“Cards” is a sucker-punch of truth wrapped in melody. It whispers, you can’t dodge who you are — no folding, no bluffing. You either play your hand or sit out. It’s the kind of song that creaks wood floors and strains old walls, but leaves your spirit unshaken.
I remember catching West Texas Exiles back on their very first tour — Goldenlight in Amarillo, then the Blue Light in Lubbock. They were out on the road with my good friends Mason and the Gin Line, and you could feel it even then: something raw, something special. Marco from the Exiles even had a hand in one of the Gin Line’s best tunes, Pipeliner. That’s the kind of kinship and cross-pollination that makes this scene so strong — steel sharpening steel, songwriters pushing each other higher.
Daniel Davis sings Cards like a man who already knows the fight isn’t fair, but he’s in it anyway. The band rides close behind, laying down a groove that feels both worn-in and dangerous, like an old truck with a new fire in the engine. It’s outlaw soul cut straight to the bone, no wasted notes, no wasted breath.
So here it is — Pancho’s word: put Cards on, roll the windows down, and let it ride. This one’s the real deal
this song is my favorite release thus far in my career.
Graycie York
“this song is my favorite release thus far in my career.” Graycie York posted on her social media accounts this morning. about her newest single, Dust.
Inspired by country music’s leading ladies Patsy Cline and Miranda Lambert, York knew that she wanted to sing country songs from the time that she was two years old. After a trip with her dad to Nashville in 2018 she realized that not only could she sing it but that she could write it too.
Her first single released in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic, a scary time for her and the state of the world as we once knew it.
Since then she’s kept on writing and playing every chance she gets. I have personally caught her more than once in places like the Blue Light up in Lubbock and in those seedy little dives out in Deep Ellum.
Graycie York a native of Rockwall Tx has a talent that has taken shape like the wind swept plains of Texas. Ever growing.. ever changing and Dust is a great opportunity to showcase this talent in a beautiful body.
What is supposed to happen will happen. This theological determinism that lives within us all to some degree. Do you think that’s it’s possible that some unknown force has developed a stream strong enough to control our everyday existence? Is self will strong enough to stop this stream? We think not.
I felt it from the moment I first heard Mason and the Gin Line, that this musical group was going to make some big moves. I have personally witnessed some changes in their dynamics, a new guitarist here, a new drummer there, hey when the heck did we add a keyboard? But what remains was that solid tune of a life that’s been lived. A beautiful mix of the highs and the lows of this world that we live in. Songs of love and heartbreak and sounds of triumph and failure. The best part is that it always ends up just the way it was supposed to. Three of the bands core members became fathers in this last year. One got married. Priorities change and life gets lifey. At the end of the day this old globe we live on still spins and the winds still blow across the plains of West Texas.
I have been anticipating this new single, Let it Ride the first drop from the Gin Line this year. I first got to hear it a few weeks ago through a sneak preview on the Red Dirt Rebel, a morning show straight out of Mason’s home town, Lubbock, Texas. The official release of the song was today March 8, 2024. Song Credits state that the songwriter is Mason and the Gin Line. A band that I am proud to know and love.
Mason Server the bands lead man promises more to come. He says they will be back on track very soon to begin a new season of their fierce brand of music. The band recently played the home court advantage at the Blue Light in Lubbock and will make several appearances next month including Portales , New Mexico.. oh I hope to hear Portales in Portales.. If you know you know.
About the band: This is a humble group of men who will never turn anyone away. They will always support what’s right and aren’t afraid to tell the truth. They follow and support other artists and give frequent compliments. Mason and I like to call this genre of personality and pride CAP ROCK.
Keep on Cap Rocking and follow Mason and The Gin Line.
I have been waiting for some time for last night to happen. I think it was like 3 or 4 months ago when I first saw the show announcement. I casually posted on the Twitter once that it would be so cool to see Mason and The Gin Line open for the Vandoliers. There must’ve been some kind of prophecy in my word, because someone actually made it happen.. but better. Better because they added The Band Laredo to the Lineup.
Sort of a mini tour occurred this weekend where Mason and The Gin Line, The Band Laredo, and the Vandoliers played at Laredo’s home court – Magnolia Motor Lounge in Ft Worth and again at The Bluelight in Lubbock. I was super blessed to have caught the Lubbock show. All these bands are great- And so much fun to watch live.
