'Bands' to play on

Four Tucumcari city commissioners during a special meeting Friday evening approved, with one abstention, giving another $60,000 in lodgers tax funds to a production company to help it make four more episodes of the "Bands of Enchantment" music television series.

The decision prompted applause from about 20 people at the meeting in the commission's chambers.

Elkhorn Entertainment will produce in Tucumcari eight episodes of "Bands of Enchantment," which principals envision as a New Mexico version of PBS-TV's long-running "Austin City Limits." A film crew began shooting episodes last week and will wrap production on the first four episodes later this week. The initial shoot this month features eight nationally prominent music acts and four New Mexico-based acts.

Elkhorn officials said they plan to air the 30-minute episodes on New Mexico PBS stations, RFD-TV's Cowboy Channel and the Amazon Prime streaming service - all with a potential audience of tens of millions of people - by summer.

"Bands of Enchantment" in October received up to $60,000 in city lodgers' tax funds to produce four of eight episodes for the series. Elkhorn will cover the rest of the costs through sponsorships.

The pitch

Several city officials were invited Friday afternoon to a private screening at the Odeon Theatre of a rough cut of the "Bands of Enchantment" pilot episode.

Several officials confirmed the episode contained footage of Taos singer-songwriter Max Gomez and a snippet from the second episode of Lilly Hiatt, a Nashville artist and the daughter of singer-songwriter John Hiatt.

City Manager Mark Martinez recommended approving another $60,000 in lodgers tax executive funds for the show. He said New Mexico Tourism's chief is excited about the production, and state legislators also were interested in it.

"Bands of Enchantment" executive producer Vincent "Tyson" Chavez said Elkhorn was upholding its part of the marketing agreement by getting "heads into beds" of the city's motels. He said the acoustic performances at varying spots around Tucumcari and at the Zia Club "will live on forever" on digital platforms and show off Tucumcari.

He said if the commission approved the extra money, "Tucumcari Sessions" would be placed above the show's main logo.

Chavez said in addition to four more episodes, they want to launch a "Bands of Enchantment" festival in Tucumcari. He said several music artists at last week's tapings said Tucumcari was "amazing" and would commit to performing at such a festival if it happens.

Chavez said one of the artists - later confirmed to be Junior Mesa and his band - said they would stay an extra day to explore the area after taping, including possibly visiting Ute Lake.

"This, in my humble opinion, is the best $120,000 Tucumcari will ever spend," Chavez said after thanking businesses and residents who've helped with the production.

Comments

During commissioner comments, Christopher Arias said the pilot episode shown at the Odeon put Tucumcari "in a positive light," and he thanked the producers.

Commissioner Todd Duplantis said he concurred with Arias' comments and lauded Elkhorn's professionalism.

"This isn't a secondhand operation," Duplantis said, and noted it would highlight Tucumcari for a long time.

Commissioner Ralph Moya peppered Chavez and "Bands of Enchantment" creator Ken Peterson with several questions, including its projected broadcasts with New Mexico PBS, RFD-TV and Amazon Prime. Chavez said Amazon Prime wouldn't approve the likely contact until the episodes are completed and submitted.

Moya also asked about the "Bands of Enchantment" name and noting just five of the 12 acts in the four episodes are from New Mexico. Chavez said Elkhorn "cast a big net" so it could book more nationally known acts and draw more viewers.

Chavez said performances by New Mexico acts at the Zia Club would be aired digitally. After the meeting, Peterson said said those acts would be social media platforms that include Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and the show's website.

Peterson and Chavez said they wanted the show to intrigue prospective visitors.

"We have to get folks from across the country curious about New Mexico," Chavez said. He added that "Bands of Enchantment" so far was "one of the most incredible things we've put together in my career."

Moya asked Larry Smith, chairman of the Lodgers Tax Board, to give his opinion. Smith acknowledged his Motel Safari hosting the music acts didn't give him an unbiased opinion, but added: "I'm 100% behind it."

Smith, whose background includes television production, said Elkhorn "has the right plan" of using a multi-platform approach with publicity and "did an amazing job" on the rough-cut pilot screened earlier Friday.

"We can feature New Mexico without it being all about New Mexico," he said.

Commissioner Paul Villanueva thanked the "Bands of Enchantment" producers, plus the work by Martinez and city workers on the railroad depot so it could be converted into the show's main stage.

Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield said she was impressed by Elkhorn's set and camera crew.

"I appreciate your faith in Tucumcari," she told Chavez and Peterson. "What a great thing this is for Tucumcari."

The vote

Arias made the initial motion to approve another $60,000 in lodgers tax funds to "Bands of Enchantment," and Villanueva seconded.

Duplantis, explaining he had a contract with Elkhorn, abstained from voting but indicated earlier he would have voted in favor.

Villanueva voted "yes," as did Moya, who explained he owns the building that houses the Zia Club but does not operate it.

Arias said, "100% yes."

Litchfield concluded the vote by remarking to Arias he "stole my line," then added "100%-plus yes."

The room spontaneously broke out in applause.

Peterson said he was pleased with the outcome.

"We're literally running back to the depot to get back to work. But this sets in motion episodes five through eight," he said. "We put our hearts into this, and we really believe in it."

Asked about the production so far, Peterson said, "It's going amazing. I don't want to pat my own back, but I'm very proud of the work we've accomplished. Everyone's been a real pleasure to work with."

The screening

The showing of the "Bands of Enchantment" pilot earlier that day at the Odeon Theatre seemed to seal the deal with Elkhorn if commissioners showed any wavering.

"The pilot was very well organized and very well done," Arias said. "Sometimes we don't know the people we're working with and question the quality of their work. But there's no question these gentlemen have put on a quality production. It's going to be great going forward with them."

Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, also liked what she saw.

"They did a phenomenal job featuring Tucumcari," she said, and added she was impressed by Elkhorn's professionalism.

Peterson and Chavez turned down the Quay County Sun's request to attend the private screening. Chavez said they pared down their initial invitation list so they could still meet COVID-19 guidelines.

Chavez also said they didn't want a reporter there due to copyright and licensing issues.

"Everyone is prohibited from sharing anything of the show. This is not a press thing," he said. He also said it's a rough cut, and "it's not ready for press release."

Regardless, Chavez said he felt obligated to show a rough cut of the pilot to the show's stakeholders so they could "understand and evaluate what they are paying for. Otherwise, no one would see anything for several weeks."

The city of Tucumcari sent out a public notice about the Odeon's private screening and that quorum of city commissioners might be there.

Melanie Majors, director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, acknowledged the screening was "a gray area" in the state's Open Meetings Act but surmised the screening probably was legal.

"The Act is not intended to alter the business or social relationships of officials so long as they are not meeting in their capacity as county commissioners for the purpose of conducting public business," Majors wrote in an email. "Any discussion of the agenda item should be avoided, and the matter only discussed in an open meeting of the board."