Beans and Rice

A few days ago as I was heading north up the caprock I came to realize that A new one had dropped that I let slip me by. Beans , Rice, and Jesus Christ, the latest single released by Travis Roberts.

On November 21, 2024 this one hit the airwaves. “This ones about the messier side of my life,” Roberts reported on his social media accounts. Travis Roberts has often shared his own journey from addiction to recovery to his followers and live at his shows, recently received his 2 year sobriety chip. He has personally told me some of those stories from the dark side and it does my heart good to see him turning those stories into something positive. His stories today come out in song and this first single released in some years should tell us all that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and in the power of others about you.

From a trembling, despairing, nervous wreck, had emerged a man brimming over with self-reliance and contentment.

Excerpt from chapter – Doctors Opinion- Alcoholics Anonymous

I have seen Travis Roberts evolve from his humble beginnings into a showman and a songwriter. It is a pleasure to watch from this side of the stage.

Beans, Rice , and Jesus Christ is just the start to what I believe will be a perfect album coming sooner than later.

I first heard the song when Travis played it acoustic at an almost empty Goldenlight cantina, in Travis’ hometown of Amarillo. This version hits so much harder. Song Credits include: composition by Travis Roberts , the Banjo on this release is being picked by Dalton Domino, Bass Player Kody Tosh, and Andrew Fox lets in a little bit of bluegrass on the Mandolin.

Yall give this man a listen and you are sure to love him. Travis Roberts is one of the ones to be watching and I am sure proud to share his music with you.

Pancho.

The Willing Few

My quest for live music took us to the top of Texas yesterday. Last night at the Golden Light in Amarillo we saw our buddy Travis Roberts and his band The Willing Few along with somewhat a resident artist at the Golden Light , Maggie Burt.

The Golden Light Cantina, a little out of the way Honky Tonk and in my opinion the best burger I’ve ever eaten.. (I didn’t get a burger last night however as I was still full from The Big Texan Steak House.. but that’s a whole other story.) The Golden Light was established in 1946 at the exact location it still stands today. Then the road it is on was known as Route 66 today it’s called Historic Route 66, other than that not much has changed…

Travis and The Willing Few are on their very first actual tour as a band.. I was glad they picked their home town for one of the first stops. Currently the band is cutting a full length album which Travis shared was about 1/2 way done, he plans to get the rest of it recorded and tracked and hoping for a release before the first of the year.

Last night was special as Travis played many songs that will be on the album, songs I had never heard, yet I could relate to. He has a way of putting pen to paper and letting out his troubles in a song. As He has a similar past as me, I can insert my troubles and pain as I sing along. He also played the songs of his that everyone knows and it was awesome to look around the crowd and see so many people singing along. We had a great visit and I am looking forward to seeing him again soon. He has so much energy it spills over into his audience.. If you hadn’t seen Travis Roberts perform live you need to make plans to do it, I promise it’s well worth it..

Travis Roberts GoldenLight Cantina 7/29/23

Back on the roads this weekend and seeing Travis was the perfect cure for my cabin fever.

Pancho.

Think I’ll Stay it’s New Years Day

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.

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.

Think I’ll stay it’s New Years Day.

Pancho.

Heaven is a Place Down Here

The Amarillo kid, my homie Travis Roberts has done it once again. Just yesterday I was trying to find the words to describe my own experiences in an exciting relationship. I am pretty sure that the lyrics from Travis’s new song, “Heaven is a Place Down Here,” fits the bill.

In my own romantic interest we first found a commonality because of our love for music. My girls favorite happens to be “Blackberry Smoke” while the gal in this Roberts song is Willie Nelson. But seriously, how can you go wrong with Willie?

This song is much more upbeat than Travis’ previous cuts. It’s a song that will be able to cross genres from Texas to the pop scene and back.

Travis Roberts and his band, The Willing Few, are based out of Amarillo Texas. Often you can find them playing at places like Hoots Pub or down in Lubbock at the Blue Light. Travis just might be found in the crowd of some of his friends shows , wearing a white T shirt and holding an ice cold Topo Chico beverage.

He and I have had brief conversations, Travis has had some problems with addiction and has found a way to fight his way out. Through hard work and determination he has chased his dreams and makes the music he loves. In my opinion this kid from the top of Texas can’t go wrong. If you have never taken a trip through his previous releases, you need to do it now. “Cabin Fever” and “This Too Shall Pass” are other singles to start you on this trail.

I once read somewhere, “We have found much of Heaven and have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even dreamed.”

Keep rocketing Travis.. and making the music you make.

Pancho.