I was talking to my little brother and several friends and we are all in agreement that this may have been one of the last times that we would ever see some these guys in such an intimate venue again. They are all capable of selling out much larger ones and have all shown ability of being the Headliner. Getting to just bask in their presence, the laid back atmosphere and hearing the best music in the world were definitely some of the highlights of this year. I also enjoyed that the same show with the same lineup and makeup held in two cities across the state from each other meant more folks could enjoy it. It was almost as if the homies in DFW were present in Lubbock, because they had just done the same things I was doing and hearing only hours before. Of course the homies that were there last night made everything just right!
Blake Farrar the TxRiverTonk and I
I began to get to know Blake on Twitter and I got to meet him in person a year or so ago in San Marcos. Since then we have kept in contact. We have lots of similarities about our lives and the biggest is our love of music. Anything and Everything to support these guys that are making the sounds that we love to hear. He made the trip from Austin to Lubbock – he is actually originally from the area- so this homecoming from him was an extra treat when he got to see this lineup of musicians.
Last night I met Clayton Smith live in person. Clayton is another guy who until now I have only followed on social media. Smith is the guitar for the Band Laredo, an independent musician and songwriter himself and is also part of the Rye Boys Band as well as multiple other projects. Our conversations last night were enlightening. We too love and respect the same guys and gals of this musical industry and the same styles of music.
The Band Laredo opened the night at the Bluelight
The Band Laredo opened last nights show and jump started the Bluelights flame with their hard hitting songs like Gasoline and Kerosene.
With their blends of countrified rock, us in the audience were already enjoying a journey that was just beginning.
Mason and The Gin Line took the stage next and with their home court advantage they got the crowd primed and pumped up for the next level. Their set included many tried and true favorites about their lives on the Cap- Rock with their lyrics which include the local blue collar work and the surrounding towns. They also mixed in several of the songs from the new album Sangre. Mason has begun developing a sound all of its own- a mariachi blend that ends in heavy metal and blues rifts. I have been watching these guys from the very beginning and they never disappoint.
Mason and the Gin Line BandMason Server lead singer- Drummer Matt and Blue Light regular can be in the back drop. Blaze Butler- Blaze is the Bass player and keeps the Gin Line Running on the bidness side of things.
Headlining the show last night was the Vandoliers . The first time I ever saw these guys was during Covid and so I got to see them perform as a trio . Joshua Fleming, Travis Curry the fiddler and Corey Graves who plays horns and keys and anything else he can get ahold of. I was able to catch them a few months ago in Dallas as they released their most recent album, as a full band and they rocked the house and sold me as a life long fan. Last nights show was no different. These guys can go hard for the entire set and the energy that can be felt throughout the audience is something that cannot be matched.
The Vandoliers Joshua Fleming puts his heart and soul into every single song he’s ever sungWhen at a Vandos concert do as the Vandos do and take your shirt off and dance like there’s no tomorrow
Other highlights of last night was the great conversation with many old friends. Making new ones and I got to spend a little time with my baby brother and introduce him to reasons why I love following this Texas Music Scene.
Me and brother Luke Watson
If you want to have some fun then go catch a show- I haven’t seen many bad ones- but this show last night was definitely one for the books.
Tonight fans crowded into the BlueLight in Lubbock, Texas to help Mason and the Gin Line bring in the new Album. Sangre was released yesterday on all platforms. To celebrate with them tonight were the West Texas Exiles as well as the Dirty River Boys. A week ago, the Exiles released their EP , Volume 1 as well.
Marco Gutierrez West Texas Exile
Tonight’s show was opened by the West Texas Exiles. By the time they began to play the first song, the Bluelight was standing room only. The crowd really seemed to be into all 3 of tonight’s bands. That Lubbock audience is back in full swing to the live music scene.
Next up was Mason and the Gin Line. As the band took their places on the stage, Mariachi music was playing over the house speakers. Mason Server the lead of the Gin Line humbly thanked each and everyone for coming out. He thanked the West Texas Exiles. In his opinion, He couldn’t do what he does or be where he is today without those guys. The bassist for the Exiles, Eric Harrison happens to also be the producer for Mason and the Gin Line’s music. Marco Gutierrez is featured in one of Mason’s most popular songs, Pipeliner.
