I didn’t stumble into Band of Heathens on purpose. That ain’t how it happens with bands like this.
They come in sideways.
First time I heard the name was through the Vandoliers — and when they tip their hat, I listen. Those folks don’t run with just anybody.
Then I see Hayes Carll drag a chair up to the table and cut a record with ’em — Hayes & the Heathens — and that sealed it. Hayes doesn’t collaborate out of charity. If he’s in, it’s because the songs can stand up without help.
That song sounds like a band that quit askin’ for permission a long time ago. Loose. Confident. Slightly smug in the way only people who’ve earned it can be. Not drunk on hype — drunk on mileage.
“High on our own supply” ain’t a punchline. It’s a shrug. It’s a band sayin’, “Yeah… we know what we’ve got.”
And it ain’t just a stray single either. It’s the front porch creak before the door swings open on a new record — Country Sides — due later this year.
That title alone tells you this ain’t a radio grab. It’s for the edges. The B-roads. The parts of country music that don’t clean up nice but last longer.
This feels like a band deep into their grown-man phase —
If the rest of Country Sides carries the same dirt-under-the-fingernails energy as “High on Our Own Supply,” then this one’s gonna stick around long after the trend-chasers move on.
No hype train.
No reinvention arc.
That’s the good stuff.
— Pancho’s Picks
Trust the bands that sound like they’ve already been counted out
Beyonce and The Rye Boys are ruining country music
Clayton Ray Smith
“Beyonce and the Rye Boys are ruining country music,” remarked Clayton Smith in light of his new single, Cosmic Cloud of Dust, released earlier today.
I honestly don’t know where it fits in the order of genre but either way I am a die hard Rye Boys follower. Not to mention a huge supporter of Clayton Smith as a person and as a musician. Not only is Clayton the lead of the Rye Boys band , he also plays lead guitar for The Band Laredo and sometimes moonlights in the Zach Welch band. Clayton recently toured with the Vandoliers in order to maintain all of that band’s equipment.
Clayton Smith is one of the best musicians in the business in my humble opinion. If you don’t believe me, I encourage you to catch one of his shows or stream his music. You won’t be disappointed and you just might become a fan and not care who is ruining country music either.
PS what is Cow Punk in case this question ever comes up on Jeopardy.
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.
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.
Last night I was blessed to spend some time with everyone’s favorite Uncle, Tio Bruce and his better half , miss Lorraine.
I began following Bruce Newman @TioBruce on Twitter a few years ago on Twitter. Since those first encounters we have become real life friends. The first time I met him off of the bird, we were in Cheatham Street to see Zach Welch, Payton Matous, Kade Anson, Colton Mathis , and Jacob Ryan Marshall.
Bruce, who has lived all across the country now resides near San Antonio, Tx. He moved to Texas for it’s music. Bruce is the curator of The Greatest Playlist in Texas and Hence the World on Spotify. I have watched this list grow to hours of the kind of music that I love to listen to. He is a huge supporter of the music scene. He’s always wearing a band Tee of the newest or hottest bands from Texas and beyond. His quaint home was decorated with band posters from across the country.
Bruce told me last night he has seen his favorite band American Aquarium at least 5 times. He shared about seeing Shane Smith and the Saints in a tent at a PBR event in Las Vegas, a show he called one of his all time favorites. His favorite bright yellow tee? The one adorned with the Vandoliers scorpion.
Bruce is always out to support the little guys and their sounds he spent the last Galleywinter fest with Seth Jones and his lovely wife Samantha. He loves guys like South Texas Tweek, Zach Welch, Matt Moran and Will Payne Harrison. If it’s not a band from Texas, OK or Louisiana, than it’s gotta be Nashvilles own Shelby Lowe or Kurt Fortmeyer. All of these guys music can be found on Bruce’s playlist and more.
Guy Clark and Jerry Jeff Walker- are Bruce’s all time favorite songwriters and he loves everyone between.
The Vandoliers led by front man Joshua Fleming released there 3rd album today. The album simply called The Vandoliers. Tonight the band brought their breed of music back to where it all began. Dallas, Tx. 7 years ago this band was just a gleem in Fleming’s eye. Fleming wanted a group and wanted to make music that represented Texas Culture. This cow-punk, Amerikinda culture was on full display to a packed house of fans. These fans of the Vandoliers, like myself believe in the bands credo, VFFV. “Vandoliers Forever Forever Vandoliers.” There were so many different races, age groups, genders, and styles represented in the audience. Joshua Fleming made it clear more than once, that all were welcome and they as the band were grateful for each and every one.
Josh Fleming Vandoliers Lead Singer/ Songwriter At the Kessler Theatre Dallas
The night began with a set by Mallory Eagle. This up and coming musician from Oklahoma had a great personality and is a great songwriter. She had some songs in her set that jerked tears out of my eyes and others that had me laughing so hard it hurt.
