1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: Okay, double Elvis. In a situation familiar to many openers, 2 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,959 Speaker 1: John Van Dever found himself before a rowdy crowd in 3 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: the late nineties seventies demanding that he get off stage 4 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: and that Bob Marley take his place immediately. The Folks singer, 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: looking like a youthful Santa Claus, gently cradled his acoustic 6 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: guitar to his right side after his second song, and 7 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: with a smile, grabbed the mic. Y'all, nobody wants to 8 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: see Bob Marley more than I do. That's why I 9 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: got the best seat in the house. Now, I've been 10 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: hired to play forty five minutes before the Whalers come on, 11 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna do it. Now. Y'all can sit there 12 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: and yell for Bob Marley, where you can kick back, 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: burn one and enjoy the show. Well. One good thing 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: about music is that when a gentlemannered performer with a 15 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: bluesy punk soul vocal hits you with some true you 16 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: feel no pain. The crowd was with Vanderver for the 17 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: rest of the set, and in the end demanded and encore. 18 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: It's a telling story of Vanderver's power and artistic heart. 19 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: Tragically He was murdered in the mid nineteen eighties alongside 20 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 1: his girlfriend in what is thought to be a mistake 21 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: in high level drug robbery. But his magnetism, gentleness, and 22 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: talent persists, and it infiltrates this city to this day, 23 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 1: adding to the lord this town has to the songwriter, 24 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: the wandering troubadors looking to prove their true grit in 25 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: a place where the locals speak with such a rhythm 26 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 1: and musicality that you better have a good story, or 27 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: at least a well crafted version of the truth to tell. 28 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: I can see the old crowd laughing so loud, Lord, 29 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: I miss Alma loved once so dear. From the cold, 30 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: rocky mountains of Denver, I can almost see Houston from here, 31 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: Bobby Bear, written by Ray Willis. Houston was founded in 32 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: eighteen thirty six on a hot and muddy land near 33 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: the banks of Buffalo Bayou now known as Alan's Landing. 34 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: The location on this slow as molasses waterway winding way 35 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: down towards the Gulf of Mexico, made it a hub 36 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: for transportation and trade. However, water was in Houston's only 37 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: profitable liquid. Just underfoot was a whole lot of that 38 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: bubbling kinetic dinosaur juice that we choke on and that 39 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: makes the world go round. Crude oil about five hundred 40 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: million years worth was waiting underneath, ready to get tapped 41 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: like a keg. And when it was that black gold 42 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: created the gravity of a black hole. And with the 43 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: oil shooting skyward, this Texas boom and its electric promise 44 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: of opportunity drew the people towards Houston with the burning 45 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: intensity of a celestial object, stories and song in tow 46 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: Forty four thousand Black Americans migrating out of the South, 47 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: Mexican Americans, and Asian Americans all rolled into Houston with 48 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: their music, their faith, and their food, transforming it from 49 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: a trade post mud pit into the fourth largest and 50 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: one of the most culturally diverse cities in America. On 51 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: any night in Houston, you can hear the sounds of 52 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: this distinctly American musical tapestry emanating from every ward in 53 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: the city. Blues occasion, ziego, country, hip hop to Hano folk. 54 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: It's all equally at home in each town. And speaking 55 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: of celestial objects, is it any coincidence that NASA's headquarters 56 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 1: to explore the Final Frontier is located in Houston, Texas 57 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: the frontier state ground Control is telling Major Tom I 58 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: think not. Folks got to calling Houston the Manhattan of 59 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: the South, which is quite interesting because Houston actually has 60 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: more concentrated seating for performing arts than anywhere else in 61 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: the country, with the exception of you guessed it, Broadway 62 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: seats where you can and or could have seen the 63 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: likes of Destiny's Child, Lyla Wind, Butler, Clinton Zz Jamilian, 64 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: Lightning Hop, Hilary, Steve, Rodney, kraw Megan v Stallly, Kenny Rods, 65 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: Kelly Roll, Chris with Barbara Mandre, Vincebeck, Gangster, Robert Last, 66 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: DJ Spruce s gar Casey, musk ra Zero car Robert Earle, 67 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: Keene and Beyonce. So Houston Star Date. I don't know, 68 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: but here on Earth it's nifty two. Big Mama Thornton 69 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: is recording a little song called hound Dog, a low, 70 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: double entendre masterpiece about throwing a jigglo out of her 71 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: house that sold half a million copies and spent fourteen 72 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: weeks topping the R and B charts. Not bad. Four 73 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: years later, though, a singer on the Ups named Elvis 74 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: made his own version to Jivy two and the screaming began, 75 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: riots ensued. Such is the power of a song. This 76 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: is the moment R and B in the blues cross 77 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: pollinate a different groove, thus declaring rock and roll's arrival. 