If you have not gone to the John T. Floore Country Store in Helotes, you have missed a Texas treasure. We were greeted with huge white and red signs, announcing the appearance of Willie Nelson and the possibility of great tamales on a Saturday  night. Stories abound of Willie’s history with this place, and he returns twice a year to play the gig that sometimes includes a huge Texas sky studded with diamond stars. On Friday, January 31, the stars, Nathan Hamilton and James McMurtry, were playing indoors. Cool weather.

  Nathan just keeps getting better. I was so excited about the show that I bought his new live album only to discover upon arriving at home that I had that album. I bought it the last time Nathan played Floore’s.  Chepo Pena on bass and Brent Maulkus on thrash/honky tonk guitar added a driving punk rhythm to the thoughtful songs of Nathan Hamilton. I loved watching them, dancing to them (as I did at our own Ol’ Waterin’ Hole) and listening to them. Nathan can write a song now!

  James sang some of the most lyrically strong songs of this generation. He has a new album coming out in March on  Compadre, a record label that also brought us a new Billy Joe Shaver recording. James’s band, the Heartless Bastards, are an important part of his sound. James, no slouch on the guitar, does much of his own producing. This would be an excellent act for the new Hill Country Opry, a venue that is showcasing a hero of McMurtry’s, Guy Clark, February 27-28.

  I went to the Blaze Foley Tribute at Ruta Maya’s on South Congress on Saturday, January 31. Now the 40 plus performers who showed u p to pay tribute to this man gave us a killer show. We heard the blues, the songs, the rhythm and the rhythm. The show ran from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. Calvin Russell with Sherman Jarman on lead guitar, rocked the house. No one could leave early. In fact, we gathered early and stayed late. The power of Blaze Foley songs performed by many of his longtime compadres!

  I brought home a CD that contains most of the songs I heard, some performed, 15 years later, by the same performer I heard. The CD booklet contains the words as well as brief stories by each performer. A tiny booklet of Texas musical history. Produced in 1998 by Deep South Productions, the CD is available by calling 512-441-3045. Every aficionado of Texas music should have this recording.

  I also met the owners of Lost Art Productions and brought home a recording of Bill Neely, the master of Jimmie Rodgers music, and a performer at the Kerrville Folk Festival in years past. Lost Art also has a CD of Blaze Foley Live at the Outhouse.

I played the Bill Neeley recording and was reminded how much I love country blues. I heard his famous “Blackland Farm” song, along with his story of meeting Jimmie Rodgers. Neeley played the Kerrville Folk Festival with Kenneth Threadgill several times. This recording is a beautiful tribute to another time and to the timeless music that Bill, and others, recorded.

  Last on your mind is the reminder to get tickets to the Kerrville Special Events Valentine’s weekend celebration. Music From The Heart, produced by Rod Kennedy, is a winter folk festival featuring a songwriters circle on Saturday, February 14, at 1:00 p.m. The dance Saturday night features Floyd Domino, Sister Morales and a guest appearance by Johnny Gimble. All four shows during the weekend are available in a package that costs $189 only. With rooms, $289. Not a bad deal at all.

  Also ahead is a two-evening stint at the Hill Country Opry by Guy Clark, author of too many songs to even list here. A few include “Desperados Waitin’ For a Train,” “Heartbroke,” “Randall Knife,” “L.A. Freeway” and more. The intimate setting of the Opry makes that $30 ticket price seem like a steal for what you actually get.

  I put in my Blaze CD now each day driving into Schreiner. I love “If I Could Only Fly,” also recorded by Merle Haggard as the title cut on his last album. I heard love songs and songs of the homeless. Mandy Mercier sang a great song about all the homeless groups in this country, including the first pioneers. A good time was had by all.

  Sunday, February 1, I stopped at Maria’s Taco Express on South Lamar for the gospel and blues show. Sara Brown, Shelley King, Papa Mali and Paul Mills did not disappoint. We rocked, downing our tasty tacos, as the group sang “We got Jesus on the mainline. Ask him what you want.” I also love the Fred McDowell song, “You got to move,” also recorded well by Keith Richards. The highlight was Shelley King singing “Amazing Grace,” and Papa Mali adding some Hendricksesque guitar licks.

  Shelley comes to the Schreiner coffeehouse on March 3. Don’t miss this shooting star. Happy Trails and down the road.   

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