I'll be at Front Street Books in Alpine celebrating Gallery Night on November 17. I do have many stories to report on last weekend. Friday, November 9, I heard Beth Williams perform at the Double Ox Cantina in Fredericksburg. When I first moved to Kerrville about 17 years ago, I met Beth. She was performing here in town, creating her place in the Texas music scene.

Now, several recordings later, she is living on a ranch near Mason and wondering, "Do I really want to tour across Texas to support this new CD, or am I willing to sell it mainly at my performances." We had a woman-to-woman talk before she took off her shoes and took the stage at the Double Ox. We both decided that quality of life matters (Is that our age? She's ten years younger than I am.), and neither of us wanted to abandon friends, relationships and family to support a project.

Everyone loved Beth's show. She had Paul Pearcy on percussion and Charlie Larkey on standup bass. Nothing better than a Texas trio. And Beth not only writes inspiring songs, she has the voice to stop you in mid-sentence. I mean, we listened.

I headed out to go home early, remembered that I'd read a flyer on a new "roadhouse" on Highway 87, and decided to stop in. Call it a second wind. After hours of hard rock and roll and blues, after dancing when I had to, I slowly drove the back road through Harper to arrive at home around 1:00 a.m. Late for me!

The band I heard at Scooter's, Texas Wildfire, turned out to be comprised of some old friends of mine. Such fun to see Bobby Delery rocking out on his bass. And Tom Christy on drums added just the right rhythm. I drove in while they were playing Jimmy Reed, and the rest of the evening just got better. I do love a good "Doors" tune.

John, the owner from Lubbock, explained, "I have three more of these roadhouses. I say it's a bar for biker's but not a biker bar. There's a difference." I enjoyed the roadhouse atmosphere, the picnic tables outside, the campgrounds adjoining. John said, "I plan on expanding to have an outdoor concert spot and lots of space for camping." I asked about the roadhouse connection, and he told me of the joints along Route 66. My kind of place.

Saturday, I headed back up to Scooter's, wearing my new wild heart t-shirt, and devoured one of his famous steaks (best I've had!) while listening to Texas Wildfire. I left before Ben Beckendorff took the stage. Again, I thought I was tired.

I missed Mike Blakely at Double Ox Cantina, I missed the Norteno bands at Nelson City Dance Hall, I missed John Greenburg at the Java Pump. I had already missed Radney Foster at The Cabaret. Hey, we can focus on what we see or what we missed seeing.

Ahead at The Cabaret is Terri Hendrix on November 23, Johnny Bush, November 24, and Reckeless Kelly on November 30. You bluegrass fans won't want to miss Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys on December 2--a Sunday show.

Ahead at Nelson City is an evening with Ray Wylie Hubbard on December 1, Al Deen and the All-Stars on December 15, and Asleep at the Wheel on December 22. Mark your calendars. Remember, those of you in charge of a venue, call me with your schedule for write-ups in the weekend paper. I'm still tracking down Texas music and keeping up with the local scene. But, you have to call me! 830-367-3750

Next week I'll have the story of the Johnny Nicholas Big Band Bash in Fredericksburg. Hope you didn't miss that. I saw the Foreigner on opening night. I needed that laugh. I may be the only person in Kerrville who had never seen it. What talent resides in Playhouse 2000. Doug Ballentine reminded us that we could still donate to support the auditorium renovation in Kerrville. I say support the arts.

Sunday, November 11, I headed out to a peace rally in San Antonio. Sandra Cisneros was billed to speak, and she's confirmed as our featured author on April 18 at the Writers Conference at Schreiner. I wanted to hear her, and I was not disappointed.
She sang her own song on the steps of the Gazebo in Milam Park. It was a song of the heart, of forgiveness, of compassion. "I know that I have my own terrorists living in me," she passionately stated. "I know I have to love them, to forgive them, in order for them to leave me alone." A reporter approached her later, saying, "So, you said to turn the other cheek?" "Absolutely not," she declared. "I'm talking about an action of heart and head. I'm talking about turning the whole body around. When we can start being peace, we will see some change. One act of forgiveness in our own life is as big an act as flying airplanes into buildings." I was moved by the cry of her heart. I look forward to her visit to Schreiner, and I'll have my students responding to her writing all semester. Art can make a difference. Stories and songs do make a difference.

It's Native American Heritage Month. Tony Galluci and Mark "Standing Eagle" Baez will share stories and songs on Tuesday, November 20, 10:50-11:50 in the quad at Schreiner. You readers are invited to join us in this celebration of community.

Free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

Click here to return to the previous page