78 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: Talk about gravity, the song was the epicenter of a 79 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: new universe. Also in the nineteen fifties and the fifth 80 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: ward of Houston, Clifton Shane one of the many Louisianians 81 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: who had migrated to the Bayou city from New Orleans, 82 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: who was onto a new sound combining French creole music 83 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: with R and B stylings. They called it zydeco and 84 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: he became its king. And then there's sugar Hill Studios, 85 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: the oldest continuously operating studio in the United States. It 86 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,239 Speaker 1: has helped launch the careers of Lightning Hopkins, the Big Bopper, 87 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: Destiny's Child, George Jones, and Freddie Fender, and also Beyonce 88 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: maybe you've heard of her, But there's more. In the 89 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: sprawl of Houston, there's plenty of room for the folk 90 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: singer songwriter scene, which played a pivotal stop on the 91 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: journey for musicians building their chops and moving on to 92 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,119 Speaker 1: experience the bright lights of Nashville, including Towns, Van Zandt, 93 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Moucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Nancy Griffith. 94 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: I mean, if it's capturing Steve Earle and holding the 95 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: heart of Beyonce, then you've also felt the orbital pull 96 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: of Houston, Texas. This is Sound of Our Town, a 97 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: podcast about the music that shaped the cities of America. 98 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: It's about where you are going and where you want 99 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: to go to find here and feel the best music 100 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: happening right now, What sounds and places of shape the 101 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 1: city's culture, and what new sounds continue to define it. 102 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: It's about getting together in a room to listen and 103 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: why that matters. So whether you're quickly dropping in, landing 104 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: for a long stay, or longing for more musical connection. 105 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: In each episode of Sound of Our Town, I'll introduce 106 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: you to the real places in sonic stories echoing in 107 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: a particular city, so that your travel is enriched with music. 108 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: My name is will Daily. I'm an independent songwriter and performer. 109 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: I've had the good life and graceful struggle of playing 110 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: everywhere and anywhere for the past twenty years. With this 111 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: first season of Sound of Our Town, we are visiting 112 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 1: ten cities and twelve episodes. This is episode nine, and 113 00:06:47,800 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: we're going to Houston, Texas. If you take the highway 114 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: far enough out into the prairie, away from the hazy 115 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,359 Speaker 1: lights and oil fields of the city, you will be 116 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: greeted by the stars. Sure, maybe summer satellites or space stations, 117 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: but locate ursa major and follow the edge of the 118 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: Big Dipper to the North Star. If you have excellent vision, 119 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,559 Speaker 1: you might be able to see Towns of van Zand 120 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: a true Texas music legend waving back at you from 121 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: Pilaris his sound waves of wild heartbreak rambling through the cosmos. 122 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: Towns a cult singer, songwriter, bad boy with a heart 123 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: of gold, kind of hero, never signed the big record deal, 124 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: yet is considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time. 125 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: Just ask his friends Emmy Lou Harris Merle Haggard, Guy Clark, 126 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: or Willie Nelson. Towns did say the sky is full 127 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: of songs just waiting to be pulled in. While he 128 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: was pulling Poncho and Lefty and waiting around to die 129 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: down from the atmosphere, he was also pulling in a 130 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: cult of devoted songwriter disciples into his orbit. Each dying 131 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: to capture the magical warm heart, humor, despair and risk, 132 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: and his music artists just want to get closer and 133 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: closer to the truth when you deal with it in songs. 134 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: You have seen in seventy one such devoted protege making 135 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: a Houston pilgrimage was Steve Earle. Earl crashed a party 136 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy two for the birthday of Jerry Jeff Walker, 137 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: who was turning thirty three years old. Relentless and determined, 138 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: a seventeen year old Steve Earl hitchhikes to the party. 139 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: It's an action that hopefully everyone on earth has done 140 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,319 Speaker 1: for love, just trying to put yourself within the possible 141 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: path of your desire, hoping that the stars a line 142 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 1: and you get your shot. Well, any life or in 143 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: the musical arts has done the same for the love 144 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: of a scene or their idol. Earl posted up at 145 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: the party, towing the line between networking and not getting 146 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: kicked out by the birthday boy. And sometime around two am, 147 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: just when Steve thought his hustle was up, the front 148 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: door kicked open and Towns van z Aunt came crashing 149 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: through it, dragging the night behind him looking like it 150 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: cost him to do what he does. Sometimes that is 151 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: what we love an artist to be. A heroic reflection 152 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: of the struggle, gravity was re established around a new 153 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: star of the party. Van's aunt quickly took to a 154 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: game of craps and lost every dime he had along 155 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: with his beautiful buckskin jacket. Earl didn't share a word 156 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: with him that night. He didn't need to. He found 157 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 1: his hero and now it's your turn to crash Houston. 