Up the road a little ways

So a little 45 minute/1hr drive north of Austin, Texas, located on IH 35 is Salado, Texas. I can not tell you what the town is known for...sorry folks of Salado. I can tell you there is a wicked, bad ass BBQ joint just located off the highway a few hundred yards or so, Johnny's Steaks and BBQ (http://johnnyssteaksandbbq.com/). Not only is the brisket mighty fine, but OF COURSE they have a stage out back!

I am not a food critic, but I like BBQ. Not that stuff smothered in sauces to hide the flavor of the meat and wood, but BAR-B-QUE DAMMIT!!! This brisket was great! It had flavor, it was moist, and it was just damn good. Oh yeah, we didn't have to wait in a line for more than an hour, we just had to drive the hour.

Out in the back is a rather large stage and a huge event area. I would say they could easily hold 1500. A covered VIP area with tables, a small grassy knoll for those who bring their own chairs, and a whole lot of dirt! A couple of beer tents in the very back make it easy to get your adult on and keep it that way.











What brought me way the hell up here for a performance is my wife's love for Pat Green (http://patgreen.com/). Also my love and pride in a local Austin musician on stage with Pat, my friend and bass player extraordinaire, Matt Slagle. While I managed to secure the photo opportunity from Matt for this show, it was my wife who I enjoyed watching, along with the other thousand or so folks.

But my cool surprise was the opening band.

The Warhorses (http://thewarhorsesmusic.com/) came onto the stage while the sun was still out and as the crowd was still filtering in. The Warhorses were a great progressive country band. Partially with that Americana feel, not scared to get their rock on, but definitely country. The Warhorses entertained the crowd and had folks moving up to the stage. I must say, with this large group of guys on stage and the excitement and love they showed to the crowd for what they were doing...this is a dangerous opening band. No doubt they could easily steal the show if the headliner is not on their A game.

I'll put it to you this way, I had enough enjoyment in The Warhorses performance that I worked with a buddy at a venue in Austin to get them booked closer to home. Look them up around your neck of the woods or take a trip.

So...Pat Green. What can I say and what do I need to say. He doesn't need my words, but I will share them anyway. Maybe there is one person out there who isn't sure. Pat Green really does have a great time on stage and with the crowd. Of course he has a hell of a backing band, but you can tell it's his charisma on the mic and in front of the crowd that helps make the show. This is what has brought me back for multiple shows. My wife loves his music ('Carry On' ALWAYS make her get out of her seat! A L W A Y S !!!!!) and Pat Greens ability to entertain.

Pat does a great job of bringing the crowd into his songs with his stories. Not VH1 Storytellers long, but quick little side notes. It's as if he is talking to you his friend as he reminisces about old times. It just makes you feel good and you can tell it in the crowd. Of course the crowd is going to have a good time, they bought the tickets! But you see, it is the interaction with the music that makes it fun and memorable. It makes it worthwhile and, well...that's the Green Effect!




















Laters

 

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.

New beginnings

First blog post for Live Music in Texas. New year. New venue.

Down by New Braunfels, Texas stands the oldest, continually operating, and most storied dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall (http://gruenehall.com/). Located in Gruene (pronounced green), the dance hall fits in perfectly with the tiny little community that serves as a lovely day trip from just about anywhere in the central Texas area. In the same lot as The Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar, Gruene Hall is a must stop destination for music, dancing, and just plain old fun.

The dance hall itself remains primarily the same as it was over 100 years ago in design. A big rectangle building with a tin roof. A bar in front, the stage in the back, seating, and plenty of dance floor. There is live music almost every night of the week. So if you happen to be in the central Texas area for any reason, check out what's happening on their website, and make the trip. From early in the day shopping, to enjoying food, wine, beer, and finally ending with a spectacular night setting foot in history. Add Gruene, Texas and the Gruene Hall as a MUST DO on your bucket list in Texas.

This particular, very cold and very wet night (dubbed BLIZZARD 2015 - ha!) was a special 3 hr set by Texas guitar legend and local music hero, Van Wilks (http://www.vanwilks.com/)!

Van is currently touring the world (that place outside of Texas) in support of his new, upcoming CD (currently yet untitled). I happily made the 45+ minute drive down from Austin, with my dad to take in the "VanWilks Experience".

Van is both a performer as a guitarist and as a singer. His voice is smooth and surprising when you hear him. But not so surprising as it is a perfect blend with his Texas Blues/Rock guitar work. This evening ranged from cover songs you would swear were his, to the originals that were even better. I took the time to look around the room and was thrilled. To see a veteran of the Austin AND Texas music scene, with decades of collateral under his belt, have such a diverse crowd in the Gruene Hall, was beautiful.

The country boys with their cowboy hats, the pretty ladies in their long skirts, the gentleman smiling and drinking beer. Old and young, the house was full! As Van rolled on with the music throughout the evening, there was dancing to some of the covers in the front of the house.

Van Wilks' brilliant work on the guitar is just that, brilliant work ON the guitar. Not just picking, but using 10 fingers, bending it, stroking it, hitting it, all the while coaxing out of all of his guitars and his music. Van's music had the power to have the back of the house on its feet and dancing EVERY single time the tempo picked up.

To this crowd on this cold and wet evening, Van Wilks wove 3 hours of our time into a tapestry of amazing sound and fun. The music was just right for that old dance hall. I will tell you this...here is another wonderful night those four walls will never forget and all who attended.

Stay tuned for more info from Van Wilks about his upcoming album on his website or at Live Music in Austin.



Laters