There’s something holy about the first night back under neon after months of hospitals, waiting rooms, bad news, and staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m. wondering what comes next.
Tonight wasn’t about running from anything. It was about remembering I’m still alive.
First night back at the honky tonk in months. And there may not be a better place for a resurrection of the spirit than GoldenLight Cafe & Cantina sitting proud on historic Route 66. The kind of place where the walls sweat history and every beer sign has probably seen a fist fight, a first kiss, and somebody crying into a jukebox before sunrise.
After months of doctor visits, sickness spreading through myself, my father, and my mother-in-law… tonight finally felt a little like freedom again.
Not perfect. Not cured. Just human.
The evening kicked off with Trystyn Sanchez — originally out of Stanton, Texas, now calling San Angelo home — bringing his own brand of dusty hippy folk to the stage. The kind of songs that drift through a room like desert smoke. You can hear shades of Townes Van Zandt in there, but not in some copycat way. More like a young West Texas soul that’s spent enough lonely nights with a guitar and too much truth.
Then came Matt Moran and the Palominos.
Loud enough to shake the sickness out of your bones. Honest enough to make you feel something again.
Cold beer sweating on the table. Boots sticking to old dance floors. Guitar amps humming like highway tires headed west after midnight. Folks laughing too loud like they’ve all survived something too.
Next week might finally resemble something close to normal — or at least whatever version of normal I can patch together with prayer, stubbornness, and good people around me.
Sometimes healing doesn’t happen in a hospital.
Sometimes it happens under neon lights on Route 66 with a rock band turned up too damn loud.
Looking back on the records, the roads, and the nights that stayed with me.
2025 was one hell of a year for music — the kind that doesn’t just play through your speakers, but moves into your bloodstream and starts living there. And when I look back, a few records rise above the rest like campfires burning bright on a long West Texas night.
Albums that will live in the canon.
Matt Moran’s The Ba’ar led the charge for me. A record rough as cedar bark and tender in the right places, the kind that feels like a man telling you the truth he didn’t want to say out loud.
Then came Colter Wall’s 1800 Miles — all dust, distance, and heartbreak stitched together with that ancient-sounding voice he carries around like an heirloom.
And Turnpike’s The Price of Admission may be their most lived-in record yet… full of scars, wisdom, and the kind of writing you only earn the hard way.
Vandoliers Life behind bars Took me back into the sunlight knowing damn well not everybody’s rooting for ’us But here’s the trick: We quit living for other people. Every song carries a tone of we survived you, and we’re still here.
Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow capped off the list — quiet, cold, honest, and heavy in the way only Isbell can pull off. A winter album that finds the warm places in a man’s heart and sits there awhile.
Singles That Stopped Me in My Tracks
This year had its share of one-off punches too:
Gedda’s “Thick as Thieves” — a song so sharp it practically demanded an album around it, which he delivered with South of Mars.
Turnpike’s cover of Todd Snider’s “Just Like Old Times” — the kind of cover that wakes up every demon you thought you’d already sent packin’.
James McMurtry’s “South Texas Lawman”— dry as mesquite smoke and smart as a whip.
Best Concerts of the Year
I caught some unforgettable shows this year:
Ryan Bingham, burning hot as ever, Robert Earl Keen, returning like a long-lost uncle who still knows how to hold a crowd in his hands, Red Shahan, wild-eyed and wonderful.
But the night that will stay with me long after 2025 is gone was standing beside my wife and two of our grandkids, listening to Ray Wylie Hubbard howl, joke, stomp, and testify like only he can.
That wasn’t just a concert — it was a memory carved in oak.
If the music we love says anything about the year we lived, then 2025 was full of grit, grace, and damn good stories.
A Pancho’s Picks Reflection on Matt Moran & the Five-Year Echo of a Sad Bastard Saint
I was driving that long straight stretch of 380 the other night, that long run between nowhere and Roswell New Mexico. And with Black Sheep spinning in the dash like it was still 2020 and the whole damn world is fallin’ apart, a man starts to think about things.