158 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: Right after this, when I traveled to Houston for this episode, 159 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: I had the best sound from my current favorites. Postonos. 160 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: Rome is an ultra portable smart speaker that is about 161 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: six inches tall and weighs less than a pound, so 162 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: it fits in your suitcase, your backpack, or your Fannie pack. 163 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: And when I dropped the suitcase down the escalator, I 164 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: didn't even have to work because of Rome has a 165 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: shock resistant design that protects it from falls or bumps 166 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: on hard surfaces. It was everything else that broke a 167 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: room was totally fine. My favorite feature is how long 168 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: a Rome battery lasts. No matter if you're on the 169 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: go or if you just forget to charge your room, 170 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: you can still enjoy listening to your favorite podcasts and 171 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 1: music for up to ten hours. And if you can't 172 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: find an outlet, you can charge your room in no 173 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: time with the custom designed wireless charger. So get rome 174 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: and get ready for your next adventure. Learn more in 175 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 1: shop three new exclusive colors at Sonos dot com. So 176 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: you've taken the Southwest Freeway or Highway fifty nine, or 177 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: a bus or train, or you rode a horse across 178 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: the plains into Houston. You just get there like your 179 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: seventeen year old Steve Earl Chase in the music. And 180 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: when you do, you will immediately start sweating. It is hot. Also, 181 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: it's probably hurricane season, so there's that. Being on the 182 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: Gulf of Mexico, you technically have now entered a humid 183 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: subtropical climate. But I digress. The point is you need 184 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: to unwind with a cold beverage and unclenched your weary body. 185 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: It's time to figure out your first stop. I suggest 186 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: you head to Midtown and find Axle Rat. If you 187 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: are thirsty, Axle Rat is ready to water you. It's 188 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: a beer garden, it's a music venue. It's a hammock 189 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: grove underneath a neon tree. No hallucinogenics involved. I'm not 190 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: a botanist, but there is a neon tree there. It's real, 191 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: and there's over thirty beers on tap and about a 192 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: hundred more bottled somewhere in the back of this once 193 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: upon a time grocery store from the mid twenties. You're 194 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,839 Speaker 1: bound to get whatever your liquid itch you have scratched. 195 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: Like it's grocery store beginnings. Everyone is welcome, even dogs. 196 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: Since it opened in it has been a true community 197 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: hank spot and loves nothing more than featuring the best 198 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: local players while holding a hundred and fifty patrons. The 199 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: intimate floral decre immediately washes away the stress that comes 200 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: with getting anywhere these days, and the music at Axle 201 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: Rat is curated by Wonky Power Records, the local Latino 202 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: owned music production company that has been serving the kind 203 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: of diverse and talented nights to the venue that reflect 204 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: the melting pot of Houston, featuring some of the hottest 205 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: Houston musicians. Depending on the day you mosey in, you 206 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: might catch Cumbia Music Night with Sombayou, or maybe La Witch, 207 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: or here Kermit Rough and shredding on his trumpet As 208 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: you unwind underneath and neon tree. Some starlight that reaches 209 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: our eyes has long since burned out. Once upon a 210 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: time in Houston, one could open their front door and 211 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: wind up in a honky talk bar. Washed away the 212 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: workday with a cold, one ask someone to dance, and 213 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: spend the evening holding them tight for a two steps. 214 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: But those rooms have burned up upon entry into the 215 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: twenty one century, which makes the light of this stress 216 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: free spot shine even brighter. Shoe Shine Charlie's Big Top Lounge. 217 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: It looks like someone gave up halfway trying to convert 218 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: a toy store into a bar. It is the local 219 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: extension of the Continental Club, which is a more upscale, 220 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: big sibling room that in the past was integral for 221 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,079 Speaker 1: acts like Stevie Ray, Vaughan and Double Trouble and Paul 222 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: Ray and the Cobras. The Big Top came to life 223 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: when vintage circus paintings were found preserved on the walls, 224 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: and soon discovered that the building was home to Playhouse Toys, 225 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: a Houston institution for many years beginning in the nineteen forties. 226 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,079 Speaker 1: The name is a tribute to the master of ceremonies. 