I'm heading to Mexico with a group from Schreiner University on May 7. I still have many stories left untold. On Thursday, April 18, I spent an amazing couple of hours with Sandra Cisneros, a writer who truly speaks her heart. Her words are music, and her song is a strong one. We had a packed house at Schreiner for the Texas Writers Conference. Last year we showcased two songwriters, James McMurtry and Tish Hinojosa. This year the voice of Sandra Cisneros, award-winning Latina writer, spoke to all of us about her own writing and the creative process.

On Friday, I headed up to the Old Salt Lick Pavilion to attend the opening night of the Old Settler's Reunion, a bluegrass festival that used to be in Round Rock and has evolved into an Americana festival at Camp Ben McCulloch. The green grassy openings near the river provided the perfect venue for music that ran the gamut from the Del McCoury Band and their world class bluegrass to the funk and musical mastery of Michelle Shocked to the guitar wizardry and writing of Monte Montgomery.
Even though Karen Abrahams plays at Luckenbach on many a Wednesday afternoon, I first heard her last Friday night at Old Settler's. What a soulful performance of blues and great songs. Her rendition of "White Rabbit," a Grace Slick number, stirred up my nostalga brew, a dish that constantly simmers on the back burner of my stove of memories. I even tried to sing this song at a summer camp festival one year, many years ago. "Feed your head," is what the rabbit told Alice.

Musical aficionado, Dr. Charlie Gray, heard his first live bluegrass performance. "I was intrigued with the way they performed, using only one mike and constantly weaving in and out of the spotlight," he kept saying. Their show, which I last saw at the Cabaret when The Del McCoury Band was touring with Steve Earle, is a visual delight and a stroll down memory lane. That big old silver mike standing alone, waiting for the instrument or song to come close, stands tall with another memory, folks gathering around close to share songs.

I loved watching the crowd, young and old, gather close to the stage for this bluegrass moment. Bill Hearne, a veteran performer at the Kerrville Folk Festival, was transfixed as he stood close to the stage. A contingency from the Kerrville Folk Festival (Dalis/office, Vaughn Hefner/owner, Kim/tickets, and Scott/development) were in attendance. In fact, I saw many a Kerrville volunteer participating in this well-run, smooth festival. Kudos to Randy Collier, his team, and Bill Stokes, emcee. When Bill and I talked, he told me that his parents live here in Kerrville. Always that Kerrville connection in the world of Texas music.

The next day I attended Recall, the Schreiner version of homecoming. We did celebrate Texas-style when we danced to the music of Gary P. Nunn (Yep, I decided to just dance my knee away.). Graduates young and old flocked to the dance floor when he told us what he likes about Texas. Gary P. Nunn does represent all this is good about Texas music, for sure. My son, Clayton, and his friends stayed late to visit with Gary. I enjoyed seeing many of my former students in this Texas music atmosphere. And I enjoyed dancing.

After that I headed to the Old Watering Hole to hear the last set of Tommy Elskes. I've already raved about his voice, his CD and his songwriting. When he finished, I heard others playing outside. There, after midnight, I heard Harris and Ryden jam. Blake Lindley played a small drum, and Brian Rung sang some songs. Cindy Terry stepped up and added the beautiful notes of a silver flute. My son, Clayton, had sent me Brian's CD. It was sitting near my stereo, but I hadn't listened yet.

As this circle of musicians ran through a collection of great songs, Brian also shared some of his own originals. He told of his days in high school ('95 graduate) and the praise he received for the song "Tangled Up In Blue." He said, "I'd love to take credit for a Dylan song, but I can't." He does a great interpretation of my own hero. Bob Dylan. Music does seem to bridge the generation gap.

A friend said, "This is the way I like to hear music. Better than a concert." I know that we were standing at the heart of the Texas music scene, friends singing and jamming out back after the gig-just because they love the music. Elskes joined in on spoons, and I played along on my bones. Real bones.

As the evening came to an end, as the music trailed away, I gathered up my camera bag to head home. Yes, it had been a long road full of great moments. Sunday I awoke early (just to have more time to remember Saturday night), and watched a spectacular version of Hamlet on television. What a way to end the weekend, hearing the musical language of Shakespeare.

Stories left untold include the performance and new CD of Michelle Shocked (a woman who owns all her own music now), the discovery of Karen Abrahams, the performance of Doug Davis and Johnny Way and the Cowboy Artists of American Museum on Monday night, the jams at the Hunt Store and the Lone Oak Store, and all the great performers coming to the Kerrville Folk Festival, which opens May 23, the day I return from Mexico. Don't forget Bill Ward at Cappucino's downtown April 27, at 6:00 p.m. Free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

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