Music Monday: It Ain’t Easy Being Me by Chris Knight

Our long national nightmare is almost over.  Chris Knight has a new album, Almost Daylight, out on Friday.  It is hard to believe that it has been seven years since his financial crisis opus, Little Victories, let alone that I have been a Chris Knight fan for over a decade now.

Music Monday: The Gougers and The Trishas

My music bucket list isn’t that long.  I’ve done pretty well at seeing the musicians I really want to see.  But musicians die.  I remain immensely gratified I saw Chris LeDoux before he died.  And bands break up.  I missed out on both The Gougers and The Trishas.

New Music Friday: TEXAS by Rodney Crowell

Along with Chris LeDoux and Charlie Robison, Rodney Crowell was one of my earliest introductions to indie country.  A buddy of mine from college came back from a summer internship with a record company raving about I Walk the Line Revisited.  Last year I featured Crowell’s song Telephone Road, from his 2001 album The Houston Kid.  I am happy to feature some new music.  (Crowell was also one of the young turk songwriters who would hit Nashville and provide much of the motive force behind the outlaw country movement; he’s been around for a while.)

Out yesterday: TEXAS by Rodney Crowell.

Music Monday: Hell Ain’t Half Full by Chris Knight and Methhead by Ian Noe

Something I want to do more of with my Music Monday posts (back now after a Game of Thrones induced hiatus!) is to feature two songs together that cover similar themes and subject matter.  Today’s subject is meth, and the scene is killing people who screw around with meth.

New Music Friday: Hellbent by the Randy Rogers Band

The Randy Rogers Band is quintessential Texas country, if one of the few quintessential country acts I never caught live during my time in Houston.  Any day with a new Randy Rogers Band album is a good day.

Out today: Hellbent by the Randy Rogers Band.

Music Monday: 17 by Cross Canadian Ragweed

Going back to your small hometown after you’ve left is a funny thing.  It is a significant theme in one of my current reads, Empire Falls by Richard Russo.  I’ve been gone for almost twenty years now, although I did three short stints during that period crashing at home.  I think I am finally past always feeling 17 in my hometown (and clenching up every single time I see the cops).  Having a baby will do that to you.  But with a roadtrip home impending, my thoughts are turning to my hometown and my old friends.

Music Monday: In the Meantime by Chris Knight

Happy tax day!  I hope you took the advice of one of the patron saints of Hillbilly Highways and made sure to “render unto Caesar no more than you got to.”