227 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: Shoe Shine Charlie Miller. Charlie was pulled down to Houston 228 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: as soon as the new Continental Club was up and 229 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 1: running to lend a hand to the manager, Pete Gordon. Really, 230 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: he was there to whip him into shape and give 231 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: him hell, as well as keep all the musicians in 232 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: line too. Everyone who knew Charlie loved and adored him, 233 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: but they would never risk the backlash standing too close 234 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: to a shine Stand nicknamed Pitiful without getting a buff. 235 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: His band introductions were legend dairy and a true honor 236 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: when Charlie would bring them up on stage and butcher 237 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: their names like Ali Hondo, Escalator, or loudly and proudly 238 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: announcing Jonathan Richmond on stage at the Continental Club as 239 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: Jonathan Winters. Charlie has passed, but as shine Stand watches 240 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: over the Big Top nightly with pride, especially on their 241 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: no cover Tuesdays for Christopher Seymour's Horny Tonk Knights. Seymour, 242 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: a songwriter from the rolling pine covered hills up state 243 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: South Carolina, also felt the polt to Houston. There is 244 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: a golden era tamper Pepper throughout his show and a 245 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: hell of a good time, but you can feel the 246 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: lineage listening to the band play and Big Top on 247 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: a Tuesday night. It's a divine no cover stop and 248 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: two stepping is strongly encouraged. The nerves, or the common 249 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: name the butterflies. They don't arrive and take over the performer. 250 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: The same for every show venue or stage. Some gigs 251 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: are infest it with butterflies and some not at all. 252 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: It's possible there is only one little pack that just 253 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: travels around artists to artists, delivering anxiety to every performer 254 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: waiting in a green room. But some venues have their 255 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: very own species of relentless butterfly nerves, like those curated 256 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: and bread. Over the fifty plus years that Anderson Fair 257 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: retail restaurant has existed against all the odds, standing the 258 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: test of time for all those songwriters that just want 259 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: to step into a simple spotlight before a blissful, silent dark. 260 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: Decades of music has passed down generation to generation in 261 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: the Montrose area of Houston, an ideal nesting ground for butterflies. 262 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: They've staggered, drunk on whiskey and unwelcome from the belly 263 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: of towns Van's Aunt into the mouth of Nancy Griffith 264 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: to sober up and then dance a little closer in 265 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: the heart of Guy Clark as he sang, ain't no 266 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: money of poetry. That's what sets the poet free. I've 267 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: had all the freedom I can stand a line that 268 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: only strengthens the swarm. They know they can get to you, 269 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: because there is a galaxy worth of artists who will 270 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: do this no matter what, as long as there is 271 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: a building with a stage to stand on in a fair, 272 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: as the regulars call it still stands with the help 273 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: of every hammer, every nail, and every volunteer over the years, 274 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: being the most significant room in the state of Texas 275 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: for the solo acoustic performer. In the nineteen seventies, when 276 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: it really was a little village, the sign could say close, 277 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: but there will be thirty people inside. It was a 278 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: world inside a bubble. So this gaggle of butterflies have 279 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: spent time in the hearts and minds of Robert Earl, 280 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: Keane Slade Cleaves and Rambling Jack Elliott, leaving their mark 281 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: even after you left the stage. Because if you want 282 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: to come back again to play Anderson Fair, you better 283 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: have a new song. You better have too, not for 284 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: the radio or mass consumption, but a song to share 285 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: that isn't for everyone, but a song for someone or something. 286 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: The but her flies got to Lucinda Williams and tried 287 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: to get those seeds that would bear the fruits of 288 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: her labors. Their tireless wings added more weight into the 289 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 1: poetry of Eric Taylor's lyrics, and they did try with 290 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: John Vanderver, but he seemed to enjoy their company a 291 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 1: little too much. And then there's the young journalist who 292 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: had been covering shows and artists for the college paper. 293 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: When Lyle Lovett finally got his shot at opening a 294 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: show and not just writing about it. If he never 295 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: got down, he stayed up there for years, harnessing those 296 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: monarchs and blue wings until he was ready to take 297 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: his songs to the rest of the country. I'm sure 298 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: some a fair butterflies went with him, but certainly not 299 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: all in that kaleidoscope of flutters would disperse if they 300 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: ever saw towns Van's aunt approach the rickety front door again. 