In attendance tonight was also, Zach Nelson, who designed the album art for Sangre as well as Tori Vasquez who is featured on the new album in the song, Leaves of Fall. She stepped onto the stage to sing it with Mason tonight.
Mason Server with Tori Vasquez
Mason and the Gin Line played the entire album start to finish. It sounded just as good as it was in the studio version. They closed out their set with Gutierrez and Harrison joining them with the song Pipeliner..
Mason Server and Guitarist for the Gin Line Cole Stanley Blaze Butler Co founder of the Gin Line band, he plays bass and has had a hand in writing many of the bands songs
After Mason and The Gin Lines set, The band The Dirty River Boys took the stage and kept the party going on ‘til closing time. Cole Stanley the guitarist for Mason and the Gin Line described Dirty River Boys music to me like this, “It’s like Dropkick Murphy on Crack, Everything is bigger In Texas..”
Many memories were made. Lots of great music was pouring off that little Blue Light stage.
I am a proud Supporter of Live Music. Buy the Merch , see the shows , stream the music.
Well, I woke up early Sunday mornin’ Had myself a piece of toast Had 50 dollars in my pocket Gonna chase myself a ghost…
Charlie Robison
In 2004 Robison released his song, New Year’s Day, on his Good Times album. The Iconic song about a guy who finds himself making the best of a bad situation and ringing in the New Year in the best way he knew how.. The setting of the song, “boys town” in some border town in West Texas.
There was a time in my own life that this was how I would spend my holiday. In another iconic song the verse says something about crossing the border for some “cultural exchange.” I remember some of those nights in old Mexico. I’m old enough to remember when it was safe to go to those border towns and I don’t disagree or knock the Good Times that were had over there. I sometimes miss the bells ringing from some 100 years old church . The sky was filled with powder from fireworks and/or the occasional pistolero. The Spanish voices would ring out, “Feliz Ano Nuevo.” And we knew that we had arrived to another day and we all had hopes for a better year to come. The closest I’ve been to that in the last decade was a time I camped in Terlingua, Tx over the New Years Holiday- and sometime today I had to stop and ask myself why? That might have been the coldest and darkest day of my life , but I’ll save that story for another time.
What happened this New Years you ask? Well I’m about to tell you.
This New Year’s Day I managed to make a trek up to the Caprock ,instead of a border town I was just North of Lynn County Texas at a little place called Lubbock. The Blue Light was the setting of this story.
Texas singer/ songwriter Dalton Domino had an idea, he wanted to be able to do something that would help the community. He chose to hold a benefit for a children’s home in Lubbock and after a few phone calls- Early Supper was born.
Early Supper the event sponsored by Red Dirt Rebel and Cotton court is held annually at the Blue Light in Lubbock. Yesterday’s event featured more than a dozen of Texas best singer songwriters in the song swap fashion. It was truly amazing to watch. During the event I heard several songs that I had never heard before. I heard unreleased music from more than one artist and I can’t wait to be able to share them with you all on this platform.
I saw plenty of old friends and got to make some new ones and my heart is full. I am looking forward to another year. And I wish you all the best in 2023.
Mason Server of Mason and the Gin LineDalton Domino Ox MartinGraycie York
Images above are just a few shots of the talent that was represented last night. Each and Every artist in attendance was humble and grateful to be helping out. They each took the time out of their own busy life to be of service to the good of the community and in being there they showcased their brand of music to a fan like me.
The Texas Country super group The Panhandlers is at it again. West Texas is The Best Texas is there latest EP and a song written by Cleto Cordero.
Cleto Cordero, member of the Panhandlers and also the front man of Flatland Cavalry, knows the best because he’s been there. Cordero was born and raised in West Texas, originally from Midland. During his college years he cut his teeth in the music scene at places like the BlueLight in Lubbock.
West Texas is the Best Texas is a moniker I’ve adopted and made my own. I first heard the term by songwriter- and world class photographer Charlie Stout. The Stout penned “West Texas in My Eye” is for sure a fan favorite song that the Panhandlers play. The song was even featured on the television series Yellowstone.
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.