About the parts of himself he’s outgrown, the versions he’s buried, the memories that ride shotgun whether he invites ’em or not.
Out there, the world gets simple. It’s just you, the night, and whatever’s been weighing on your chest. And I’ll be damned —
I still can’t believe that record is five years old.
It doesn’t sound old. It doesn’t sound dated.
It sounds like it was recorded yesterday by a man sitting alone with his ghosts… or like it’s been with us forever, passed hand-to-hand between the hurting and the healing.
Somewhere past the state line, I reached that rise near Tatum — that lonely hilltop where the land stretches out like an exhale. Moran was singing about that brown El Camino with the cracked windshield, and suddenly I wasn’t just hearing a song. I was driving through every version of myself I’ve left scattered across these West Texas roads.
And right there, with the moon barely hanging on and the hum of the oilfield fading behind me, it hit me….
Black Sheep is meant for nights like this — when the road is dark, the moon faint, and the highway honest.
When you crest that hilltop near Tatum and finally admit you ain’t broken… you’re just a black sheep too. And that’s why the damn music feels like it was written for you.
I used to say Matt Moran felt like a brother I never met. But that ain’t the truth — I did meet him. Shook his hand. Looked him in the eye. Hell, his picture’s hanging on my wall like kin.
He’s struggled. He’s sober. He’s walked through more dark nights than most men ever see. And he sings like someone who found a way to make peace with his ghosts without pretending they weren’t real.
And When “Jenny” came on, the night around me went still — like the desert leaned in to listen. The way he sings her name isn’t performance. It’s a man sorting through ashes he once set ablaze himself. Every man who’s ever loved wrong hears himself in that song.
I drove slow after that, windows cracked just enough to let the night settle in. The pumpjacks, miles behind me now, still echoed in the back of my mind — a lonely lullaby of work and survival. The kind of sound that reminds you you’re part of something bigger, even when you feel alone.
By the time I pulled into the driveway, the engine ticked down, the wind had quit, and the last notes of the album slipped into the quiet. I stayed there a moment, letting the weight of it all settle.
Black Sheep ain’t just a record.
It’s a companion for the long drives. A lantern in the dark. A mirror that don’t judge. A soft voice in the cab saying, “You ain’t alone, brother. Not tonight.”
And Matt Moran?
Yeah, he’s a Sad Bastard Saint —
the kind who walked through fire and left a trail of songs for the rest of us to follow out of the smoke.
Out here where the desert never ends and the pumpjacks hum their lonely hymns, a man needs saints like that.
Smoking a cigarette, South by the lake waitin on a West Texas sun
Matt Moran:House Fire
The long anticipated release by Matt Moran and the Palominos , The BA’AR has finally came to fruition. it might just be Moran’s finest work to date.
As I sit here this morning giving it another listen, I happen to be wearing a T shirt that depicts an American Alligator and The adage ‘Swampy Tonk.’ A Tee gifted me by Will Payne Harrison who served as the Mastering Engineer for this album. We as fans of Matt have also been able to follow the progression and transition of this creation through multiple videos and posts on social media due to the efforts of Harrison.
Matt Moran and Will Payne Harrison have been touring throughout Texas and Louisiana in the previous months to promote the BA’AR , have some fun and plain just enjoying life..
I first met Matt through other singer songwriters Zach Welch and Jason Harrell. Zach and Matt would soon team up and begin their own festival Sad by Southwest.
“We didn’t get invited to South By Southwest in Austin,” Moran said.
“But Fuckem” Welch added.
And together they started their own damn festival in the Ft Worth area. Sad by includes multiple Americana , alt country and Punk bands that still believe “Sad Songs Make me Happy.” I am honored to have been there at the very first. Sad by Southwest just finished out their 3rd season.
