Riffs, Roams and Raves:
Riffs: Skyrocket!
Whatever you do today, write down the name of this band: Skyrocket!
They brought down the house at Mercer Dancehall in Driftwood on Saturday, Feb. 18 with a party-bringing performance of music from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Far from the usual cover band, they are musicians, visual artists, and actors that bring years of touring, recording and event programming to the stage.
Within the first minute, the band had the crowd in the palms of their hands with a solid delivery of “Footloose,” by Kenny Loggins, conveyed by their stateof- the-art sound system. The Mercer crowd jumped to their feet, hit the dance floor and never looked back.
Early in the set, Trish Murphy showed off her impressive vocal chops with LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade.” Of the seven- member band, astonishingly all but one of them commandeered lead vocals.
Other hits they performed from the vinyl era included “Heart & Soul” by Huey Lewis and the News; “You Should Be Dancing” by the Bee Gees; “Dancing Queen” by ABBA; “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac; “Never Gonna Get It” by En Vogue; and another two hours of hits from their rotation of 100 songs. Once you hear them, you’ll never forget their name.
For more on Skyrocket, visit skyrockettheband. com. For more about Mercer Dancehall and its upcoming shows, visit mercerdancehall. com.
Roams: weird and wonderful Waxahachie
Here’s a road trip for the books.
The small town of Waxahachie, three hours north of Wimberley, is home to a Victorian mansion that has been painstakingly crafted into a near-perfect replica of the Munster Mansion of ‘60s TV fame. Authentically atmospheric, “1313 Mockingbird Lane,” was recreated room by room through the watching and re-watching of footage from the television show. Many pieces in the house are originals or exact replicas of the furniture and props.
Proud owners Sandra and Charles McKee host actors from the original sitcom during its annual October touring event and fundraiser. They open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact munstermansion02@ aol.com.
For Outsider Art enthusiasts, the Webb Gallery on Main Street will prove to be a second dose of the wonderful and weird Waxahachie. Chocked full of Outsider Art gathered by connoisseurs Julie and Bruce Webb for the last 33 years, it celebrates the “imperative to create” by the unschooled everyman- and-woman artist. Contact them for a tour of the collection at (972) 938-8085 or (214) 6327473.
If you’re thinking of staying the night in Waxahachie, the English Merchants Inn is an unlikely but magical place to land. The house has been exquisitely furnished, filled and fancied with all things that define the English cottage. Reserve way in advance, though, as it has been “discovered by the citizens of Dallas,” says owner Howard Baskins, eager to escape the big “D.” More information at theenglishmerchantsinn. com.
Raves: The Great British Baking Company
If you’ve never had the chance to taste a scotch egg, you should try this sumptuous “hand food” at The Great British Baking Company in Dripping Springs.
Made of a boiled egg surrounded by a finely ground sausage and coated with breadcrumbs, a scotch egg is either baked or deep fried to achieve a hefty, rich and crunchy fast food. Once you try one, you very well may never go back to the burger. If you’re anything like me, one taste of a scotch egg, and you’ll fall hard.
The scotch egg is said to have originated in Whitby, Yorkshire, England, in the 19th century, and was originally covered in fish paste rather than sausage meat. Other accounts insist they were invented by the luxury London department store, Putnam and Mason. Whatever the story, those handmade by the Scriven family are the real deal, made from co-owner Andrew Scriven’s family recipes.
You’ll discover other fine items from across the pond there like sausage rolls, cottage pie, leek and tattie soup and sticky toffee pudding. It’s all scrummy! For more information, visit thegreatbritishbakingco. com.