Mallory Eagle
After Mallory’s set, RC & the Ambers picked up the tempo a bit. This four piece band features acoustic and electric guitars, a stand up bass and a pretty girl who could sing and played sort of a washtub strapped across her chest.
Midway through RC’s set the ,Vandoliers own, Corey Graves stepped in with the Ambers and backed up several of their songs on his horn. During The Vandoliers set, Fleming called Graves,”His Secret Weapon.”
Tonight, The Vandoliers played a song that was written by Corey Graves. This showed me more about what this multi-talented artist could do.Of course, Corey was also the first to take his shirt off. Something that has become something of a trademark as the band has grown up over the last year or so the shirts off has become,
The Vandoliers opened the show with Every Saturday Night. They played the new album and some of our timeless favorites. The Energy in the room could be felt by all. The band members movement across the stage and the way they interact with each other as well as the crowd. The music they play is fun and it makes me smile to see a band who still has fun playing their music. Each member genuinely loves what he is doing.
After approximately an hour and a half the band ended their performance. As the cheers and chants of the crowd grew louder, the Vandoliers made their way back up to the stage. This time it was Fleming himself who wasn’t wearing his top. The crowd when crazy. This led to more rowdies and cheering as the excitement of the band grew more intense.
The show ended with a bang and a surprise ending as singer/songwriter Joshua Ray Walker joined the group on stage and soon both opening acts came up onto the stage to sing 500 miles with Fleming.
If you get a chance to see these guys, do yourself a favor and do it. Support them by buying there merchandise and music, Buy albums and Stream songs.
As the Vandoliers prepare for their first European tour they have officially released the news of their upcoming album simply titled The Vandoliers. The first release off the new album is a song called, “Before The Fall.”
I feel that the song is jam packed with horns and guitars. The sound sort of reminds me of those old westerns when the US Cavalry officer blows his bugle before riding into some heroic act to save the damsel in distress. Yet, the lyrics may lead to that Cavalry officer riding off the end of the Earth. Hey at least he gave his all. No one can’t never say he didn’t give his best. To be quite frank it’s the kind of song I fuccin love.
Blood sweat and tears were poured into this by Fleming and his band. As they call it, it is Amerikinda. The sounds come from various regions of the great state of Texas, the land they are from, the land they love. The Dallas/ Ft Worth based Vandoliers is the group to watch as they charge across this globe with a unique sound and personal brand of mayhem and mischief.
“Before the Fall’ slaps harder than Rick James slapped Charlie Murphy”
South Texas Tweek
According to the bands Twitter page another up and coming Texas legend, South Texas Tweek had this to say about the new single, “‘Before the Fall’ slaps harder than Rick James slapped Charlie Murphy.” Other reviewers including one from Chandler, a school aged nephew of one of the Vandos members appropriately states, “Rock on Dude.”
If you don’t follow the Vandoliers then you better start. The Vandoliers are the biggest act in Texas at the moment. Check their website Vandoliers.com/ shows for a night to remember coming soon, near you.
“I have played in Lubbock before, but I have always dreamed of playing the Cactus”
Josh Fleming
Last Friday night, along with my little brother and favorite sister in law, I got to witness the Vandoliers Trio play live at the historic Cactus theatre in Lubbock, Texas.
Texas songwriter Summer Dean opened the show for the Vandos at the Cactus and did a perfect performance of her brand of Country music.
Summer Dean
The Ft Worth based Vandoliers bring their own sounds to the Texas Music Scene, yet it’s a sound that resonates the heritage of Texas music no matter what genre you like. The band self describes this sound as cow-punk. In a Vandoliers song you can detect hints of Rock, Punk, Red Dirt, Country, blues and even Tejano. The lyrics that Fleming writes tell stories about where the group has been and where the group is going all the while spelling out Texas in heart and soul.
Originally the Vandoliers were formed as a six-piece band in 2015. Yet, the show I got to see was, The Trio, which was composed of the bands lead singer, guitarist and song writer Joshua Fleming, fiddler Travis Curry, and multi-instrumentalist Cory Graves. This threesome was so much fun to watch. The group took control of the stage and their energy kept the audience entertained all night long. Curry’s fiddle and Graves’ horns echoed amazing sounds throughout the acoustics of the old theatre. The music sounded as pure as if right from one of the groups albums with the full band in play.
Travis CurryCorey GravesJosh Fleming
VFFV – Vandoliers Forever Forever Vandoliers. Each of the band’s members wear this credo proudly as a tattoo.
Friday night the group played a mix of their own songs as well as a few punk covers. The band currently has 3 albums (“Ameri-Kinda,” “The Native,” and “Forever”) the group has also recorded several singles, its most recent, Waiting on a Train, was recorded mid pandemic in Bruce Robison’s Bunker indicates to me the possibility of another album coming soon.
Pancho’s Picks today by the Vandoliers are Cigarettes in the Rain and Every Saturday Night.
Give these guys a listen and follow them any where you stream your music.
