James McMurtry, author Larry McMurtry's son. Songs don't get better than Choctaw Bingo. He's over in Austin. A true storyteller. I've driven on the Oklahoma roads he speaks of here.
Here is an old one from Hayes Carll. Don't think this one got much am radio air time. A pretty funny old time music video. Even has a Shroud of Turin reference.
Re: Hayes Carll, the mutton chop guy in that video is Jesse Dayton. His live show is one of the best I've seen, and while he might be a little too honky tonk/rockabilly for "people who don't like 'country music'," I think he's worth a listen:
Ray Wylie Hubbard is also one of my faves. His songs are often the opposite of a "good" radio song, with odd structure, no true chorus, and "talk singing." Love his songs and his lyrics, though. Couple more:
This song, The Messenger, has a few of my favorite lines of lyrics:
I've worn out my welcome, in certain small circles
Spanish bordellos, and confederate states
All the true believers are on the road tonight
No matter what happens, you know they'll be okay
And to the rock and roll gypsies may the last song you sing,
Be by Townes Van Zandt, down in old Santa Fe
Like that last one because of theirs a true believer, it's Ray Wylie. If you like him at all, he's worth following on Facebook. Posts these rambling, lengthy posts every now and then about road life, like this one:
Quote:
"okay. we've played an hour, got another 45, 50 minutes left plus an encore if i feel you've earned it, so we ain't cuttin' the set short but we driving back to austin after the gig so if you want any merch..get it from aaron between now and when i start 'wanna rock and roll' cause when he hears me start that..ray mart is closed and he gonna pack up them cds and shirts and whatever else i got over there and once all that stuff is in the case, it cannot be opened up again..now i will hang out after we done and sign stuff and do pictures and explain some of my weird lyrics if you ask but i won't name the dancer in 'mother blues'..judy was the door girl, not the dancer in case you missed it and we got a 4 hour drive so get your stuff now.."
wow, ray..kinna out there..you really did that during your show?
yep.
did anyone get upset?
naw. man, they was great. they earned the encore and i stayed around and met a bunch of really nice people while aaron and kyle packed up and we were driving off 28 minutes after the final e chord, kick drum died from choctaw bingo with everything loaded up plus a bag of oatmeal cookies from ms. wrecks bell..
and then..and then..we come up on a train stopped on the tracks..
arggggghhh.
and cars pulled up behind us and we couldn't turn around..5 minutes..10 minutes..then it moved and next stop, luling. hit all the lights in san marcus and walked in the door at 3:02..we didn't speed either..just didn't stop.
pulling trigger on artwork today (thats a hollywood film term i think which means can't change it now)
the album is called "the ruffian's misfortune." it follows in the footsteps of 'the grifter's hymnal' and is the second in the trilogy. all new songs but it wallows in the same mud..
still looking at april release.
so friday is armadillo bizarre and sat is hat tricks..lucas back in the band for those and then new years eve at the rncc..
thanks galveston. we had a time.
yours truly,
rwh
Ray Wylie's college-age son is his guitarist, which I think is pretty cool. In this song he talks about his first guitar, a "gold top Les Paul," that his son still plays:
Alright, that's all my Ray Wylie love for now. I just think he's great. Finding that last video reminded how awesome David Letterman's musical tastes are. He's had great country bands that really aren't that big (or before they were big) that wouldn't be booked on other shows, like Kacey Musgraves (before she blew up this year), Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Ray Wylie, Elizabeth Cook, and those are who I can remember. Ray Wylie tells a great story about how Letterman wanted him and personally requested a couple of songs, and this is how Ray Wylie's booking agent responded:
Quote:
And the booking agent goes, “Well let me make sure he’s not playing a happy hour gig in Waco, those things are hard to re-schedule.”
Another big omission from the list - Lucinda Williams - getting a little hoarse on the last few songs I've heard but that could have been the production.
Question - anyone heard Kimmy Rhodes album "West Texas Heaven" that had a bunch of folks sitting in like Willie, Townes, Waylon, etc. One of the best IMO. It always goes into my bag when I drive to Vegas (its about a 10 CD trip from here). Kind of lost track of her - but this thread prompted me to check out a couple of her more recent CDs. Just ordered them.
[QUOTE=kioshk;45539948]James McMurtry, author Larry McMurtry's son. Songs don't get better than Choctaw Bingo. He's over in Austin. A true storyteller. I've driven on the Oklahoma roads he speaks of here. QUOTE]
Another one of my favorites - "Can't make it here any more". He's also in the bag on the LV trips.
I don't get the hate for FGL and other modern day country acts. Sure it's a world of difference compared to Conway Twitty and George Jones, but most non olds seem to be ok with it.
I don't get the hate for FGL and other modern day country acts. Sure it's a world of difference compared to Conway Twitty and George Jones, but most non olds seem to be ok with it.
I had never heard them (LOL Euro) but nah they are ****ing awful.
Calling Florida-Georgia Line country is like calling a dog a world leader after it walks up to the United Nations Headquarters and takes a **** on the sidewalk.
