Ace of Spades Still Cuts the Deck

West Texas Exiles tip the hat to Motörhead & Lemmy Kilmister

Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” Loud, reckless, and honest in the way only Lemmy Kilmister ever managed to be — a song that doesn’t care if you win or lose, just that you play the hand hard.

This week, the West Texas Exiles threw their own chips on the table, releasing a raw, no-frills cover of the Motörhead classic in honor of what would’ve been Lemmy’s 80th birthday. No polish. No apology. Just volume, grit, and respect.

What makes this one hit different is the story behind it — carried by the Exiles’ drummer, Trinidad.

“Many moons ago, I had the honor of meeting Lemmy. We talked road stories over his signature Jack & Coke — Hendrix days in Europe, his love for Little Richard, and the kind of life most folks only pretend to live. At one point he looked at me and said, ‘Trinidad — your name’s a winner.’”

That’s the kind of moment you don’t forget.

That’s the kind of thing you carry with you into every barroom, back room, and stage you ever step on again.

Lemmy wasn’t just the frontman of Motörhead — he was Motörhead. A songwriter who blurred the lines between punk, metal, and rock ’n’ roll long before anyone cared to define genres. “Ace of Spades” wasn’t about gambling so much as it was about living without hedging your bets. Born to lose. Live to win.

This cover was first cooked up during the long quiet of the COVID lockdown — a solo production experiment on a song that never stopped rattling around in Trini’s head. Now it’s finally been turned loose, and there couldn’t be a better time for it than now.

Because Lemmy would’ve hated sentimentality. But he would’ve loved this.

Turn it up.

Play it loud.

Raise a Jack & Coke to the man who proved you don’t need to clean it up to make it last.

There’ll never be another Lemmy Kilmister — but the noise he left behind still echoes.

🇨🇱 Pancho’s Picks Salute: West Texas Exiles

The dust finally settled, and look who’s standin’ tall in the Top 10 of the Americana charts — the West Texas Exiles. A band forged from the red dirt and border wind, now callin’ Austin home but still carryin’ the sound of the plains in every note.

These boys didn’t stumble onto the scene; they built it from the ground up. West Texas blood, Austin heart, and just enough road miles to know what it costs to chase a dream.

Their new single “Division” is the proof — a song that cuts deep and rides smooth, featuring none other than the legendary Miss Kelly Willis, whose voice drips with Texas honey and heartbreak. Together, they’ve turned a tune into a testament — equal parts melody and memory, dust and devotion.

So here’s to the Exiles — and to Miss Kelly Willis — for reminding the world that the real Americana still grows wild west of the Pecos.

Salute, boys (and ma’am). You’ve done West Texas proud.

Cards

“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

Winds Gonna Blow

It’s an old adage that “if you don’t like the weather in west Texas wait a few minutes and it will change.” .,, I believe this with my whole being to be true but I also would like to add, but the winds gonna blow.

The west Texas wind blows hot or cold rain or shine.. dust to dust..

Not too far off from a band like The West Texas Exiles. These guys are going places and will blow your socks off anytime, any place they play.

Check out their newest single The Winds Gonna Blow and follow them for more! They haven’t released a bad song yet.

Pancho.

Sangre Night at the Light

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.

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 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.

Pancho.

Viva Sangre

Mason Server has a saying “I was born where the dirt blows every day.” That saying begins the newly released song from Mason and the Gin Line, “Sangre.” It is the title track for the first full album released by the Mason and The Gin Line band. Born in a town just south of Lubbock, where cotton is still king, and hard work pays off. I can attest that the statement is true. Dust storms and grit have been a way of life for many West Texas Kids.

This morning Mason must be feeling like he is “the king.” For his hard work has paid off and another dream has come to fruition with the birth of the new album.

Earlier this year, the Gin Line released Terrible Lover and Leaves of Fall as singles. As a devout follower of the Gin Line Band I have heard parts and pieces of some of the other songs , but as I came alive this morning and reached for my telephone to begin streaming my music , I was in a magical disposition as I got to hear all 11 songs from start to finish.

I haven’t quite decided which one is the best as they all resonate within me. I can listen to any of these tracks and feel like it’s about me. I believe that’s what Mason was writing about when he wrote Sangre. That connection of people and cultures coming together as one.

As far as right now I think Boulder and/or Summertime will be my goto for the rest of the morning.

Sangre was produced and recorded in Austin at studio 601. Credits for this amazing album art goes to Zach Nelson.

Saturday 3/4/23 at the Blue Light in Lubbock, Mason and the Gin Line along with their friends the West Texas Exiles (who have also released an EP this week) are having their album release party. I plan to be there. More to follow.

Pancho.

Volume 1

Having seen these guys play more than once and falling in love with their sounds of Blues and Folk mixed with Rock and Roll. Not to mention the guys that make up the band- West Texas Exiles- a side project of this group of friends who found each other down the Texas Hill Country after each leaving West Texas for their own reasons. The band members in this Austin based crowd hail from El Paso Amarillo and Lubbock.

