This whole thread has gone.....shall we say..."down a red dirt road".
Kolache Snob '92
Robert Earl Keen last night
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Last: 1 mo ago by LawHall88
Drawkcab said:
Seeing him tonight. Hope it's good!
So how was it?
ElephantRider said:BenFiasco14 said:TXAG 05 said:Philo B 93 said:JD Shellnut said:
Charlie Robinson retires (medical related) and now REK. Really making me feel old. I was fortunate enough to be at Aggieland during the "heyday" of Texas Country.
When was the heyday, and when was the rise and falll?
I graduated in '93. I was there for the debut of grunge, but Texas Country wasn't a recognized genre. A few people knew about "Road goes on Forever" by REK, but I heard a lot more about REM. I guess I was there for the heyday of what we now call "90s Country". Also, Waylon and Johnny were still dropping new tracks.
The early to mid 00s. Charlie Robison, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Roger Creager. Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen were just getting their start. Before every dude that could halfway play a guitar and string some songs together about Texas started showing up and trying to make a go at it.
Heyday? Texas Country is far from dead or fall from falling. All of those guys still tour save Robison but I've seen Robison countless times and came to A&M in 2010.
I got to see the starts of (like playing at Harry's) and now the blow ups of several - Cody Johnson, Turnpike, Eli Young Band, Granger Smith, Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel ….
The genre is far from dead. These are just a few who have gotten big. There's a TON of talent there.
Turnpike is good, but the rest of those guys are meh at best (and I was at A&M the same time you were). They heyday ended before our time.
To each their own. If you think texas country is dead or the heyday is gone, you aren't looking hard enough or playing close enough attention.
There's a ton of good music out there, right in our backyard
CNN is an enemy of the state and should be treated as such.
BenFiasco14 said:ElephantRider said:BenFiasco14 said:TXAG 05 said:Philo B 93 said:JD Shellnut said:
Charlie Robinson retires (medical related) and now REK. Really making me feel old. I was fortunate enough to be at Aggieland during the "heyday" of Texas Country.
When was the heyday, and when was the rise and falll?
I graduated in '93. I was there for the debut of grunge, but Texas Country wasn't a recognized genre. A few people knew about "Road goes on Forever" by REK, but I heard a lot more about REM. I guess I was there for the heyday of what we now call "90s Country". Also, Waylon and Johnny were still dropping new tracks.
The early to mid 00s. Charlie Robison, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Roger Creager. Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen were just getting their start. Before every dude that could halfway play a guitar and string some songs together about Texas started showing up and trying to make a go at it.
Heyday? Texas Country is far from dead or fall from falling. All of those guys still tour save Robison but I've seen Robison countless times and came to A&M in 2010.
I got to see the starts of (like playing at Harry's) and now the blow ups of several - Cody Johnson, Turnpike, Eli Young Band, Granger Smith, Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel ….
The genre is far from dead. These are just a few who have gotten big. There's a TON of talent there.
Turnpike is good, but the rest of those guys are meh at best (and I was at A&M the same time you were). They heyday ended before our time.
To each their own. If you think texas country is dead or the heyday is gone, you aren't looking hard enough or playing close enough attention.
There's a ton of good music out there, right in our backyard
We aren't saying it's dead. Obviously there's still a lot of talent out there, but there's also a ton a crap
TXAG 05 said:BenFiasco14 said:ElephantRider said:BenFiasco14 said:TXAG 05 said:Philo B 93 said:JD Shellnut said:
Charlie Robinson retires (medical related) and now REK. Really making me feel old. I was fortunate enough to be at Aggieland during the "heyday" of Texas Country.
When was the heyday, and when was the rise and falll?
I graduated in '93. I was there for the debut of grunge, but Texas Country wasn't a recognized genre. A few people knew about "Road goes on Forever" by REK, but I heard a lot more about REM. I guess I was there for the heyday of what we now call "90s Country". Also, Waylon and Johnny were still dropping new tracks.
The early to mid 00s. Charlie Robison, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Roger Creager. Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen were just getting their start. Before every dude that could halfway play a guitar and string some songs together about Texas started showing up and trying to make a go at it.
