MUSIC

It's McGonigel's Mucky Duck Songwriters NIGHT! Songwriters Night featuring Roberta Morales, David Olney, Brennen Leigh, Mike Stinson.

ROBERTA MORALES - Music rooted in the Southwestern spirit of Texas (where she lives in San Antonio), Arizona (where she grew up) and Mexico (her family and cultural roots) by artists raised on everything from The Beatles to Buffalo Springfield, from Sinatra to the Funny Girl soundtrack, from Cash to Haggard.

It’s music created by muses that are open vessels in which the colors and hues of so many musical skeins beautifully interplay with words written from the crux where the heart meets the mind. And then sung with that genetic helix of harmony that comes from growing up in a very musical family.

DAVID OLNEY - The prolific David Olney infuses his live performances with an intensity that converts many new listeners into die-hard fans. Mr. Olney’s intelligent compositions radiate that same intensity and have earned a place as one of the most respected singer-songwriters in the world today. His songs have been recorded by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Del McCoury, Lonnie Brooks, James King, Slaid Cleaves, Dale Ann Bradley, Tom Rozum, Ann Rabson, Keiran Kane/Kevin Welch/Fats Kaplin, Tim O’Brien and others. He has released more than 20 albums over four decades, including six live recordings, and performs worldwide.

BRENNEN LEIGH - "If what passes for country music these days gives you a headache, Brennen Leigh has the remedy. The Box is traditional. No loud guitars or booming drums, just simple instrumentation, uncomplicated sentiments, and the local's honeyed vocals.

The young singer-songwriter has an obvious affection for the Louvin Brothers …. songs of wounded characters, hearts broken, and restlessness, all delivered with a touch that's distinctively warm and human." -Jim Caligiuri, Austin Chronicle

MIKE STINSON - A native of Virginia, Mike Stinson moved to Los Angeles in 1991. Inspired by the country rock of Gram Parsons, as well as more traditional country artists such as Johnny Cash and George Jones, he began to write songs and eventually formed his own band. Stinson released his debut album Jack of All Heartache in 2002. The album includes a sardonic ode to California entitled "Late Great Golden State." Dwight Yoakam later covered the song on his album Population Me and released it as a single. Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 2003 that Stinson is "one of Los Angeles' best-kept musical secrets."

In the 2004 edition of its annual Best of LA feature, Los Angeles magazine selected him as Best Country-Western Artist, adding that "Late Great Golden State" ought to be California's official anthem. His song "Counting My Lucky Stars," from second album Last Fool at the Bar, was featured in a 2006 episode of the CBS series Cold Case entitled "The Red and the Blue." Though he plays guitar in his own band, Stinson has worked as a drummer for other musicians, including Christina Aguilera and Lucinda Williams.

Stinson relocated to Houston, Texas in 2009. His most recent album, The Jukebox in Your Heart, was produced by Jesse Dayton and recorded at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studios in Austin.[  It includes a new version of "Late Great Golden State."