Chippin at the Stone

You hear that new record from Vincent Neil Emerson—Blue Stars?
Yeah… it’s a good one.

But I ain’t here to talk about the whole album.

I’m here to talk about “Chippin’ at the Stone.”

Now listen…

This one ain’t for the radio crowd.
This is for the men who’ve had to look themselves dead in the mirror and not like what they saw… but stayed anyway.

You know what I’m talkin’ about.

That stretch of life where:

you burned bridges faster than you could cross ‘em
made promises you couldn’t keep
and somewhere along the way… you got real tired of bein’ that man

This song… it don’t come in loud.
It don’t need to.

It just kinda sits down beside you like an old friend who knows your worst stories—and don’t flinch.

“Chippin’ at the Stone” is about that work we don’t brag on.

It’s about:

gettin’ up when your head ain’t right
sayin’ no when everything in you says yes
takin’ responsibility when it’d be easier to point fingers

It’s about realizin’…
you ain’t sculptin’ no masterpiece overnight.

Hell… some days you’re just tryin’ to knock off a pebble.

And I’ll tell you this—

For a man who’s walked outta addiction,
this ain’t just a song…

…it’s a mirror.

Because that stone he’s singin’ about?
That’s us.

All the bad habits, the lies, the shortcuts, the damage—
it hardens up over time.

And you don’t blow it up in one shot.

You chip at it.

Day by day.
Choice by choice.
Prayer by prayer.

I’ve had mornings—maybe you have too—
where just stayin’ on the right side of things felt like a full day’s work before breakfast.

And nobody sees that.

Nobody claps for:

not pickin’ up
not losin’ your temper
not goin’ back to what almost killed you

But that’s the real work.

That’s the swing of the hammer.

And somewhere along the way…
you start to notice somethin’.

That stone?
It’s still there…

…but it ain’t near as heavy as it used to be.

Not because it changed—
but because you did.

So yeah… that’s why this one matters.

It ain’t about where you came from.
It ain’t even about where you’re goin’.

It’s about what you’re doin’ right now
with what you’ve been given.

So if you’re sittin’ here tonight,
still fightin’… still showin’ up… still swingin’…

then I’ll say it plain:

You’re doin’ the damn thing.

Keep chippin’.

—Pancho’s Picks
For the boys still in the fight… one honest swing at a time.

The Great Highway- VNE

Vincent Neil Emerson, one of my all-time go-tos when I need a sad-bastard tune with a little dust in its teeth, just rolled out something… lighter. Cleaner. Almost hopeful.

And somehow it still works.

The Great Highway isn’t about heartbreak sittin’ heavy at the kitchen table. It’s about motion. About wheels hummin’, lines blurrin’, and a life lived somewhere between gas stops and green rooms. A working musician’s tune—coast to coast, mile marker to mile marker.

There’s still that Vincent Neil Emerson honesty in it, but instead of sinkin’ into the ache, this one keeps movin’ forward. Windows down. Sun hittin’ the dash. That feeling when the road ain’t your enemy—it’s your livelihood.

It’s got me thinkin’ about:

the long haul between gigs motel coffee that tastes like regret but still gets the job done drivin’ all night because the song has to be played somewhere else tomorrow

Today, that Great Highway is runnin’ through my head coast to coast. Not sad. Not broken. Just rollin’.

And maybe that’s the point—

sometimes even the sad-song writers get a day where the road feels kinda kind.

Panchos Dust

There has always been some debate about who did it better. Pancho and Lefty. Do you like the Townes Van Zandt version or Willie and Merle’s?

I am probably the biggest fan of the original cut the one written and performed by Townes Van Zandt himself. I have always preferred originals I believe that’s the way it was supposed to be and tbe way the songwriter intended it to be. Just yesterday I heard someone say that they thought Willie Nelson wrote the song.. ummmm NO!

Willie and the Hag did a bang up job on the song. I will give them credit for making it famous. I also adore the fact that they let Townes be in the music video for it. Those were special times back then. The Music Video in its newest form. Does anyone even watch them today?

Many have covered the song and if I had to listen to a cover of Pancho and Lefty I used to would say it would be the Willie Nelson/ Merle Haggard version, however in recent years I have changed my mind. Shane Smith and the Saints was my favorite cover of it. Recorded in rough form from the hills of Terlingua Texas in the middle of a Pandemic. Yeah that was up until yesterday.