301 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: Some legends are beyond their sway, fostering artists like Griffith 302 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: and love It for the rest of the country to 303 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: fall in love with. In the nineteen eighties, only encourage 304 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 1: the power of the jitters you get approaching the stage 305 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: at a fair. Now they are relentless. They have all 306 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: that history built up in their wings and their cocky 307 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: as hell, all because of the songs and the songwriters 308 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 1: that have taken the stage and instilled the legacy a 309 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: true listening room where they have, on occasion handed money 310 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: back to a talker so they can enjoy their night elsewhere. 311 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: But it rarely happens. It feels too good to be there, 312 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: like arriving at a family home preparing the most important 313 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: meal of the day. Artists don't covet the stage at 314 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 1: Anderson Fair for money or fame. They get up there 315 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 1: to live and who doesn't want to listen to that? Now? 316 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: I can't ask you to waste your time in search 317 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: engines looking for good food in this gumpo of cultures 318 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: responsible for one of the best food scenes in the country. 319 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: There are over ten thousand restaurants representing cuisine for more 320 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: than seventy countries. So let me just narrow it down 321 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: to a manageable level and get you fed with the 322 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: pre and post concert eat First Up Street Kitchen a 323 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: true hidden gem, and please don't tell our other hidden gem. 324 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 1: I said that there are seven tables. It seats maybe 325 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: thirty people tops, and it's in Houston's hip East End. Now, 326 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: to be a Thai restaurant and call yourself street to 327 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 1: kitchen means you plan to bring the real deal. It's 328 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: the brainchild of chef Ben Chawan Painter and Graham Painter. 329 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: They bring fresh, authentic Thai food and spirit to Houston. 330 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: Not that water down, sugarloaded americanized tie where you pat 331 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: yourself on the bag for a little spice, but a 332 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: place where the spice actually has flavor and dimension. And 333 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: then there's your post show. Maybe you've gone to some 334 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: classic rooms in town already announced late and you realized 335 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: you're starting for top notch late night Vietnamese in midtown. 336 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,239 Speaker 1: My restaurant is a Houston institution serving out of this 337 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: world Foe stir fried noodles and traditional Vietnamese food long 338 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: into the night on the weekends, and you won't be alone. 339 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 1: It's a below of your family owned restaurant that's been 340 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: serving the late and early crowds since the nineteen seventies. 341 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Bourdain called their Foe the best in America. Steaming 342 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: bowl will be your best bet to refuel your jets 343 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: after a night of club hopping around town, and there 344 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: are many ways to melt your face in Houston just 345 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 1: being there. It's likely to happen. Some nights you need 346 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: the truth and wet and weariness of a songwriter to 347 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: shadow your heart and thus make it whole. Other nights, 348 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: you're willing to sacrifice a few brain cells to get 349 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: your hair blown back by a hard hitting rock band. 350 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: I get it. So I'd like to suggest a location 351 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: where you can align this melting of the body with 352 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,959 Speaker 1: the melting that a great night of music will catalyze 353 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: within you. Plan an evening at the White Oak Music Hall, 354 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: a beautiful new complex built in two thousand and sixteen. 355 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: It's a major stop for national acts hitting the highways, 356 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: as well as the most talented local and regional cats 357 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: in the area. There are three different stages in this 358 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: one venue, providing a Goldilocks frame of how to get 359 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: melted if you are in the mood for a show 360 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: under the stars and the Big Texas Sky. The Lawn 361 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: stage is an outdoor amphitheater type of setup which can 362 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: hold three thousand folks and has a gorgeous view of 363 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: the Bayou in the Houston skyline. It also has a 364 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: cross berreeze, which on a hot night in Texas is 365 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: like striking oil. The big names come through here Tam 366 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: and Pola, Flaming Lips, Vampire Weekend, Glass Animals, and Deaf Tones. 367 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: Head inside and you've got two increasingly intimate options upstairs 368 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: or downstairs. Downstairs is the music hall, and here, within 369 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: the wood paneled walls with a sound and warmth reverberates, 370 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: three hundred to one thousand people can commune in song 371 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: and or dance. An approachable stage with excellent sight lines 372 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: and a two tiered bar are ready for you to 373 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 1: see the likes of Leon Bridges, Marcus Mumford, Two Chains, 374 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 1: Mitsky and Purity Ring. And if you are still craving 375 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: a room with more snuggle, head upstairs to the stage 376 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: room for the most intimate of settings. This one will 377 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: surely fit just right. You went up to two hundred 378 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: of your closest friend can gather around to hear the 379 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 1: notes between the notes from troubadours, local acts and rockers 380 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: with a soft touch like William Fitzsimmons, Charlotte Sands and 381 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: Man Man. It's important to remember that a good face 382 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: melting comes in all decibels and sizes. A city with 383 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: so many seats in rooms is a challenge to establish 384 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: which exactly gets the distinction of the Vatican of Houston 385 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: such a big town kind of feel like on the 386 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: other way with it, we stopped at some very big 387 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: rooms this season. Maybe it's time to ignore size and 388 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:38,239 Speaker 1: get a ticket to influence. Since mcgonagall's Mucky Duck has 389 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 1: been pulling in the singer songwriters and troubadours of independent music. 