Charley Crockett- Kentucky Too Long

The man from San Benito — that Gulf Coast grit in his voice — just dropped another spicy blues burner with “Kentucky Too Long.”

This one ain’t polished Nashville shine.

It’s barstool smoke and Lone Star condensation rings.

Those guitar riffs? Straight outta Lightnin’ Hopkins’ back porch playbook. Sharp, stinging, and just loose enough to feel dangerous. You can almost hear the thumb slap on the strings and the amp humming like it’s about to confess something.

“Kentucky Too Long” feels like:

cheap motel wallpaper neon flicker at 1:17 a.m. a man who stayed longer than he should’ve

There’s that Texas blues DNA running through it — dusty, stubborn, and unapologetic. The kind of track that doesn’t ask permission. It just plugs in and dares you to feel something.

San Benito keeps turning out heat.

Wife Thinks Ray Wylie Hubbard & Robert Earl Keen Are the Same Dude (And I’m Losing the Argument Badly)

Somewhere between the checkout line and the queso aisle, my wife decided — boldly, confidently, and without a lick of hesitation — that Ray Wylie Hubbard and Robert Earl Keen are the exact same man.

Same beard.

Same hat.

Same vibe.

“Same energy,” as she calls it.

I tried to gently correct her, like a husband who knows this road leads straight into a domestic buzzsaw.

“Baby… Ray Wylie wrote ‘Snake Farm.’ Robert Earl Keen wrote ‘Feeling Good Again.’ One leans into blues and mystic grit. The other leans into bluegrass and front-porch storytelling. Whole different universe.”

She didn’t even flinch.

Not a twitch.

Instead she hit me with this masterpiece:

“Pancho… they’re the same guy. You just like arguing.”

I almost dropped the salsa jar.

Meanwhile, tonight I’m spinning one of Ray Wylie’s finest albums — the one with the big title and the bigger attitude:

A: Enlightenment B: Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C).

A record so Ray Wylie it feels like a campfire sermon preached by a coyote in a denim jacket.

It’s tight.

It’s gritty.

It’s blues with a philosopher’s smirk.

Ain’t nothing “loose” about it.

And Robert Earl Keen?

That man is bluegrass charm and beer-sipping back-porch brilliance.

Completely different lane.

But try explaining genres to a woman who has already decided the trial is over and the jury has gone home.

She just shrugs and says,

“Well, I like ’em both — so what’s the problem?”

Lord.

Take the wheel.

Still, I love her.

Every stubborn, wonderful, hard-headed bit of her.

And tomorrow she’ll still argue that Ray Wylie and REK share the same “aura,” whatever that means.

So once again, for posterity and for my peace:

No matter how many times I try to ’splain it to her… Blues is NOT Bluegrass.

Have a breakfast taco and jam some Texas Country- Rich O’Toole

Pancho

The Man From San Benito

The Wagner Noel in Midland, Tx hosted Texas Country, and Blues Man Charley Crockett last night. The show had been rescheduled from it’s original date of July 3rd. In the beginning I was kinda bummed because when I had purchased the tickets, Vincent Neil Emerson was set to play with Charley.

Since VNE didn’t make curtain call last night in Midland, due to the changes in the date, the opening act last night was instead Emily Nenni.

It took a few songs before Nenni warmed up the crowd. She threw a blend of Honky Tonkin and fast paced lyrics out there to be heard. I had never heard her nor did I even know she existed, but she was worth the listen.

Charley Crockett and his band soon took the stage and livened up the Sunday evening crowd with horns, keys , the steel guitar and an old fashioned stand up Bass guitar.

“I’m from San Benito, Texas,” Sang Charley.

Crockett comes from the same place in South Texas as Freddy Fender. Although, His music began at a young age and evolved in places like Deep Ellum in Dallas and on the Streets of New Orleans. It still has many of the sounds and vibes of his south Texas roots. The mariachi type tones can be heard through accordion and keys and in many of Charley’s ballads. A lot of the music that Charley pens sounds like the old west, these are like the gunfighter and cattle driving songs from a time long forgotten.

Charley often helps other independent musicians find their own beginnings in music. The first time I saw Charley Crockett live, Jesse Daniel was on the bill. More recently, Jesse has become a force to reckon with on the music scene.

Often times Charley can be found on cowrites with other aspiring musicians. One of my personal favorites by this artist is “Lily My Dear.” I was super excited when Charley wielded his banjo last night and began strumming out the song.

Lily My Dear was co-written with South Texas Tweek and Vincent Neil Emerson. After I posted a video clip of the song on Twitter from last nights performance Tweek reported how much the song has evolved since they wrote it so many years ago.

Crockett’s catalog continues to evolve. He is a true showman. After the concert last night, my girlfriend who had never seen him perform was in awe. She said “He’s got the moves!”

I will gladly continue to follow his music and see him every chance I can.

Pancho.