If you're reading this on Saturday, phone and see if space permits you to go to Old Number Nine is Waring to hear Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines. 830-995-3552.  While getting lunch at Choo Choo's Barbecue, I noticed a flyer advertising live music on Wednesday nights with Dan Groat, a local favorite. Dan has performed at the Living History Day, the Java Pump, the Schreiner Texas music coffeehouse and often on the stage at the Point Theatre. He begins playing around 6:30 p.m.  I know the Watering Hole is continuing to showcase Texas music on weekends, and on that same street, Broadway, the Java Pump has music on Fridays and a jam on Saturday. The Pump is holding a benefit for Star Ranch on Feb. 10. Call 895-7867 for details.

Luckenbach is warming up for the big March 3 celebration, the Texas Independence Bash with KR Woods and Steven Fromholz. Monte Montgomery is playing February 3, Don Walser plays the 26^th First Annual Troy King Memorial "Hug-In," and Johnny Nicholas and the Texas All-Stars perform on February 24 at the pre-Mardi Gras party--a Fais-do-do! Check out www.luckenbachtexas.com and call 830-997-3224 for a subscription to the Luckenbach Moon, a Texas treasure house of stories in the spirit of Hondo Crouch.

I headed out last weekend for San Antonio (a big road trip) with my two buddies, rock and roll Carol and Teresa. We rolled into Carlsbad Tavern on West Avenue near Blanco in time for the kick-off of Miss Neesie and the Ear Food Orchestra. Although this small club has hosted Leon Russell, Marshall Tucker, Ponty Bone, Terry Allen, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Terri Hendrix (to name a few), the Ear Food Orchestra did fill up the corner stage. What a party it was--Zydeco all the way with vintage blues thrown in for good measure. I make sure I received one of the party gifts--a plastic bottle filled with beans, tied with ribbon and soaked in glitter. I did play along with the rhythm section--as did everyone in this packed house. We were there to celebrate a special occasion. Miss Neesie, elementary school teacher by day, was celebrating her 50^th birthday. Now this band always throws a party, holding down a regular summer gig in Port Aransas, but Saturday night, January 27, was a different kind of party. We celebrated a significant passageway, the turning of 50. And Miss Neesie does NOT even come close to looking her age!

Dressed in black, covered with stars, she growled (a Neesie speciality), wailed and moaned the music. I especially liked "School Teacher Blues." What a party to throw in this Tavern of Texas heritage. February 2, Kinky Friedman and Billy Joe Shaver performed. I'm excited to be signing my book on Texas songwriters on this brief tour.   I talked briefly with owner Julie Palmer. "We've had this place five years. We love the music, and the place has character." She was sitting at the front door taking the cover charge.

The Ear Food Orchestra includes another one of my heroes, Jim Beal. He plays bass as Rakeem (or something like that), but he writes a great column for the San Antonio Express News. The horn section added a Louisiana sound, mixed with harmonica, drums, and guitar. We even had a fratoirre solo (or fratois). At the end of the evening, Neesie moved out through the audience with her polaroid camera, giving audience members the gift of a photo. Such a party!

I've discovered another important Texas venue, Carlsbad Tavern. I'll be at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos tonight, Saturday, Feb. 3, with Kinky and Billy Joe. Kent Findley has run a songwriter's night at Cheatham off an on over the years. Many a Texas songwriter has graced the stage of that classic joint.

I'll be signing my book at the next Texas Music Coffeehouse at Schreiner University in the Cailloux Center on Wednesday, February 21. Co-sponsored by Wolfmueller's Books and the Kerrville Daily Times, the signing will take place before the 7:30 coffeehouse performance. Candace Kunz wil perform an original song and host the open mic. Local pickers are invited to participate! The headline performer is TBA. 

Still free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com
www.texasheritagemusic.org