Frank's Anchor Club: Our first performance as Wicked Brew was at Frank's Anchor Club on Belton Lake in Belton, Texas. Frank`s has been the launch pad for many Texas bands, including Kevin Fowler, Pete Benz, and Little Joe & La Familia. Manager Bill Wood says, "You guys are the best band I`ve seen since I took over management here." We've had many performances at the Anchor Club, been featured in a TV commercial for them, and even written a radio jingle for the club.

Since the night we first played at Franks, things have changed a little bit. Take a look!

September 2003: Wicked Brew formed during a drinking game at Cory’s house. Jared doesn’t remember this for a week.

October 2003: First gig at Franks in Killeen is shut down by the fire department for public safety concerns—too many people partying in one space.

July 2004: Commissioned to write and record an advertising jingle for the Frank’s. The band appears in their first TV commercial.

July 2004: The band records their first album First Shot at High Octane Studio in Waco. Band tensions build while interviewing models for the cover.

September 2004: Drummer Lee Durham, brother of lead guitarist Jimmy, quits the band over a dispute resulting in gunfire at a show in Odessa. Lee is replaced the next day by drummer Jeff Blackmon, who is not afraid of guns. Jeff takes a crash course on the songs and plays a show opening for Cory Morrow the next night.

February 2005: Charlie Robison asks to join the band during a show at Dos Amigos in Odessa. Though big fans of Charlie’s music, the band politely declines.

August 2005: Wicked Brew becomes the first non-Metal band to play at the Donner Musik Party. Alt Country rams head on into Heavy Metal, and the resulting train wreck creates fans on both sides of the tracks!

September 2005: The band opens on consecutive nights for Nashville Recording Artist Brian Gowan and Texas’ own Morrison-Williams in Deep Ellum. After the show, Shayne Morrison tries to sign Wicked Brew to Palo Duro Records, but the deal’s called off when somebody leaves with somebody else’s girlfriend. Bummer!

Spring 2006: The band records their second album, Two-Faced, at Bruce Robison*s Famous Boars Nest Studio with producerJay Hudson (Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert Earl Keen, Ian Moore).

Summer 2006: Wicked Brew played benefits for the Central Texas Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and for Killeen Firefighter Fund. Became regulars on the Central Texas Bike Night for 107.3 The Fox and local riders.

The next 12 months: A blur of kick-ass gigs, manic songwriting & recording, whole-band fistfights, smoke-filled motel rooms, and disappearing bassist tricks.

September 2007: Featured on Texas Country Reporter television show for Texas Country Star.

October 2006: When the old bass player doesn’t show up for a gig in Wahlburg, Rick Watson steps up from the audience and plays two sets without knowing any of the songs. He gets the gig!

Spring 2007: Wicked Brew contacted for sponsorship by Budweiser True Music. Beer company battles ensue.

Spring 2007: The band wraps up recording of the new album Down South with a guest appearance from lovely Texas songbird Pauline Reese. Bandmembers fistfight to see who gets photos with her first. No one hurt too seriously.