Smells like heaven

The Down South Railhouse (DSR) (http://www.downsouthrailhouse.com/) is located in Kyle, Texas. Just a few miles/minutes from Austin. I just spent an evening here just days earlier for a band (http://livemusicintexas.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-little-south-of-heaven.html?m=1). That is when I found out DSR was having it's first annual BBQ Cook off just days away. So my friend Steve made plans to med my wife and myself there at High Noon on Sunday for the festival of burning meat!

So of course it was Hot! Ridiculously hot, with very little breeze blowing, but ohhhh the smells when there was a breeze. It was a beautiful day with some vendors set up and LOTS and LOTS of tents for the BBQ masters plying there trade. Putting the smack down on Brisket, ribs, chicken, chili, and many of them having their own surprise dish. There were trophies to be won, Big money to be had, and bragging rights to be earned. 

The set up was perfect. The pits and table lined the (what would normally be) parking lot. There were a few shaded spots by the building that houses the game room. This was also the spot of the small outside 'Back Porch Stage' which hosted acoustic work by Luke Lagrange, and also by the Dewberry Pickle Boys. If you wanted to keep it a little cooler and sit down for a drink, the inside bar was open as well. There was a beer service area outside by the Back Porch Stage.

There was plenty of sampling available and the ability for guests to vote for the fan favorite. My hands down fan favorite was the monster, stuffed pepper, pork, bacon wrapped piece of heaven from the Dirty Smokers. Unfortunately they didn't win, but I damn sure hope they are back next year.

The music by Luke Lagrange (https://www.facebook.com/luke.lagrange) was perfect for the early afternoon. Rolling through pretty much every country favorite from every generation you can think of, and covering them well. For one man and his guitar, it sounded great and filled there are with sound as good as the smoke. I did hear some originals in there and look forward to an evening where he plays inside to see how a dancing crowd takes to his tunes.

The Dewberry Pickle Boys (https://www.facebook.com/DewberryPickleBoys/timeline) This set was a little later and there was more of a crowd at the event. It was also a set with many country covers and some originals. However, with two voices and two guitars, it was a more interesting set. I like it. Hell I was lucky enough to meet and hear Dave Jorgenson of the Dewberry Pickle Boys on a previous night, I got to hear him go at it with a full band and I will tell you this, with his enthusiasm and voice, the dewberry Pickle Boys DEFINITELY seem like the band to see on a rowdy cut loos kind of night!

As a patron, a fan of music, and a lover of BBQ I would say it was a successful day! 

A little south of Heaven

That's right! Just south of Austin, maybe 10 minutes from the city limits, is Kyle, Texas. A fast growing, commerce booming town, located right on IH-35. Now it may not be a destination wedding, or Day Tripper town, but it is not without it's charm. All of the necessities any one would need if they wanted to get out of the bigger city, settle in a home to raise a family, or possible enjoy some relief from the sky rocketing real estate prices. There is some retail shopping, options for groceries, and entertainment options.

There is some evening entertainment to enjoy as well. From a sports bar to a wing place, you can take your choice how to start an evening or wind down the day. BUT, when it comes to night life....well....we are in central Texas, and Country is still king. There is a bar/honkytonk located right smack in down town Kyle. You can't be any more country than an old BBQ joint, located on some railroad tracks, that has been converted into a bar. Unless of course there is a cow/corn field out back (thankfully there is not in this case). The joint is called Down South Railhouse (DSR for short) http://www.downsouthrailhouse.com/ .

When you pull up to DSR, it resembles everything you have seen in the movies, without the stereo typical bar fights. There is a dirt parking lot on the side, or parking along the street. The property and facility is located on a corner and houses 2 buildings, a fenced in yard with some food trailers, picnic tables, and room for outdoor games. The 2 buildings are connected by a porch in between them. There is also a large porch which runs the length of the main building and wraps around to the front, all of which faces the streets on which the bar sits.

The entrance to either building is the porch in between them. The small building houses a pool table and I believe some dart boards, the larger building is the honky tonk. As you walk in, through what feels like a side or rear entrance, you a greeted by a door person and another person sitting in a cage (WTH?!) collecting the cover charge. The cover charge is very low (it changes so check their page or call - or just don't worry about it and cough it up), but I don't think the cover charge goes to the band of the evening (I have never been a fan of that)!

Once you are passed the entrance, you go down a hall with the bathrooms on your left. Once you pass the bathrooms it opens to the main area. The bar runs down the length on your left and the stage is in the back right corner. Seating is limited at the bar and there are a few tables to sit at in the large open area, as well as some tables in VIP looking area immediately to the left. It may be a hard push to sell this place as any kind of dance hall, as they have just about 0 for a dance floor.

Don't get me wrong, there was PLENTY of dancing. Folks were taking a twirl and stepping without a care in the world. The problem is the set up of the stage vs. the proximity to the bar and the seating on the floor. It either makes it hard for the dancers, or hard for everyone else trying to move around. But, there was a band and a stage and this is why I was here.

This particular evening was Keith Kelso and 90 Proof  (https://www.facebook.com/keithkelsomusic). A country band that very nicely covered generations and decades of country music. From Ol' Hank all the way up to some of the new country like Dierks Bentley. With Keith fronting the band with his voice and his acoustic, he commanded the crowd very well. The lead guitarist also did vocals on some of the songs to give it some variety. OF COURSE there is a steel guitar, and the rhythm section to bring it all together.

The band was very fun, and the crowd seemed to love every minute of their long performance on stage. With some small banter and great interactions with the crowd, Keith Kelso and 90 Proof is a band you want to go see in a Honky Tonk or bar, if you wanted a variety of country music and you wanted to dance. They kept the dance floor(?) in constant motion and had us hoisting our drinks to the sky and hooping an hollering (yes I joined in).

My criticism about the band was the few time it seemed like the had to stop and restart some of the songs they were doing. i later found out the, drummer was a pick-up drummer, so all is understandable. Hell, I never heard anyone in the crowd bitch or complain, so it is a small thing to complain about.