Heyday? Texas Country is far from dead or fall from falling. All of those guys still tour save Robison but I've seen Robison countless times and came to A&M in 2010.
I got to see the starts of (like playing at Harry's) and now the blow ups of several - Cody Johnson, Turnpike, Eli Young Band, Granger Smith, Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel ….
The genre is far from dead. These are just a few who have gotten big. There's a TON of talent there.
Turnpike is good, but the rest of those guys are meh at best (and I was at A&M the same time you were). They heyday ended before our time.
To each their own. If you think texas country is dead or the heyday is gone, you aren't looking hard enough or playing close enough attention.
There's a ton of good music out there, right in our backyard
We aren't saying it's dead. Obviously there's still a lot of talent out there, but there's also a ton a crap
Yep, there's stuff out there I really enjoy. But it seems like in the 2000s almost everything was good. Now it's hit or miss (with a lot of misses)
...
ElephantRider said:TXAG 05 said:BenFiasco14 said:ElephantRider said:BenFiasco14 said:TXAG 05 said:Philo B 93 said:JD Shellnut said:
Charlie Robinson retires (medical related) and now REK. Really making me feel old. I was fortunate enough to be at Aggieland during the "heyday" of Texas Country.
When was the heyday, and when was the rise and falll?
I graduated in '93. I was there for the debut of grunge, but Texas Country wasn't a recognized genre. A few people knew about "Road goes on Forever" by REK, but I heard a lot more about REM. I guess I was there for the heyday of what we now call "90s Country". Also, Waylon and Johnny were still dropping new tracks.
The early to mid 00s. Charlie Robison, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Roger Creager. Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen were just getting their start. Before every dude that could halfway play a guitar and string some songs together about Texas started showing up and trying to make a go at it.
Heyday? Texas Country is far from dead or fall from falling. All of those guys still tour save Robison but I've seen Robison countless times and came to A&M in 2010.
I got to see the starts of (like playing at Harry's) and now the blow ups of several - Cody Johnson, Turnpike, Eli Young Band, Granger Smith, Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel ….
The genre is far from dead. These are just a few who have gotten big. There's a TON of talent there.
Turnpike is good, but the rest of those guys are meh at best (and I was at A&M the same time you were). They heyday ended before our time.
To each their own. If you think texas country is dead or the heyday is gone, you aren't looking hard enough or playing close enough attention.
There's a ton of good music out there, right in our backyard
We aren't saying it's dead. Obviously there's still a lot of talent out there, but there's also a ton a crap
Yep, there's stuff out there I really enjoy. But it seems like in the 2000s almost everything was good. Now it's hit or miss (with a lot of misses)
Nah. You're looking back on it with rose colored glasses. There was plenty of crap back then too. Texas Country has always been very hit or miss.
Kolache Snob said:
This whole thread has gone.....shall we say..."down a red dirt road".
This is the good stuff. Old school Texags thread up in here.
I was always of the opinion REK's music was "Americana". He talks about it on an album - his music best described as "Best Western".
Never thought is was "Texas Country" .
Oh, well, really not that important. I just found his niche pretty unique. Same with Lyle. When Lyle and His Large Band was playing, how do you label it?
Never thought is was "Texas Country" .
Oh, well, really not that important. I just found his niche pretty unique. Same with Lyle. When Lyle and His Large Band was playing, how do you label it?
Quote:
Yep, there's stuff out there I really enjoy. But it seems like in the 2000s almost everything was good. Now it's hit or miss (with a lot of misses)
I think that's fair. In the 90's, John Dickson was still convincing older club and dancehall owners to let young original Texas artists headline instead of traditional cover bands and Nashville B-listers.. Their successes in the late 90's and early 2000's paved the way for a lot more talent to get through. There's still a lot of good music being made, but it's not the same kind of filter that let you know you were probably going to like whoever was playing at club x or on station y.
It seems like "Texas Country" is a term Pat Green or Cory Morrow invented back in the 90s, don't remember hearing artists call themselves that most of my days at A&M.Hey Nav said:
I was always of the opinion REK's music was "Americana". He talks about it on an album - his music best described as "Best Western".
Never thought is was "Texas Country" .
Oh, well, really not that important. I just found his niche pretty unique. Same with Lyle. When Lyle and His Large Band was playing, how do you label it?
