Bad Bunny vs. King George

Now look here— I ain’t sayin’ this Bad Bunny fella can’t sing. I’m sure he’s a fine entertainer, what with his shiny pants and that fancy Spanish talk. But I’ll be damned if the world don’t feel sideways when the Super Bowl halftime show—the same one that once gave us Springsteen and Prince—gets handed to a guy named after a rabbit with an attitude problem.

Down here in Texas, we got our own royalty. His name’s King George Strait. He don’t need choreography or pyrotechnics—just a Stetson, a fiddle, and a song that’ll make a grown man stare into his beer like it’s the last one he’ll ever drink.

So when folks started that petition askin’ the NFL to swap the Bunny for the King, I couldn’t help but grin. Ten-thousand signatures, thirty-thousand, hell, I don’t know—there’s a lotta people who still remember what country sounds like. George don’t need smoke machines. The man is the smoke.

Now maybe I’m just old-fashioned. Maybe I miss when a stage smelled like diesel, sweat, and heartbreak instead of cologne and lasers. Truth is, I prefer an arena rock show over a football game any day—unless, of course, it’s a rodeo. Then I’ll drop everything, grab a Dr Pepper, and cheer like a fool for the broncs and bulls.

The only Bad Bunny I’ve ever known had horns and hopped through the desert. We used to call ’em jackalopes—mythical little bastards that made more sense than this halftime lineup.

If the NFL really wants to “unite America,” they might start with a cowboy hat instead of a glitter bunny suit.

Until then, I’ll be right here—boots up, watchin’ Pure Country reruns, prayin’ for the day George walks back out and reminds the world how a story’s supposed to sound.

If the Bunny wants Texas, he better learn the two-step first.

Sign the petition here 👇

https://c.org/d7vP6fskZQ

Pancho.

Ghost

I was up this morning before the West Texas sun rose into the eastern sky, before it dried out the dew and wilted the cactus flowers. The spirit of the day was to catch a Ghost.

Ghost is a compilation of Love and heartbreak, pain and glory.

Ghost – Rich O’Tooles 8th studio album. Some say it might be his best work yet. The album features previously released singles , Love on a Sunday, Texas is My Home , and Wildflower Lane.

Rich who credits Texas Greats like Robert Earl Keen and George Strait as his primary influences in the Texas Music Scene, posted on social media that his favorite take away from the album was his rendition of the Charlie Robison penned, John O’Reilly.

As of Midnight 6/21 O’Tooles new music is streaming every where. The album is also available on vinyl but is in limited supply so grab one while you still have time.

Pancho.

That Lonesome Song

A couple of Sundays back I attended a show out at the Wagnernoel in Midland. I have been listening to the music of Jamey Johnson since he released his second studio album back in 08, but until then, I had never seen him play live.

Jamey is a hell of a song writer. You might know that one song he does, ‘In color,’ I mean the song does have some great things going for it, but Johnson has a whole catalog of lyrics that match or trump that songs greatness.

Jamey Johnson has also written some great songs that were recorded by other artists. I think that’s the ceiling for a song writer. When you hear the words that you wrote down on paper and they are coming from the mouth of George Strait blasting through the speakers of your cars radio, you know you have made it.

‘Give it Away’ is one of those songs. I wouldn’t say Jamey Johnson gave it to anyone. King George recorded the song when no one else gave a damn who Jamey Johnson was. He’d just lost his record label and wasn’t sure what direction his life would turn, and outta no where- Enter King George.

Jamey Johnson is great entertainment. He is a showman. At the concert hall that night he played several songs by another George. The one whose last name is Jones. He played them at the request of his good buddy Rooster. Some of you might remember Rooster from the short lived reality series, West Texas Investors Club. Some of you remember Rooster because of his brother Matthew McConaughey, that movie star guy. I remember Rooster just being Rooster. I grew up with his son, and also happened to graduate high school with his current wife Erica.

At the show Rooster reminded us all to listen and appreciate the lyrics. The songwriter makes the song. No matter who is playing it. That Lonesome Song tells us a story, from the heart.

Jamey Johnson also did some brilliant covers from one of the best ever, Billy Joe Shaver. In fact he did more covers that night then I was ever expecting, but he did them better than I ever expected so it was all perfectly okay by me.

That Lonesome song is one of my personal favorites of all time. It tells a story that I can personally relate to. I think many of my friends can too. Couple that with Johnson’s ‘High Cost of Living’ (which was a disappointment that he didn’t even have it on the set list that night) and you’ve got a pretty accurate picture of my life.

You should have seen it in Color.

Pancho.

Danced All Night Long

I’m still uncertain if William Beckmann is channeling an old Marty Robbins ballad, or if he’s reminiscing George Strait’s, “Blame it on Mexico.”

I have personally spent some time down in Via Acuna at the Bar Crosby. I have chased gals down the street to that old Corona Club, the first place I saw Robert Keen pick out his song, “Gringo Honeymoon.” And, I may have made a trip or three up that hill just to see “the girl who loves a horse,” just like Charlie Robison did on “New Years Day.”

I love songs about Mexico. I guess I always have. Crossing that border used to feel like traveling back into another time. It’s the only time travel I have ever experienced in my lifetime. The great Tom Russell also has written several tales about this great escape, my mind goes back to a time “When Sinatra Played Juarez.”

William Beckmann gave me a new experience in time travel as his song hit my release radar today. It is a song that brought me back to those early days in my love for music. It is said, One song can bring back a thousand memories. Here’s to you Mr. Beckmann for doing that for me- back to a time when I could shoot Tequila with the best of them. As for me today those Mexican Fancy Topo Chicos are doing the trick.

Acuna, Coahuila was beautiful and this song is a beautiful tribute to the days gone by.

Pancho.