The Golden Roses released their version of the song yesterday. According to John Mutchler of the Roses the song has already received over 100 streams. John appeared on the Podcast Texas River Tonk yesterday. He announced that this was the first release of a 4 song EP. The new EP will feature 4 covers that the Golden Roses most identify with their style of old school Dance Hall music.

I first found the Roses with their Debut album Terlingua Graveyard and I have nothing but love and respect for this band. They have also announced a new full album of their own songs in the near future.

Y’all give ‘em a spin and support the music. Many dates in and around Austin can be seen on their website. https://www.thegoldenrosesatx.com/ they will be in the Famed Luckenbach Dance Hall with Vincent Neil Emerson on May 12.

Livin on the road is gonna keep me free and clean.

Pancho.

Roses on your Grave

In my opinion two of the greatest songwriters to have blessed the Texas dirt in my lifetime are Hayes Carll and Vincent Neil Emerson. I got to see both of them perform their brands of not so main stream music tonight at the historic Ector Theater in Odessa, Tx.

I first heard Vincent Neil Emerson a couple of years ago after coming across his song, Willie Nelson’s Wall. From then on I was hooked.If I remember correctly, it was the South Texas Tweek who first shared Emersons music by posting him on his own Twitter account. Emerson and Tweek have written songs together, and also with Charley Crockett.

Not long after I first heard him and began watching some of his you tube videos, Vincent cut his first record. The self titled album, that was produced by Rodney Crowell is one of my very favorite records to date. On several occasions I have tried to see a live show by Emerson, but something always got in the way.

I had plans for a birthday trip a few years ago to a concert where VNE and the Tweek were to open for Charley Crockett in Austin. Due to my commitment to live life on life’s terms I ended up canceling those plans. I was going through a divorce, had started a new job, I had to move back in with Mom and Dad and well to put it quite frankly, I just wasn’t very spiritually fit for all of that. Don’t get me wrong these guys and their music got me through some pretty dark times. Another time, VNE was to open for Crockett and I got tickets to the show, well the show was postponed. I can’t really blame them, I mean they got to play Willie’s 4th of July picnic instead of dirty old Odessa. Anyway, enough of my rambling.

Tonight was the night that i finally got to see him play. Tonight Vincent Neil Emerson opened the show for Hayes Carll. Emerson played many new songs during his set, in preparation he said for another album later on this year.

Vincent Neil Emerson Ector Theater 3/9/23

Hayes Carll as a songwriter is one of the best in the business. His ways of turning real life situations into song is amazing. Hayes has co written songs with some of the best in the business. The whole audience tonight sang along to Drunken Poet’s dream. A song he wrote with Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Hayes newest album, You Get It All, has become a collection of some of my all time favorite songs. Many of these songs he played tonight as well as his old fan favorites.

He also did several cover songs including Dead Flowers by Townes Van Zandt or if you would rather The Rolling Stones. When Hayes played Dead Flowers he invited Vincent Neil Emerson back up on the stage. The two of them together nailed that classic tune.

The entire night was more than I ever could have imagined. The music, the venue, and my company was just what the doctor ordered.

My girlfriend and her daughter and son in law got to attend the show as well. I told them that I wanted Dead Flowers to be played at my funeral. I meant it.

Play Dead Flowers at my funeral and I won’t forget to put roses on your grave.

Pancho.

The Man From San Benito

The Wagner Noel in Midland, Tx hosted Texas Country, and Blues Man Charley Crockett last night. The show had been rescheduled from it’s original date of July 3rd. In the beginning I was kinda bummed because when I had purchased the tickets, Vincent Neil Emerson was set to play with Charley.

Since VNE didn’t make curtain call last night in Midland, due to the changes in the date, the opening act last night was instead Emily Nenni.

It took a few songs before Nenni warmed up the crowd. She threw a blend of Honky Tonkin and fast paced lyrics out there to be heard. I had never heard her nor did I even know she existed, but she was worth the listen.

Charley Crockett and his band soon took the stage and livened up the Sunday evening crowd with horns, keys , the steel guitar and an old fashioned stand up Bass guitar.