Jason Harrell can be heard on several tracks on the BA’AR. He plays a sad fiddle and plays it well. Harrell is a multi instrumental singer and songwriter and performer. He plays regularly with some of the best alt country bands in Texas.
Other Band Members include Matt’s brother, Daniel Moran, who plays bass, keys, and harmonica on the album.
Jonas Walker keeps the heart beating in the band with his hard licks and hard rocking style of percussion.
Guitarist Nate Walker’s grit and rhythm can be heard throughout the album.
Comanchero is just a small sample of what this album contains. It was the first single released from the album. The first time I heard it , I knew that Moran was going places. Watching him grow up in public has been a highlight for me.
The entire album, the BA’AR , is spectacular. Whether you are rock in roll junkie or a country bumpkin their is something in here for you. I encourage you to listen and then listen again.
Buy the merch and then stream the hell out of it
Seth Jones
Seth Jones advice is some of the best. These guys are making a living on the road and they depend on us. The streaming services aren’t paying the bills. Support live music, support the community and the venues who host them. Buy the record! Mine arrives this afternoon.
It has been said that Willie penned his iconic song on a napkin while at a truck stop in the dust bowl of the town of Big Spring , Tx. This song about life on tour came to be when Sydney Pollack approached the Red Headed Stranger about the idea for the song… At that time, the song was written for Pollack’s upcoming film Honeysuckle Rose.
Honeysuckle rose was Willie’s first leading role in film- he took the over the big screens playing Buck Bonham. A plot that has since mimicked Willie Nelson’s career work.
On the Road Again became Willie Nelson’s 9th #1 hit. It has become one of those songs that instantly puts Willie in mind when it’s sung or mentioned.
The song has been covered by many and has since been featured in several other films and TV series to include Forest Gump, Monk and Dumb and Dumber.
Matt Moran and Will Payne Harrison released their own version of this iconic song today and I can’t wait for you guys to spin it..
Another great example of why Matt Moran and Will Payne Harrison are making moves …
Gotta love the cover art on this brand new single by Matt Moran. The last time I used one of those pay phones was to try to convince someone that I was gonna be ok IF they would only come get me.
Only I was never ok as long as I kept doing the same ol things I was always doing. Grateful I don’t live that way anymore…
Drunk and Stoned by Matt Moran and the Palominos features the raspy rambling voice of Zach Welch.
I have heard that the song was recorded in a living room of the Palamino drummer, the song was mastered by Will P Harrison.
If you like honky tonk music licks then this one is for you.
The homies are on fire , looking forward to what’s next.
I’d like to think Matt Moran has outdone himself with this one, but I know Matthew Wayne. If this song is his best work yet, there’s surely another one coming that’s going to blow my socks off.
The Last Cowboy written by Matthew Wayne Moran features his band the Palaminos along with our favorite fiddler Jason Harrell.
“Jason is responsible for that sweet banjo and lead guitar as well!”- Matt Moran
God I love this one though.. it’s a dedication to a father or grandfather. Maybe my best friend..
I can’t get this one off of repeat.
Long live the cowboy and the good old boys to come.
“Wish I’d stole your ashes for that last ride around town“ n
What is Sad by Southwest you might ask? It was over 8 hours of live music. It was an event full of super talented artists, it was those artists fans and family. More importantly it was a bunch of friends getting together to enjoy a commonality. A love for live music, and the musicians who make it possible.
Matt Moran Lola’s 4/22/23
Matt Moran created the entire event. He began planning and promoting months ago and he was there for the whole time on the front row to cheer on each and every band and those acoustic song swaps that were included in the lineup.
Payton and Matous and Mando Salas (Rosmand) just doing their thang Jason Harrell
Oh and did I mention what a lineup? 9 bands were represented as well as 5 acts that featured solo artists. There was country and rock and folk and punk and soul screamo and the blues all packed into one show. I am pleased that I got to be right in the middle of the whole damn thing.
Moran tweeted after the event, and it sums up my thoughts “it’s a community I’m proud to be a part of.”