Volume 1 has been a long awaited album for me and I am happy to be able to announce that it’s finally here. I am lucky enough to have seen these guys live and got to meet each of them. Daniel Davis, Eric Harrison, Marco Gutierrez, and Trinidad Leal.

I was originally introduced to the Exiles by Mason Server of the band Mason and the Gin Line. I have heard their stories and their songs and now I am excited to share this sound with the world of my readers!

Check out Hotel Tomorrow as well as the rest of the West Texas Exile Collection , a sound bigger than the West Texas sky.

Pancho.

A Night at the Light

Well… That Just Happened
Charlie Stout

Last night I witnessed perhaps one of the greatest moments in Mason Server’s career. Mason and the Gin Line put on perhaps their greatest performance to date. Texas Singer/ Songwriter and artist Charlie Stout and I had a short conversation after the event and in a description of the show, Charlie in his slow drawl simply stated, “Well… That Just Happened.”

The musical Gods were shining in the old Bluelight in the Depot District of Lubbock, Texas last night. I saw 3 bands and none of them were a disappointment. Besides just the bands I saw some good friends and made some new ones. Everyone seemed to be feeling the buzz in the room. The crowd was visibly entertained from start to finish. Blaze Butler, Mason and The Gin Lines bass player once told me, “The Blue Light is a wierd little place but it’s our place we like it.” All 3 bands that played there last night had the hometown advantage as they all had some beginnings in that little place that feels like home.

Eric Harrison, Marco Gutierrez with Blaze Butler

During the set, lead singer of the Gin Line Mason Server shared his heart and gave thanks to those who had helped him when no one else would to be able to get his start. During his song “Pipeliner” Mason called his producer, Eric Harrison and Marco Gutierrez of Dirty River Boys, now the lead of West Texas Exiles to the stage to sing the song with him. On the Mason and Gin Line album, Caprock Composition, it is Marcos voice that can be heard in the harmonies.

Cale and the 45s kicked things off last night, Cale has super talent. Cale is another Texas artist who plays country rock and plays it from the soul. At one point during Cale’s set I jokingly told Mason, “they are pretty good for an opening band.”Masons response was, “They are the bomb.”

The West Texas Exiles were next. They are a phenomenal mix of talent. The vibe seemed to flow more naturally for them than it had the night before at the Goldenlight and they found their sounds together on the ol’ Bluelight stage. Last night was only the bands second show together as the West Texas Exiles. A namesake that comes from one of the bands songs. The group played together as if they had been touring together for years.

The night was one of the best days I have had in a long time. There’s something about live music that sets me free. I can’t wait to get to do it all again, see ya down the road.

Pancho.

West Texas Exiles

The West Texas Exiles- a group of super talented Texas Country- and Rock. These men all originally began with their musical careers in West Texas, from places like Lubbock, El Paso, and Amarillo but for one reason or another have become “exiled” to the beautiful Texas Hill Country. What a horrific position to be in.

West Texas Exiles- Full band Show Goldenlight Amarillo

During the bands exile from West Texas each took their musical core and developed a blend of styles from the other demographic regions of this great state. Each of the bands members are multi instrumentalists and each one can sing and write their own songs. What you have now is a healthy and heavenly mix of sound that you can’t help but love.. one would want to tap a toe, sing along, or begin a full blown barefoot waltz as one couple at the venue last night did.

Last night was the Exiles first full band show together in the historical Goldenlight located along the old Route 66. The bands members are Marco Gutierrez , whom you May remember from the dirty river boys. Marco also is featured on the Mason and The Gin Line top track the Pipeliner. Eric Harrison slays the bass for this group and seemed to be the bands gopher as I saw him of last night, taking care of housekeeping like the Merch tables , sound checks and meet and greets with the public all at the same time Eric has some mad skill and not afraid to say no. Trinidad Leal played the drum kit , he has played with Marco before and as I watched him from side stage last night I could tell he truly enjoyed what he was doing. The “hometown” hero Daniel Davis, originally from this desolate and windswept plain of Amarillo played keys and electric guitar and lended many of his own lyrics to the set last night.

Mason and The Gin Line opened the show. Since starting this blog- and first meeting Mason and Blaze many of you know I have become a super fan of this group but it sure is hard not to be. Mason belted some of my old favorites last night but he also unveiled two song which I never have heard . The world needs this music.

Also opening for the Exiles was Travis Roberts. I have followed Travis since the Pandemic when he dropped his “Cabin Fever” and have spoke to him via messenger on Twitter but yesterday was my first time to actually meet him in person and to see one of his shows. The Goldenlight is Travis home field and he definitely brought a fan following to see his style. A style he humorously called e-moo. Travis is a rock star who deserves big venues. He and his band the Willing Few controlled the crowd and were so much fun to watch as they danced and played every inch of the old Goldenlight stage. Besides being a wonderfully talented musician, Travis as a person was so friendly and humble.

Tonight I will see the West Texas Exiles and Mason and the Gin Line again in Lubbock, Texas at the Bluelight- if you have a way to get down there, you should not miss this epic event.

Pancho.