Whole Lotta Lubbock

Still got a whole lotta Lubbock left in me…

I have always thought that Terry Allen’s Lubbock (On Everything) was one of the greatest compilations ever created. There’s no doubt in my mind that Lubbock inspired Allen as well as too many other artists to mention in some way or another. William Clark Green is a perfect example of that.

Growing up 117 miles to the south my musical taste blew down from Lubbock like a dust storm , every time the wind blows, which is pretty often out here in West Texas. The mixed cultural influences of farmers and ranchers , the oil men, the money men, and those who will put in a hard days work to keep it all drilling…

My brother lives in Lubbock a loyal alumnus of the Texas Tech University. He went to school there and never left. My parents just moved up there. The medicine and the food and all that Lubbock offers. It’s the big city life for the ones who don’t like the big city.

William Clark Green says it perfectly in this song..: a song about where his humble beginnings came from.

Guns up

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.

From Signal Hill

I have a couple of Yeti coolers that have become a collage of colors , to me they are beautiful pieces of art, all sorts and shapes of stickers that represent the bands I love to hear and talk about. At the moment I think there are about 4 there that proudly display the ‘Golden Roses’ logo. In my closet hangs one of my favorite tee shirts. A depiction of an Armadillo and a broken heart which also represents the Golden Roses band. On my bookcase surrounded by all sorts of musical memorabilia rests a hand written letter, thanking me for the love and support and signed with love by John Mutchler, lead singer of the band. In reality, I should be thanking him. If they didn’t make such great music I wouldn’t be such a huge fan.

At midnight last night the Golden Roses released a brand new EP, Coverage From Signal Hill. The EP features the Golden Roses twist on songs by Texas Greats, Terry Allen, Little Feat, Townes Van Zandt and Emmylou Harris. Songs the band says most influenced their own original music into what it is today.

If you ask me it doesn’t get much more Texas than that. These Guys and Gal have kept the couples on the dance floors across this great state for a long time now. The new EP shows off just a little of what they can be.

I don’t wear no Stetson but I’m willin’ to bet son that the Golden Roses are big Texans with big sounds!

Pancho.

I’m Comin’ Home

I always love to go but there sure is something special about coming home.

Last night I made the 100 mile Trek to the city of Lubbock, Texas to see who has been one of my very favorite musicians for the last three decades.

I have witnessed Robert Earl Keen perform his breed of Texas Country and Blue Grass more times in person than I have any other artist. Last night was bittersweet special. For 41 years Robert Earl has been out on the road and recently he announced that he is hanging up his hat. Robert Earl Keen is in a sense, “Coming Home.” Last night may be the very last time I will see him live. On a positive note, the imprint of his music will be with me for the remainder of my life.

My love of REK began after my brother shared with me the live #2 album. I have been hooked every since. At the Helen DeVitt Jones theater last night in Lubbock I am quite sure Keen performed every song from this coveted album. I felt like he played pretty much his entire catalog, he even included an encore after the main show was complete where he provided us his fans with 6 more of his perfectly written songs.

Robert Earl Keen and the Robert Earl Keen band are constantly working on new projects. Often they co-write with other songwriters. REK loves to promote new talent and especially his own band members. During the show last night Keen’s long time friend and band member, Bill Whitbeck played some of his own tunes, including a song he’s recently written about the historic Bluelight. Fitting since the show was in Lubbock, Tx.

Bill Whitbeck has played with the Robert Earl Keen band for 27 years

Besides his own timeless classics, Keen also played cover songs by Terry Allen, Steve Earl and his friend who he claims is always grouchy, James McMurtry.

I thoroughly enjoyed every note. There is something about a Robert Keen song. It is physically impossible to have a bad day when listening to Robert Earl Keen.

Packed my suitcase and I racked my brain
Bought a ticket on a late night train
Took a taxi through the pourin’ rain
I’m comin’ home to you

Thanks for the miles Mr. Keen you will be missed by music lovers every where.

Pancho.