Some of these artists I already knew and some I got to meet. I’m also pleased about how many fans came out to support the event. I got to mingle with some of the finest and funnest folks around. Many of us had interacted on social media but had never been in the same county at the same time or I could say even state! I personally met people from 5 different states while at the event. Songwriter and folk musician , James Gedda, flew in from Chicago just to be there!
James Gedda
Gedda and Seth Jones shared the stage late in the day and the sounds of those two poets putting their thoughts to music was truly something amazing.
James Gedda And Seth Jones
Blake Farrar of Texas River Tonk a podcast based out of San Marcos Texas was in the house that night. He talked to anyone and everyone who wanted to talk. He talked and shared about his love of music and the life that this music has given us.
Many of these artists, Jason Harrell, for one performed double duty. Not only did Jason pick and sing his own songs, he kept the sounds going all night by playing fiddle in most all the other bands sets. Same way with Clayton Smith. Clayton is the lead of his band the Rye Boys. He also plays guitar for The Band Laredo who headlined the event. That night he played his guitar with Zach Welch Band, Crystal Meth Cowboys and Howard and his Happy Boys.
Zach Welch Clayton Smith
Moran says he is planning to do the event again. I believe he will. I’m believing that it’s gonna just keep getting bigger and better. Sad Songs make me happy and Sad By Southwest was definitely an event I shall not forget!
Before I forget It was also a night to celebrate my gals birthday sweet Tammy!! Spent her birthday right there by my side. She says she’s just happy when I am happy and this night of live sounds certainly made me happy!
Van Plating, A Singer Songwriter with social skills. She is a wife and mother, she is a lover of pets and the classics.
Van’s style of music took me out of my normalcy. There’s something in her voice that I just can’t stop listening to. Her poetic lyrics about chasing that ever changing American Dream resonates within all of us.
Did you discover new music this year? Van Plating was probably my biggest discovery. After I found Will Payne Harrison and Matthew Moran on the Twitter page, I began seeing bits and pieces of Plating’s life and finally decided that I would take that plunge into some of her music. I assure you it was worth it!
This gal from The Sunshine State is a multi instrumentalist with a powerful voice and honest songs that she has been writing for an entire lifetime. Her most recent work The Way Down released last November, but she assures us that she’s working on new tunes all the time.
I hope you feel cool enough to go All The Way down the Van Plating discography. You are going to find your way just like I did!
The Pancho Music Awards were a grand success and a whole bunch of love.
Some of you might have watched some TV last week when the CMA Country Music Award show aired.. I didn’t. Who won anyway? Is that shit really even country music. In my humble opinion most of it Not. This is what the PMA awards were mostly about. Real Music . The kinda Honky Tonkin good times that I love. The kinda music that me and the homies live in and live for.I wish I would’ve included more categories and had more creativity so that more of the homies would have been included. Next year I’m going to work harder and start earlier to ensure more participation. My boy Hayden McCaleb has already asked me to let him be the host of the show.. Already looking forward. But enough for the rant- I can’t change the past and I don’t need to worry about the future. For now let’s get down to that task at hand! If you follow Pancho on Twitter, then you already have seen the results. But here goes nothing!
Voting for the PMAs was some of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make
Payton Matous
“Voting for the PMAs was some of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” exclaimed Dallas, Texas based singer songwriter Payton Matous. Believe meeee Payton, picking the nominees were just as hard. I am grateful for the herd of following that I have acquired these last couple of years on the Twit, that aided me in selecting the winners.
Let’s start with Podcast. The nominees for Best Podcast featuring Singer/ Songwriters were my buddy Aaron Lee Bentley, the host of ‘Off Mic Off The Record,” and TxRiver Tonk radio host , my good friend Blake Farrar.
Blake’s old school radio show, featuring many of my favorite artists took the win with 74% of the votes. TxRiver Tonk is always a good listen. He seems to get the fresh songs the freshest. Blake spends many nights on the road and in and out of the honky tonk scene he always finds his way into a live performance of someone somewhere. He’s usually got the best seat in the house for some of the best music in the business.
