Another week for a rock and roll gypsy! Thursday, March 29, we headed up to the Cactus Café in Austin, an entire creative writing class on board. Our goal was to attend the CD release party for Eric Taylor. His new CD, "Shuffleboard," on Eminent Records, was most recently described as "spooky" by John Conquest in his publication Third Coast Music. I probably agree, but I would not have used that word. Intense, powerful, compelling, dramatic and stark….yeah, those are my words that go into "spooky."

During the break my students stepped next door for a concert of punk music. The juxtaposition of these sounds must have created a great opportunity for some new synapses to fire.

For me, Townes Van Zandt came creeping into the room while Eric was playing. Maybe they just knew each other that well, maybe Eric still carries a bit of Townes with him. I heard some of "it" in the jokes delivered deadpan. That perception takes nothing away from the stories and songs of Eric Taylor. I became a convert at a house concert at the Field's last year. Now I'm a follower.

Eric is quoted as saying:  "Words and Music are powerful, personal pieces of my life and how I live it. The songs take the lead in most everything that's happening to me, whatever the transition. Everything I've learned about Words and Music was taught to me by somebody else. Some of them, I stood around just to bother them for what I wanted to know. Some I stood around because I loved them. The names don't make a difference. If you listen, you'll hear them."

Check out www.eminentrecords.com for some of the most interesting music being produced. This label could easily be categorized "Americana" music.

Friday, March 30, I listened to a showcase of two punk bands at Schreiner University. Mulletovcocktails played first, selling their CD afterwards. Most of the songs are personal stories about friends and experiences at the university. I got the three musicians--Philip, Ryan and Matt--to sign my copy. I always like being there at the beginning.

The Snags, a group I first heard at a coffeehouse several years ago, has progressed into a tight and professional group. Based in Bandera (of all places), they played some classic Velvet Underground, Dead Kennedy's and Nirvana. Their originals carried their influences and conveyed their originality. I loved the stark intensity of the show, with Fred Jennings jumping into his leads and Eric Brown delivering songs with a message. Brandon Childers held down the bass line while Dan Irge lead with drums (He showed me a broken finger after the show.). James Mazurek on rhythm guitar also provided some comic relief. All in all an interesting show.

Fred explained, "We're old school punk. No rules apply."  Darrell Koerth, an alumni of the group, joined in on some songs.

On to Helotes on Saturday:  Ray Wylie Hubbard keeps reinventing himself. This time he performed as a trio with a dobro and fiddle accompanying him. I heard new songs and new rhythms. Eamon hails from England, and his fiddle leads created new sounds for Hubbard's songs. Ray keeps writing words like, "I don't know why I do what I do. I just do." We can all identify!

Merle Haggard took the stage to create another historical moment in music history at John T. Floore Country Store in Helotes. We heard the classics, we heard a duet with Bonnie Owens, we heard him play twin fiddles on a Bob Wills set. I was knocked out from my vantage point at the edge of backstage (a stoke of luck put me there).

Freddy Powers, the songwriter on many Merle classics, played his elegant lead guitar while a band of eight delighted the crowd with a big sound--horns, keyboard and even an accordion. Yes, we heard a Jimmie Rodgers songs about Lucille, and we heard a Blaze Foley song, "If I Could Only Fly." Both Freddy Powers and Blaze are in my book, so I had the meaningful moment with Merle right before the show as I handed him a book. He signed one for me--on an interview with the grandson of Jimmie Rodgers.

We heard "Take Me Back To Texas," "Silver Wings," "Oakie from Muskogee," "Time Changes Everything," and more. I had to stop for a nap twice on the way home. I do hate driving alone at night. Maybe it's time to pay a driver.

Standing out at John T. Floore Country Store, listening to Merle sing, I participated in one of those special moments that make "it" all worthwhile.

After sleeping late on Sunday, I headed out to the Hunt Store for a new gathering, Jr. Pruneda and friends. Well, those friends consisted of Johnny Way, Bert Winston, John Krause, Hoppy Hopkins, Gene Fuller, Jim Harrison and Carson Wells. These "Segovia Senators" can be heard each Sunday from about 2-6 p.m.

They, too, played a classic list of songs, ranging from Bob Wills to Ray Price to some jazz. Jr. Pruneda has a list of playing credits that require a separate column. Bert Winston's passion for music, undaunted in all these years, requires another column. He made his first visit to the Hill Country in about 1934--at a very young age. He remember people dancing on a wooden floor at Crider's by the river with their shoes off. He remembers a lot (another column!).

Free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

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