390 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: Without this room and Anderson Fair, it's hard to imagine 391 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: Houston having such a rich history when it comes to 392 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: singer songwriters and mcgonagall's Mucky Duck. You're up close, and 393 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 1: when I say close, I mean you're sitting on the 394 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,719 Speaker 1: lap of the performer. Imagine if your cool friend had 395 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: a very large living room, installed an excellent sound system, 396 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: created a chill and subtle nightclub vibe, and build a 397 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 1: stage to host first class performers. You would want to 398 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 1: be there and you would feel at home. Except they 399 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: have a much fuller bar than your friend, and a 400 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: friendly waite staff who come table side, ever so quietly, 401 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 1: to take your order before and during the show. The 402 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: Duck what the locals call it, encourages patrons to arrive 403 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 1: an hour early to find their table, get comfortable and 404 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 1: order some food and drink. It's an Irish pub that 405 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 1: doubles as an intimate venue. You fit in with a 406 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 1: guinness and some fish and chips. It's a family affair here, 407 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: so if you don't have someone to drop the kids 408 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: off with, you can bring them along, provided they can 409 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: behave with a proper decorum during the show. No kids 410 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 1: that need iPads. Once the lights go down, prepared to 411 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: have your spirit and soul quenched by the music presented 412 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: in the truest and purest form. There's nowhere to hide. 413 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: There is no stage show. It's just the audience and 414 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: the performers, pure and simple, the most essential elements. There 415 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: is a simple philosophy for this family owned business run 416 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: by Rusty and Teresa Andrews. Make the artists the customers 417 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: feel welcome and appreciated. They've always put a premium on 418 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: nurturing up and coming artists and helping them build a falling. 419 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 1: This is on display during their Monday night open mic 420 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: where locals and maybe you have an opportunity to get 421 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,880 Speaker 1: up on stage and work their craft in a sympathetic environment. 422 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: The stage is boasted past acts like j. J. Kale, 423 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: Terry Allan, Zach Brown, and Richie Havens, to name just 424 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: a few, and the calendar is always packed with a 425 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: wide range of performers. And in good fashion, they have 426 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: kept their Irish pub roots alive by hosting Tannehill, Weavers, Soulless, 427 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: and Maura O'Connell. This Vatican stop as another testament to 428 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 1: a city that loves their songwriters. We've all heard the 429 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: saying everything is bigger in Texas, But what is it 430 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: exactly that's bigger. Is it the land mass, the number 431 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: of rattlesnakes, the hair, the sky, the dreams? The answer 432 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: is yes to all of the above, so core it 433 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: makes sense that Houston also hosts the biggest rodeo event 434 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: in the world that happens to be a twenty day 435 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: music festival that features the brightest stars in music. Truly, 436 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 1: if you want to immerse yourself in the event that 437 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: proves Texas is bigger, get your calendar situated anywhere from 438 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: the end of February through mid March for the Houston 439 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: Live Stock Show and Rodeo, an event where you can 440 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: actually buy a cow or watch cowboys riding rough stock 441 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: and barrel men running for their lives. And once the 442 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:35,160 Speaker 1: dust settles in, the stage lights switch on the likes 443 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: of Gwen Stefani, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, kaled To Knee Tijuana, 444 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: or Marion Morris will serenade you into the evening. It's 445 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: wild and richly Texans. This event also raises tons of 446 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: money for Texas youth educational programs and has been a 447 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 1: real institution here in Houston since nineteen thirty two. But 448 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: if Rodeo's really aren't your thing, maybe the We Are 449 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: One Fest is the calendar event for you. In mid November, 450 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: this event turns the Eleanor Tinsley Park into a two 451 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: day dance party. The One Fest is the brainchild of 452 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: local musicians who saw a hole in that great, big 453 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: lone star sky that needed some filling, a place where E, D, M, 454 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: rap and hip hop could all crash into each other 455 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: in a glorious cacophony of beats and verse and vibe. 456 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 1: Art is also a huge part of this