John Baumann — Guy on a Rock

“Texas Truth on a Tilted Horizon“

There’s a special kind of stillness that hits when a man stands alone on a rock — boots dusty, heart steady, eyes squintin’ into the wind. That’s where John Baumann planted himself for this new record, Guy on a Rock, released October 10. And I’ll tell you what — it might just be his finest climb yet.

Baumann’s been one of those Texas storytellers who never chases the noise. He builds slow and steady, like a fence line after a storm. You might know him from his solo work — hell, Proving Grounds and Country Shade already earned their keep — but let’s not forget, he’s also one-quarter of The Panhandlers, that Texas supergroup in my book, right alongside William Clark Green, Cleto Cordero (Flatland Cavalry), and Josh Abbott. Together they bottled up the sound of Lubbock sunsets and Amarillo neon, and Baumann’s voice has always been the quiet backbone in that mix.

🎵 About the Record

Guy on a Rock runs 11 songs deep, each one honest as a busted knuckle.

“T-U-L-S-A” rolls like a long highway dream. “What She Used to Love About Me” burns slow and low, the kind of tune that makes a man stare at his coffee a little too long. “Johnny Hit the Jackpot” throws a grin and a wink — proof that hope still grows out here in the dust. And “I Still Believe in America” ain’t a flag-wavin’ anthem — it’s a prayer whispered through grit teeth and gravel wind.

Produced by Brian Douglas Phillips, the sound’s tight but human. No slick gloss, no empty filler — just Texas bones and soul.

Pancho’s Take

This ain’t background music for brunch or playlists with too many hashtags. This is beer-joint gospel — stories told by a man who’s been through it and came out singin’. Baumann don’t waste a word or a breath. He just stands on that rock, sings his truth, and dares you to find your own.

“If Guy on a Rock don’t make you stop and think about where you stand — and who’s standin’ there with you — maybe you ain’t listenin’ close enough.”

Pancho’s Picks stamp of approval, no question.

Pancho

Tough Country

“Wonder why we settled here,” sings William Clark Green, “ with the rattlesnakes and the prickly pear and a water table two hundred feet down…”

The Panhandlers were ecstatic to be back in West Texas last night as they graced the stage at the Wagner Noel in Midland.

This band’s music centers around the land they all adopted as home.. a sentiment that rings in as West Texas the Best Texas.

Cleto Cordero Flatland Cavalry/ Panhandlers

Band member Cleto Cordero grew up in Midland and the hometown advantage was felt by all.. as his mother sat in the front row he sang the songs he’d written along the way from places like Lubbock and Marfa and Eastland. Songs about the oil and the cattle and the cotton,

I love the people here most of all and there is a culture that is a mixture of a cowboy and a farmer and a roughneck and everyone in between..

This was the second time I’ve seen this act live although I’ve seen each individually.

The singers of the band consist of Cleto, who heads up his band Flatland Cavalry, William Clark Green, Texas Country turned Rock Show, Josh Abbott of the JAB who holds the whole project together, and songwriter and performer John Baumann. Each brings talented musicians from their own groups together on one stage as they sing songs together in a style that is not usually heard in their own shows.. Each of them are accomplished songwriters and together they are unstoppable.

The ties they share stem from their college days as alumni of Texas Tech university and their love of songwriting.. specifically songs about Texas..

The band plays mainly original songs they’ve written although they can and will throw in covers by other notable Texas Musicians, including Guy Clark , and Terry Allen. They also recorded a song called “West Texas in My Eyes,” written by a personal friend of theirs and mine, Charlie Stout. And last night they covered the Highwaymen… Willie Nelson , Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings.

I ain’t crying…

Pancho.

Valentine

I’ve seen the signs that point out the way, as I’ve driven the backroads of the Big Bend Region of West Texas. I have heard stories from the locals there about things like the time Indian Larry took out the gas pumps on one of his drunken escapades.

Valentine, Texas a place long forgotten in time with its population averaging just around 100 folks. Valentine is also known for a movie called Dancer Texas that was filmed there. The town got its name from the coming of the rails. A Southern Pacific crew building rails reached the site way back in 1882- the date February 14, 1882 to be exact.

