Mark Pollock. Mark has presented the Dallas International Guitar Festival since 1985 (known then and still referred to by us not youngsters as The Dallas Guitar Show) when he bought the rights to it, and Charley's Guitar Shop, after the sudden, unexpected death of Charley Wirz.
An incredible guitarist in his own right, the list of artists Pollock's played with include James Cotton, Cold Blue Steel, The Nighcrawlers, Doyle Bramhall, Lowell Fulson, Albert Collins, Pee Wee Crayton, Jimmy McCracklin, & Big Joe Turner. He played for Freddie King too - and when that gig was over, he came back to Dallas and started a band called Kingsnake. When Mark left Kingsnake to move to Chicago, the band became Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets.
Recently I was telling a local, famous blues guitarist about Mark's cancer and the upcoming benefit. First, he said "When is the benefit. I really want to be a part of that." Then, he had the whole table rolling with his story of going into Charley's when he was still pretty young and always having Pollock bark at him over the counter "Well are you going to BUY something, or did you just come to LOOK." He CAN be intimidating. I don't think he necessarily does that on purpose. It's just daunting, even if you are pretty sure of yourself, to stand next to/talk to/be in the same room with such a force. Mark Pollock is one REALLY cool dude.
My personal favorite story about Mark is at one of Larry Morgan's last birthday parties held at Larry Morgan Music. Larry's health had deteriorated quite a bit by then, and in the middle of the party, he had to go into his office, sit down, and use his nebulizer. Mark casually walked by the office, stuck his head in and said (cool as a cucumber) "Larry, I didn't know you were smokin' crack now." We all laughed, and even Larry, with that thing stuck to his face, managed a smile. (Yeah. Know how you feel. I miss Larry too.)
Read more about Mark's diagnosis with Stage 4 Lung Cancer HERE. Then come out Sunday to Poor David's Pub from 3p -10p and pay your money at the door and your respect by your presence to a man who uniquely shaped the Dallas music scene, and especially the blues, with every move he's ever made. If you shopped (or browsed!) at Charley's, saw any of Mark's live shows, or look forward to the Guitar Show every year, it's your chance to say thank you to the man that made that possible.
Thursday, July 9
Pete Barbeck Jam - The Goat –
Dallas (10p-2a)
North Texas All Stars - Tavern on
Main Street – Richardson (8p-12a)
Open Mic Night with Mark Sena –
Cadillac Pizza Pub – McKinney (8p-12a)
Jason Cloud – Mellow Mushroom –
McKinney (8p-11p)
Buddy Whittington – Fat Daddy’s –
Mansfield (7:30p-10p)
Blues & Brews w/Brent Rozell –
Bar Louie – Arlington
Texas Flood – Tolberts – Grapevine
(8:30 – 10:30)
Blues Jam w/SMaCK (Sanson, Maxwell
And (Jerry) Clark, Korner) - Mambo’s Cantina – Ft Worth (8p-12a)
Blues Jam w/Texas Slim - Keys
Lounge – Ft Worth (9p-1a)
Friday, July 10
Blues Jam w/Nick Snyder – The
Cottage – Dallas
Texas Slim – The Goat – Dallas
(9:30p-1:30a)
Gregg A Smith Blues Revue – Babbs
Brothers BBQ – Dallas (7p-10p)
Jon Griffin – Harvest – McKinney
Ray Reed & Gator Jam – Austin
Event Center – Ft Worth (8p-12a)
Chris Watson Band – Central Market
– Ft Worth (6p-9p)
Saturday, July 11
The Stratoblasters – The Goat –
Dallas (9:30p-1:30a)
Jon Griffin – Alligator Café –
Dallas (Deep Ellum) (7p-10p)
Jason Elmore & Hoodoo Witch,
Mike Morgan & The Crawl open – Kessler Theater – Oak Cliff
Andrea Dawson w/Texas Slim –
Concerts By The Creek – Watters Creek, Allen (7p-10p)
Buddy Whittington – Steven’s Garden
& Grill – Mansfield (8p-10p)
Chris Watson Band w/Joey Green –
Dan’s Silverleaf – Denton (9p)
Steve Hill Trio – Central Market –
Southlake (6p-9p)
Brent Rozell – Euless Yacht Club -
Euless
Sunday, July 12
Mark Pollack Cancer Benefit w/The
Midnighters, KM Williams, Jim Suhler, Hash Brown, Dylan Bishop, Jerry Clark,
Ted Roddy, Reo Casey, Cadillac Johnson, Ray Reed + many, many more – Poor
David’s Pub – Dallas (3p-10p)
Jackie Don Loe Blues Happening –
Nate’s Seafood – Addison 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm (Or whenever Jackie Don finally
gets tired)
Chris Watson (solo) – Woodshed
Smokehouse – Ft Worth (12p-4p)
Jon Griffin – Brewsters – Ft Worth
(12p-3p)
Monday, July 13
Tony DeCiccio & Perry Jones Jam
- The Goat – Dallas (10p-2a)
Michael J Dohoney & the
Westsiders – Eddie V's – Dallas (6p-10p)
Tuesday, July 14
Lance Lopez Blues Jam – The Balcony
Club – Dallas (8p-12)
Aaron Burtons Delta Blues Jam - The
Goat –Dallas (10p-2p)
Miss Marcy & Her Texas Sugar
Daddy’s – Wine Therapist – Dallas (7p- 9p)
Chris Watson, Justin Ross – Fat
Daddy’s – Mansfield (8:30p-12:30p)
Michael J Dohoney & the
Westsiders – Eddie V’s – Ft Worth (6:30p-10:30p)
Jerry Clark Blues Jam – The
Basement – Ft Worth
Dylan Bishop & Cadillac Johnson
– Big John’s Burgers – Weatherford (7p-10p)
Wednesday, July 15
Kenny Chavez, Rob Donavan &
David Holcombe – Stroker’s Icehouse – Dallas (7p-10:30p)
Jackie Don Loe, Superstar Harold
Walker & General Falls – Vernon’s Gastropub – Addison (6:30p-11:30p)
Michael Lee Jam – Back Porch Grill
& Tavern – Grapevine (8p-12a)
Michael J Dohoney & the
Westsiders – Eddie V’s – Ft Worth (6:30p-10:30p)
Dave Millsap & Friends – Fred’s
Texas Café – Ft Worth (Blue Bonnet) (7p-11p)
Chris Watson – Magnolia Motor
Lounge – Ft Worth (7p-11p)
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