festival, and 457 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: local muralists and street artists like Amber Slaughter and Rachel 458 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: Harvey turned the scene into a wild technicolor dream with 459 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:34,119 Speaker 1: a creation of live installation and art pieces while the 460 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 1: Baby Gucci, Maine Grimes, Poppy Chief Keith in Virtual Wall 461 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:41,479 Speaker 1: turn up the dial to ten and keep the crowd 462 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 1: vibrating for the next forty eight hours. Make sure to 463 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: keep an eye on the dates, as this sometimes as 464 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: held in May, but has been moving the timing around 465 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: the past couple of years, and now we have our 466 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: hit in gem. It's a sultry evening in Houston. Humidity 467 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: index is maybe it's a Tuesday, but it's already been 468 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,199 Speaker 1: a hell of a week, and you're desperate for a 469 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: reprieve from reality, from the bottomless inbox, from the mundanity 470 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,360 Speaker 1: of the day. Times like this, it's important to remember 471 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 1: a good taco, a sweet melody, and a Medelo negro 472 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: can save your soul. You find yourself drawn to the 473 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 1: Warehouse district in the northeast side of downtown. The big, 474 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: blocky buildings have a sort of anonymity that feels comforting 475 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: to your current state of being. Over all of this, 476 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: suddenly you're hit by a ribbon of music sneaking down 477 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 1: the sidewalk and you follow your ears to a building 478 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,400 Speaker 1: with no sign you try to open the orange door, 479 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 1: it's locked. This place is incognito, which only makes you 480 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:40,199 Speaker 1: want to see what's on the other side of the 481 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: portal even more. You realize there is actually a small 482 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: sign and it only says knocked twice. You do. Miraculously, 483 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: somebody lets you in, and it's like you're in one 484 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: of those movies that are in black and white, and 485 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:55,639 Speaker 1: then suddenly it's switched to color. Well, welcome to the 486 00:27:55,720 --> 00:28:00,400 Speaker 1: Last Concert Cafe. It's warm, eccentric, full of bright colors, 487 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: a hodgepodge of influences and art and pink flamingos and 488 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,200 Speaker 1: interconnected dining spaces that empty out into a beautiful open 489 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: air courtyard ending in a stage flanked by palm trees. 490 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: And yes, you will get the music and the medello 491 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: in that coveted taco. The food is on points, serving 492 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:21,400 Speaker 1: authentic homemade text max every night. Local regional and internationally 493 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 1: acclaimed music acts who know to knock twice swing through 494 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: their Victor Wootton Gangs, the Grass and the Whalers could 495 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: be grace in the stage. Billy Gibbons of zz Top 496 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 1: is known to stop by on Thursday nights to catch 497 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 1: tunes and You're likely to run into any number of 498 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: local politicians and artists and weirdos here all in the 499 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: Chill list of moods. It's considered one of the most welcoming, expressive, 500 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: and creative experiences in Houston. Not bad for a place 501 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 1: no one can find with a locked front door. It's 502 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 1: yet another star amongst the Houston skyline that will exert 503 00:28:52,120 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: its magnetic pool, a true hidden gem. Okay, A few 504 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: things to prepare for your trip to Houston. First is 505 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 1: the documentary for the Sake of the Song. It's up 506 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: on YouTube and it's all about Anderson Fair and you 507 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: can hear from Lyle love It, Nancy Griffith, and you 508 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 1: can even see some performances from John van de verg. 509 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: You could also watch Urban Cowboy and see if John 510 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: Travolta is convincing as a cowboy. Or you could read 511 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 1: China Barry Sidewalks by Rodney Crowell. He put down his 512 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: guitar depend this rough and rowdy memoir of a kid 513 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: growing up in dirt poor Houston, something like a nineteen 514 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: fifties version of Tom Sawyer. You'll navigate the backwaters and 515 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: backyards of southeastern Texas with a young Crowell as your 516 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,959 Speaker 1: tour guide. You'll be sitting front row in the beer soaked, 517 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: nicotine stained dance halls as the Houston Kid is exposed 518 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: to the wonders in the life affirming words and rhythm 519 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. 520 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: Soaked in nostalgia, humor and sorrow. It's a full slice 521 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: of American pie, don't Texas Alam Modes style? Uh Yeah. 522 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 1: A couple of months after Steve Earl crashed Jerry Jeff 523 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: Walker's birthday party, he was on stage at the Iconic 524 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 1: Old Quarter getting heckled by a guy in the front 525 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 1: row with requests for Wabash cannonball. Think of it as 526 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: a folk room version of somebody yelling Freebird. Unflinching and 527 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: fearless even at seventeen, Steve Earl looked the heckler in 528 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: the eye, and, as best as one can make eye 529 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: contact with their hero, he delivered a spot on version 530 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: of Town van Zance lyrically complex Mr Mud and Mr 531 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: Gold directly to the songwriter himself. Thus began a friendship, 532 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: one that sustained Earl through his rise of the songwriting ranks. 