Texas Singer/Songwriter John Baumann recently Tweeted that he wrote this tune about the little place out West last year on the day before Valentine’s Day.

Valentine, for Valentines features the Panhandlers as well as Kaitlin Butts who also happens to be singer Cleto Corderos Valentine Sweetheart and wife.

The Panhandlers make some pretty catchy tunes and they are proud to be putting West Texas back on the map-

West Texas is the Best Texas.

Pancho.

Midland Jamboree

“Well fix your hair up big as Heaven I’ll go down to the 7-11,” begins one of the Panhandlers newest creations, Midland Jamboree.

This evening , in the neighboring county of Midland, the Panhandlers performed live at the historic Ector Theater.

Keller Cox kicked off the show, opening for the Texas Country supergroup the Panhandlers. Accompanying Keller was Flatland Cavalry fiddle player, Wesley Hall.

Keller Cox announced during his set that he has been in Lubbock Texas just this week recording for an upcoming LP.

Keller T Cox With Wesley Hall Ector Theater Odessa Tx 11/19/22

The Panhandlers is made up of Cleto Cordero the front man for Flatland Cavalry, William Clark Green, Josh Abbott of the Josh Abbott band, and John Baumann. I always knew these people were some extraordinary songwriters in their own right, but when the four of these guys got together to write some songs what they came up with was magical.

I discovered the Panhandlers after an introduction to songwriter Charlie Stout at the BlueLight in Lubbock by Mason Server of Mason and The Gin Line. Stout had written a song called “West Texas in My Eye.” The song was covered by the Panhandlers band. The song appears as performed by the Panhandlers on the television series Yellowstone. I was proud to hear William Clark Green give a huge shoutout to Stout tonight from the stage for his songwriting ability and work on that song. Green also explained that it was Josh Abbott who pitched the song to the group. “We’ve got to do this song,” Abbott told the others. What a beautiful decision it was for all involved.

The Panhandlers original LP has become one of my favorite albums of all time. The song Cactus Flower, penned by Cordero for his wife Kaitlin Butts quickly became “our song,” for my girlfriend and I. We were both emotional after finally getting to hear the song live together this evening.

Currently the Panhandlers have 14 original songs. In tonight’s set the group of songwriters each performed one of their own original songs. They also covered a few more. During the encore, the group did a stellar performance of the Terry Allen tune Amarillo Highway.

I had a grand time seeing these guys play. If you get a chance to see them, it’s a show that you won’t want to miss. I’ll keep listening and looking forward to more songs about the culture and class of the West Texas Caprock.

West Texas is The Best Texas

Pancho.

Blue Light

The blue light is a wierd little place but it’s our place we like it
Blaze Butler

“The BlueLight is a weird little place but it’s our place we like it, “ Blaze Butler, bass player for Lubbock’s own Mason and the Gin Line, once told me. He was describing the iconic and historic venue nestled in Lubbock’s depot district. The BlueLight gave many a singer songwriter their first chance to play the songs that they had scribed on paper and picked over so many times a place to bounce off of fans and other musicians alike. Many success stories began in that little place. In the Texas country scene many names that we all know and love have performed on that little stage and keep that flame shining bright on Buddy Holly avenue.

Jason Boland started there. Cleto Cordero took his little band from Midland and grew it into the brand now known as Flatland Cavalry in that weird little place. William Clark Green, John Baumann, Josh Abbott have all been there. There were plenty others. Brandon Adams calls the place home so does Charlie Stout.

If you happen to be near Lubbock, Texas on any night of the week and you want something to do, the BlueLight is the place.

Bill Whitbeck, Robert Earl Keen’s longtime bass player, recently wrote a song named for this Texas Icon. The lyrics tell a story about one musician getting her start under that flame. Blue Light is a new single performed by Whitbeck and the Singer/Songwriter Robert Earl Keen.

https://open.spotify.com/track/7Ju9orKb5uBRHc2rV3vvO0?si=p7_Ur8K2RMuMiC6BGavwbw

Stream the song now on Spotify.

Pancho.