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2009 Travel Guide

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Texas Music

Local Musicians

Most remote gig in Texas you have ever played?

I performed for some new friends this year around a fire pit of a bunkhouse at a beautiful ranch south of Valentine in West Texas.

What’s your definition of Texas music?

Some might say it’s country, some might say it’s western swing; maybe it’s Texas blues, maybe it’s Tejano music. But I don’t believe that there’s any one defining quality that would make music distinctly “Texas”. I feel like Texas is capable of producing almost any kind of music, and perhaps the best thing one could say about it is that Texas music cannot be defined.

Best place to see Texas music?

In Austin, there are several great places to see music: I've seen great shows at the Paramount Theatre, the Long Center for the Performing Arts, the Backyard, One World Theatre… and of course there's Momo's, Saxon Pub, Cactus Café. Outside of Austin, one might check out the Belmont Hotel in Dallas for their "Barefoot" concert series, the Iron Horse Pub in Wichita Falls, Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, or the Mucky Duck in Houston. These are all great venues, but ultimately, the best places are those where the artist and the audience have an opportunity to enjoy another.

Favorite Texas album?

Spoon’s 2002 release, Kill the Moonlight

Place you’d take someone who’s never been to Texas?

I’d bring them to Austin. I’d want to give people the opportunity to see, perhaps, a side of Texas that they wouldn’t normally expect, and Austin is as diverse as any place, culturally and geographically. Although culturally speaking, we could always do better…

Where in Texas feels most unlike Texas?

Texas (especially Austin) is a passionately independent place, and we pride ourselves on our distinctive and unique cultural landscape.

Best four-day Texas vacation?

I just spent 10 days out in Big Bend country in between Marfa and Fort Davis, and really enjoyed the openness, the wildlife, the history, and I imagine that if I had four days in Texas, I’d spend them there.

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