Speaking of which, back then (say 94-99) the regular rotation in BCS was the old farts at the Hall of Fame (Gary Stewart, Willie, JJW), REK (sometimes with Lovett) opening the school year at Wolf Pen Creek with a show, and the rest (Morrow, Rodger Creager, Jack Ingram, Jackopierce, Highway 6, Charlie Robison, Pat towards the end) rotating between Harry's, The Tap and later on Shadow Canyon, depending on who had not lost their liquor license at the time.
How is there room for a decent crowd to see a good band at The Tap?
It got packed. But this was also a time when those guys were still playing house parties.
maroon barchetta said:
How is there room for a decent crowd to see a good band at The Tap?
And that was back when the Tap had the big island bar in the middle.
20 year old me loved going to the Tap and Harry's, 50 year old me cringes at the thought of being crammed in like we used to be. Good times though.JCA1 said:maroon barchetta said:
How is there room for a decent crowd to see a good band at The Tap?
And that was back when the Tap had the big island bar in the middle.
JB!98 said:20 year old me loved going to the Tap and Harry's, 50 year old me cringes at the thought of being crammed in like we used to be. Good times though.JCA1 said:maroon barchetta said:
How is there room for a decent crowd to see a good band at The Tap?
And that was back when the Tap had the big island bar in the middle.
I remember being 22 and already being annoyed at it taking 20 minutes to work your way through the crowd to get to the restroom.
JB!98 said:20 year old me loved going to the Tap and Harry's, 50 year old me cringes at the thought of being crammed in like we used to be. Good times though.JCA1 said:maroon barchetta said:
How is there room for a decent crowd to see a good band at The Tap?
And that was back when the Tap had the big island bar in the middle.
Me and you both. But I did love a Tap-JD Wells double dip on Thursday night back in the day.
I had forgotten about JD Wells! I remember it being much more laid back, but I would usually go there in the early evening before the rest of the festivities would begin.JCA1 said:JB!98 said:20 year old me loved going to the Tap and Harry's, 50 year old me cringes at the thought of being crammed in like we used to be. Good times though.JCA1 said:maroon barchetta said:
How is there room for a decent crowd to see a good band at The Tap?
And that was back when the Tap had the big island bar in the middle.
Me and you both. But I did love a Tap-JD Wells double dip on Thursday night back in the day.
We spent a lot of time at Bourbon St Bar, over by 4.0 and Go. Every week they had someone great playing. Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Max Stalling, etc. and the cover would be like $3 if they charged anything at all. One of the best shows they had was a song swap with Cory Morrow and Randy.
Harry's, the Hall, and Shadow Canyon had the big shows,but Carneys, Tap, and Zapatos were always good too.
Harry's, the Hall, and Shadow Canyon had the big shows,but Carneys, Tap, and Zapatos were always good too.
I miss Zapatos trash can nachos
Spent a lot of time at Bourbon St. too and was there for that Randy and Cory show. My buddy opened up for them so I sat on the side of the stage the whole time. Was a damn good show. So much good music coming through CS from 2000-2005 when I was there. Looking back get pissed at all the shows I didn't go to because I could just see them again soon.
This is a pretty interesting thread. I've heard over the years REK is very hit or miss when he's live, this thread seems to definitely support that.
And since the debate on "Texas Country" and "Red Dirt" has come up, I've always wondered where Max Stalling falls in the mix for folks around here. What do y'all think?
And since the debate on "Texas Country" and "Red Dirt" has come up, I've always wondered where Max Stalling falls in the mix for folks around here. What do y'all think?
Id consider Max Stalling both
CNN is an enemy of the state and should be treated as such.
BenFiasco14 said:
Id consider Max Stalling both
Out of curiosity, why do you say that? And where do you draw the line?
Turnpike is my favorite of all time. And I mean ALL TIME. But can you really consider a band from Oklahoma with a bunch of songs about Tulsa "Texas Country"?
It's arbitraryTXAG 05 said:BenFiasco14 said:
Id consider Max Stalling both
Out of curiosity, why do you say that? And where do you draw the line?