533 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: Of Houston and beyond. Even after van Zance passing, Earl 534 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: released a cover album of his songs in two thousand 535 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 1: and nine, a connection that also played a role in 536 00:30:53,720 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: saving Steve Earl's life after he watched his hero passed 537 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: two young and fifty two, after a life of excess 538 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: in connection. That's it. That's what this podcast exists for. 539 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: Our digital connections are powerful and far flung, but it 540 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: has nothing on the act of standing in a room, 541 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 1: shoulder to shoulder, face to face. The artist needs it, 542 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 1: the audience is needed. The sonic exploration and creation and 543 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: introspection feeds so much. It's where we find authenticity to 544 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: uncover the vastness of our existence a few chords at 545 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: a time, but with your heart and with style. Like 546 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 1: the constellations have done up above, it maps out our lives. 547 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 1: The songs are more points of light connecting us through 548 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: space and time. The lineage of artists working together, chasing 549 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: each other, drawn to one another, that helps us, bringing everyone, 550 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: every chord, every sound, every word to keep oiling that 551 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: machine that helps us get from moment to moment, town 552 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: to town, heartbreak to crush and back again. The artists 553 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 1: need each other as much as we need you. I 554 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: got a call a few years back to open up 555 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 1: a show for Steve Earle, and I did a couple 556 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: more after that. It was a heavy night for me. 557 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 1: I fell pulled into orbit of not just Earl, but 558 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: of the path. It's hard for us to stay on 559 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 1: our path, no matter what it is. But should the 560 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: fates allow, we all have a ride to hitch in, 561 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 1: a party to crash at some point if we have 562 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: the courage and one more thing. Shortly after the murder 563 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 1: of John Van de Ver, his friend Bill Callings closed 564 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 1: up his one man guitar shop and dedicated himself defining 565 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 1: the murderers. Refusing to let the case for his friend, 566 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: a relatively unknown songwriter and his girlfriend go dark. Callings 567 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: worked with the Houston police to apprehend the killers and 568 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: send them to prison. Turns out the skills acquired for 569 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 1: the meticulous construction and repair of guitars was applicative to 570 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 1: cracking cases, but again it speaks more to the power 571 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 1: of friendship and music. With the ghosts laid to rest, 572 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,720 Speaker 1: the guitar maker returned to his craft and began building 573 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:58,440 Speaker 1: guitars again, and today Callings Guitars currently employs eighty four 574 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: people and make some of the bighest and most renowned 575 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: instruments in the world, turning out three thousand a year. 576 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:08,680 Speaker 1: Bill Collings passed away in two thousand and seventeen. I 577 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 1: feel like he imagined many guitars that he crafted over 578 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: the years in the hands of John vanderver maybe on 579 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 1: stage at Anderson Fair. It is common to say that 580 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: we are defined by our actions and our words. That 581 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 1: may just be a short way to say that we 582 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 1: are defined by who we love, the company that we 583 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 1: keep in the art that we make. Thank you for 584 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:46,960 Speaker 1: listening to episode nine nine of Sound of Our Town. 585 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 1: We got two more cities to visit this season in 586 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:53,239 Speaker 1: one extra episode. That's very special coming your way, and 587 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: we get to keep going. If you share this with 588 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: a friend, if you follow us wherever you listen to podcasts, 589 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 1: and if you leave a review on Apple Podcasts, if 590 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: you want to chat about the music scene in your city, 591 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: hit me up on Instagram at Will Daily Official or 592 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Will Daily. Sound of Our Town is 593 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 1: a production of Double Elvis and I Heart Radio. Hit 594 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 1: us up on I G at Double Elvis and Twitter 595 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 1: at Double Elvis f M. If you want us to 596 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:20,160 Speaker 1: cover your town, your venue, or your backyard. The show 597 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 1: is executive produced by Jake Brennan, Brady Sadler, and Carlikarioli 598 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 1: for Double Elvis. Production assistance by Matt Boden. This show 599 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:30,120 Speaker 1: is created, written, and hosted and scored by me Will Daily. 600 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: Additional writing on this episode by Ed Jurdy and Samantha Ferrell. 601 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,280 Speaker 1: For sources see the show notes. Music for this episode 602 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,239 Speaker 1: was composed and performed by me Will Daily. You can 603 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:41,880 Speaker 1: check out my music on Spotify, Apple, band Camp, and 604 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 1: always at will daily dot com. And now I'm off 605 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 1: to the next gig. I got in the next city 606 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:48,879 Speaker 1: to cover for Sound of Our Town. I will see 607 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:51,560 Speaker 1: you soon and thank you for your ears.