Austin Favorites "Soulhat"

February 17, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release


The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the final addition to the team's "Budweiser True Music Concert Series," welcoming Austin favorites "Soulhat" in concert following the Ice Bats' home game on Saturday, February 25th.

Founded in 1990 by frontman Kevin McKinney and guitarist Bill Cassis, "Soulhat" quickly became a Texas institution, bringing their "funk rock" to raucous throngs at the Black Cat Lounge in the Sixth Street heyday of the early ‘90's. The group produced a half-dozen albums, including a 1991 live recording, "Live at the Black Cat," and 1994's "Good to Be Gone." The latter produced the single "Bonecrusher," which received national airplay in addition to becoming a staple of local airwaves. Surviving a breakup, reunion and several lineup changes, "Soulhat" was reborn in 2000 with the release "Experiment on a Flat Plane," which combined folk rock with the group's trademark blues, soul and funk influences. At July's 30th Anniversary Show at Antone's, McKinney and Cassis were rejoined by original bassist Brian Walsh and long-time drummer Barry "Frosty" Smith. Smith has officially retired, but the band hasn't missed a beat with J.J. Johnson, who has performed with Lenny Kravitz, among others. The February 25th contest will be the Ice Bats' final home game played at the Travis County Expo Center, following the announcement earlier this week that the team will relocate to Chaparral Ice Center for the 2006-07 season. One ticket price covers that night's game against Odessa, as well as the concert. Fans may call (512) 927-PUCK to purchase tickets or for more details on the game.

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The Ice Bats return to play this weekend at the Travis County Expo Center, hosting Colorado Friday night at 7:30pm and Laredo Sunday at 4pm. A portion of ticket proceeds from Friday's game will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the fight against breast cancer. Also, the second set of Ice Bats trading cards will go to 3,000 fans. On Sunday, youth jerseys go to the first 1,000 fans age 13 and under, and a post-game skate with the Ice Bats players follows the contest. The Bats will then play just twice more at the Expo Center, on Tuesday, Feb. 21st and Saturday, Feb. 25th, with a couple of additional home games scheduled for March 17th and 18th at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.

Tickets for Ice Bats home games are on sale now through the Ice Bats office at 927-PUCK, or at any Texas Box Office location, including all Austin-area HEB stores. For on-line orders, fans may visit www.TexasBoxOffice.com or www.GetTix.Net. To charge by phone, fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at 927-PUCK, Texas Box Office at (512) 477-6060, or Get Tix at 1-866-4-Get Tix.

Individual game tickets range in price from $11 to $35, depending on section, with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more. In addition to individual game tickets and group outings, season tickets and corporate partnerships are currently available for the upcoming season, with full-season, half-season and 10-game ticket packages on sale now. Fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com for more information.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2006


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