In My Own Sweet Time

‘It’s been midnight all week”

This week has been brutal that’s for certain. There is much change happening in my life . I have felt as if a giant earthquake is crumbling me apart a little each day.. I think this is normal as I near my sobriety date and the reflection of time and place are whirling through my mind..

This morning i awoke before the sun, as I do on most days and I was reminded that it’s a fresh new beginning. There was bright lights at the realization of new music from one of my favorite artists.

“I’ve been trudging through the quicksand…”

The House Husband’s Guide to Keeping it Between the Lines, the new album by Payton Matous officially released today.

The Album features 9 of the latest creations from Matous. Producer Ethan Whitaker has outdone himself with this one as well.

‘I’ve seen driving rains, pouring sun’

The Six foot something ex football star Payton Matous has a folk style and a songwriting skill that has really begun to develop in the years I’ve followed him. He has a wide array of words and phrases that tell a beautiful story and his dreams are becoming reality with every breath.

‘And I know I’m gonna get there’

My favorite takeaway as of today is In My Own Sweet Time. This love ballad of trials and tribulations has hit me where i needed to be hit. It’s a perfect example of what Payton is capable of creating. I found myself in this composition and I believe others will too.

This coming weekend I will be heading to Dallas to see this song and the remainder of the album live. It’s always a blessing to see Payton Matous perform. Not to mention, he is one of the nicest people I know.. A big ol bear of a man who has a heart of gold.. Payton will be playing the Wounded Ostrich in Deep Ellum 5/11 and will be debuting his first full band show.

“In my own sweet time”

Pancho.

Damn Good Time

Yesterday I made the trek up through the cotton fields and farms of the Panhandle. My mission, Amarillo by sundown.. I was heading to one of my favorite little haunts along Route 66, The Goldenlight Cantina.

Zach Welch was playing along with the Rye Boys and Tristyn Sanchez. The Rye Boys , Clayton Smith and Nick Harper , performed sort of a double duty last night as they also filled in for Zach’s band. Zach’s usual guitarist , Colton Mathis was doing big things on his own this weekend as he was asked to perform in Austin during South x Southwest. Zach and Ethan Whitaker of the Zach Welch band didn’t miss a beat and the Rye boys were filling the Cantina with Rock n Roll!

I always enjoy this group of guys. We got to talk a little outside before and after the show and had lots of laughs.. conversation arose about all the usual guy stuff.. women and whether or not beans belong in chili. To which Nick reacted, “ I don’t care, why does everyone have to call something it’s not?, why does anyone even care? Just do what makes you happy.”

Zach Welch announced that he’s recording a new album. We shall have new content in his blend of the Forney Texas blues..

The boys sure looked happy to be doing what they loved on that drizzly Saturday night at the Top of Texas.

Thanks brothers for a damn good time.

Pancho.

Cooks Garage

I have driven umpteen times down US 87 and looked down from the overpass to see the neons glow at Cooks . Until last night I had never stopped in to see what this place was all about. The inside was just as if not cooler and retro than the parking lot and the staff was super friendly and the food was good and the beer was cold… errr in my case an ice cold Topo Chico was just what I needed to rinse that West Texas Dust off my throat.

Hayden McCalib reminded me of that intro on Robert Earl Keens live album, ‘I hadn’t had a Schlitz beer since the 3rd grade’

I had seen a post on Twitter that Zach Welch was playing last night at Cook’s in Lubbock.. his guitarist Colton Mathis had also made his Lubbock Debut earlier in the day as the garage was serving the lunch crowd.

Zach had the dinner spot and brought out the full band. They played that special brand of Forney Texas Music the Zach Welch penned music where a love song might include a Wrastling Ring, songs sad Enough to make your mama cry music that I love.

His show last night also included an array of Cover songs he played Hank Williams Sr , Bob Dylan, the Stones , Willie, Waylon, and the Boys and even threw in some 90s rock into the mix.. Just for me he played his version of the Lost Dog Street Bands “September Dove” I love that cover by Zach but then again it’s the only one he’s actually recorded so it’s the one I have heard him do the most. He was pitch perfect last night on everything he tackled.. I enjoyed the mix of songs he chose for his setlist.. he really played into the crowds tastes and I could tell him and the boys were Having a Damn Good Time.

It was great seeing all the homies and looking forward for the next one. They plan to be in Amarillo this next October and I hope they get a West Texas Welcome that they deserve.

Catch y’all down the road..

Grateful for the music. I was going into withdrawal it’s been a day or two since I caught a live show.

Pancho.

Friends and Snakes

When I first learned of Colton Mathis, Seth Jones told me he was the one to watch.

It seems like just yesterday, I first got to see him play at Cheatham in San Marcos, Texas. From the first song he played, I knew I was gonna be a life long fan. It wasn’t long after that, He released his first single, ‘Fight’.

Colton Mathis is the guitarist for the Zach Welch band. From the Podcast Texas History Lessons, Host Michael Sparkman points out that Colton’s guitar can be heard on most anything that comes from 301Productions studios. His sound his heard on many of Zach Welch’s tracks , and can be found all the way throughout Payton Matous Heathens EP.

Mathis and the 301Productions latest release is The Frying Pan Acoustic EP. This EP features original Mathis songs and was produced by 301’s Ethan Whitaker.

I think so far my favorite from this new album is the Colton Mathis penned, Friends and Snakes.

I know Y’all will enjoy the new tunes. Give this one a spin anywhere you stream your music. And Just in Time for Christmas. Colton becomes the Kaufman County Santa Claus.

Pancho.