“I’m from San Benito, Texas,” Sang Charley.

Crockett comes from the same place in South Texas as Freddy Fender. Although, His music began at a young age and evolved in places like Deep Ellum in Dallas and on the Streets of New Orleans. It still has many of the sounds and vibes of his south Texas roots. The mariachi type tones can be heard through accordion and keys and in many of Charley’s ballads. A lot of the music that Charley pens sounds like the old west, these are like the gunfighter and cattle driving songs from a time long forgotten.

Charley often helps other independent musicians find their own beginnings in music. The first time I saw Charley Crockett live, Jesse Daniel was on the bill. More recently, Jesse has become a force to reckon with on the music scene.

Often times Charley can be found on cowrites with other aspiring musicians. One of my personal favorites by this artist is “Lily My Dear.” I was super excited when Charley wielded his banjo last night and began strumming out the song.

Lily My Dear was co-written with South Texas Tweek and Vincent Neil Emerson. After I posted a video clip of the song on Twitter from last nights performance Tweek reported how much the song has evolved since they wrote it so many years ago.

Crockett’s catalog continues to evolve. He is a true showman. After the concert last night, my girlfriend who had never seen him perform was in awe. She said “He’s got the moves!”

I will gladly continue to follow his music and see him every chance I can.

Pancho.

Feelin’ Good

I’m feelin’ really good tonight because I woke up on the right side of the dirt again this morning and after asking my God to keep my shit together for me again today, I got to hear my brother from another mother’s newest release.

I first began following this man on Twitter shortly after his very first single, Count on Me was cut . Not long after that he released his 50 dollars a week. A song I loved not only because Tweek gave his whole heart to his music, but also because two of my favorites in the Texas scene are listed as co- writers, Charley Crockett and Vincent Neil Emerson. What sealed the deal for me on the Tweek Train was the night I stayed up till midnight to hear New Tattoos. I believe and will always be proud that I could have been the first one to stream that song. Seth Jones and Samantha and the Mason and The Gin Line boys jumped onto the Tweet to discuss the experience and how fantastic this foo was. I began reppin’ Tweek Merch and still wear his T-shirts often. You should too!

Find it on Southtexastweek.com

I have met the Tweek and talked to him and messaged him and sometimes I feel like an older version of him as we’ve shared the same life experiences. My favorite things about him is that he is real, that he’s a family guy first, that he’s a friend, and that he never gives up. He follows his dreams and he is on the path to something beautiful.

I can’t wait to see my compadre and I have a pretty good idea I will see him soon.

He’s in Austin this weekend, if you are close come by and say hello, and hear some damn good sounds.

Pancho.

Sad Bastard Songs

I originally discovered the music of Texas singer songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson after Charley Crockett released his song, “Lily my Dear.” Along with Crockett, co-writers listed on the song are Vincent Neil Emerson and Tyler Heiser. When South Texas Tweek released his song “50 Dollars A Week,” Vincent Neil Emerson also had a had a hand in that sound. At the time I began listening to VNE he had very little of his own discography. His song, “Willie Nelson’s Wall,” caught my attention. It wasn’t very long after that that Emerson released his self-titled album. That first album that was produced by the legendary Rodney Crowell is definitely one of my go to records, the entire composition is perfection in my opinion. Many of those songs tell a sad story of Emerson’s upbringing and many songs are so much in tune with my own life. I don’t know about you, but a sad song makes me happy. Vincent Neil Emerson is the newest king of the “Sad Bastard Song.”

Emerson’s sounds are much like his favorite songwriters. People like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Steve Earle. Many a VNE song leaves me with a haunt or a chill in the air. It is as if VNE were a TVZ re incarnate. Emerson’s newest release, “Son of A Bitch,” just might be the most haunting yet.

Vincent Neil Emerson was born in East Texas and raised by a single mother. As a child, his guitar was his only friend and writing songs was the way he found he could cope with his emotions. Vincent began playing the bar scene around Ft Worth at the age of 19. He began sharing pieces of his life through the stories in his song. His career has flown high and continues to grow. I am expecting that he will one day be listed as one of the greatest songwriters ever and will represent Texas just like that long list of writers who came before him.

Pancho.