Early on, Farrar was already trying to concede to Bentley. He called Bentley not only a friend but also his mentor. I can’t even tell you how many thousand miles I have driven in my truck whilst listening to Off Mic Off The Record. Through listens of this laid back talk show, I have learned more about the music business and personal stories from behind the scenes of music than I have anywhere else.
Both of these nominees deserve cheers and beers and I can’t wait to hang again- until then, I’ll keep listening.
In my next category, I wanted to highlight a “single” of the year. In all fairness, there was so much great music that dropped this year. Hell one of the nominees in this category, Seth Jones dropped new music today. I would have had a hard time choosing the contestants, much less comparing them with each other. The music I listen to and choose to highlight on this blog is so very different, but it’s all the same in a sense that it hits me in places like my heart and soul. At the end of the day, this category became the best song about debauchery in the year 2022.
There is no wrong answer here and we all three love each other.
Seth Jones
Nominee Seth Jones had this to say about this event, “There is no wrong answer here and we all three love each other.” Seth is probably right and I definitely agree. I love these three guys as if they were my own family and in fact I interact with this band of brothers more often than I do most of my family. The songs I chose in this category are as follows: Seth Jones Sinnin’, South Texas Tweek’s Feelin’ Good, and the Zach Welch penned tune, The Dark Side of the Honky Tonk.
Zach Welch took the prize in this category… barely. This was the closest event in the whole PMA awards. I love this guy and all he does. I once drove 10 hours round trip just to hear him play. Zach really does love the other two and so many more musicians. His wish is for everyone to succeed and if they don’t he will love them anyway.
I love Seth and Tweeks songs in this category so much as well , and they all mean so much to me. These songs hit me where it hurts and they remind me every day why I strive to be a better man. If you get a chance to see these guys you better not miss the opportunity. I am ready for some big burly man hugs from all three of these big dogs and I hope one day to catch them all on the same stage on the same night.
Both relatively new and unheard of artists were chosen in my next category. The PMA album of the year nominees were Will Payne Harrison with Tioga Titan, and Matt Moran with Heartache Kid. Both of these albums truly hit my sweet spot. I have watched both of these artists this last year and they are some of the hardest working ones in the biz. I personally own each of these guys T Shirts and it’s an honor when I wear them, I know I am representing a brand that I can stand behind.
The winner for PMA album of the year goes to Matt Moran With Heartache Kid.
If you were to ask Will he’d tell you he voted for Matt. He might even say it was a good thing that Matt won or else he’d spend all of next year whining because he lost. If you ask me, both of these albums are equally great and you should listen to them until the needle wears out the vinyl.., good thing they are available digitally and you can just stream the dog snot out of them without even scratching the record.
In the final category I chose 4 bands that I love and that I have fun when I get to see them perform live. I consider this music country, I guess where I am from that’s what I would call the genre, but the times they are a changing… ask most of them and they would consider themselves Rock. Honest to goodness- when I see any of these guys live it really is a fuccin ROCK SHOW.
The choices for the PMA entertainer of the year award were the Vandoliers, American Aquarium, Lucas Jagneaux and The Roadshow, and Mason and the Gin Line. Like I said before fuccin ROCK SHOW.
The winner of this top honor was the Vandoliers. These guys deserve the applause and they do have the support of the other nominees. I believe they would be just as good with seeing the other band win than themselves.. They could open for any of the others and Vice Versa. They would most likely take their shirts off and they all have about the same amount of tattoos so there is that.
I have so much fun seeing live music , thanks guys for getting out there and putting it all out there for me to enjoy. That goes to all of you.
A special thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you I mentioned for being such good sports in this affair. Life wouldn’t be the same for me without my music. The stuff you guys keep singing night after night after night.. I’m just glad you guys let me be a fan.