TXAG 05 said:BenFiasco14 said:
Id consider Max Stalling both
Out of curiosity, why do you say that? And where do you draw the line?
Eh, I'm no expert so this is just my layman opinion. To me, the terms are interchangeable. To others, I kind of see "Red Dirt" as an umbrella that "Texas Country" is under.
I think what makes something "texas country" is first being from Texas. If it's not from Texas, it's just red dirt music (Turnpike, American Aquarium, Tyler Childers, Sturgill, Zach Bryan - to name a few).
If it's from Texas I think it has to have AT LEAST a fiddle or steel guitar - preferably both. Other instruments that will elevate the Texas Country status would be a mandolin, banjo, accordion, stuff like that.
Texas Country will also sometimes have a more rock and roll feel as opposed to "real country" and there's a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum you've got folks like Cody Johnson or say Randall King who are trying to keep the cowboy image alive and lean heavily into the "country sound" yet at the other end of the spectrum there's stuff like Whiskey Myers which sounds more like southern rock with some "country sounding" songs sprinkled in.
TLDR - interchangeable to me. Subtle differences to distinguish the two.
CNN is an enemy of the state and should be treated as such.
These are straight Americana, my dude. Not even remotely "red dirt". Laughable to try to include them in this.BenFiasco14 said:TXAG 05 said:BenFiasco14 said:
Id consider Max Stalling both
Out of curiosity, why do you say that? And where do you draw the line?
Eh, I'm no expert so this is just my layman opinion. To me, the terms are interchangeable. To others, I kind of see "Red Dirt" as an umbrella that "Texas Country" is under.
I think what makes something "texas country" is first being from Texas. If it's not from Texas, it's just red dirt music (Turnpike, American Aquarium, Tyler Childers, Sturgill, Zach Bryan - to name a few).
If it's from Texas I think it has to have AT LEAST a fiddle or steel guitar - preferably both. Other instruments that will elevate the Texas Country status would be a mandolin, banjo, accordion, stuff like that.
Texas Country will also sometimes have a more rock and roll feel as opposed to "real country" and there's a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum you've got folks like Cody Johnson or say Randall King who are trying to keep the cowboy image alive and lean heavily into the "country sound" yet at the other end of the spectrum there's stuff like Whiskey Myers which sounds more like southern rock with some "country sounding" songs sprinkled in.
TLDR - interchangeable to me. Subtle differences to distinguish the two.
ElephantRider said:These are straight Americana, my dude. Not even remotely "red dirt". Laughable to try to include them in this.BenFiasco14 said:TXAG 05 said:BenFiasco14 said:
Id consider Max Stalling both
Out of curiosity, why do you say that? And where do you draw the line?
Eh, I'm no expert so this is just my layman opinion. To me, the terms are interchangeable. To others, I kind of see "Red Dirt" as an umbrella that "Texas Country" is under.
I think what makes something "texas country" is first being from Texas. If it's not from Texas, it's just red dirt music (Turnpike, American Aquarium, Tyler Childers, Sturgill, Zach Bryan - to name a few).
If it's from Texas I think it has to have AT LEAST a fiddle or steel guitar - preferably both. Other instruments that will elevate the Texas Country status would be a mandolin, banjo, accordion, stuff like that.
Texas Country will also sometimes have a more rock and roll feel as opposed to "real country" and there's a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum you've got folks like Cody Johnson or say Randall King who are trying to keep the cowboy image alive and lean heavily into the "country sound" yet at the other end of the spectrum there's stuff like Whiskey Myers which sounds more like southern rock with some "country sounding" songs sprinkled in.
TLDR - interchangeable to me. Subtle differences to distinguish the two.
Did we just become best friends?
Americana is the broad genre, with the Texas guys being a big sub set of it. Max Stalling is straight Texas, not debatable.
Cody Johnson is a Nashville guy now so he no longer qualifies.
Never thought I'd see someone try to lump Sturgill in with Texas Country/Red Dirt but here we are.
I look at Americana and those two as separate things with a lot of overlap. Some of these newer Texas Country guys sound like they want to be Nashville pop country, which excludes them from Americana in my book.
I look at Americana and those two as separate things with a lot of overlap. Some of these newer Texas Country guys sound like they want to be Nashville pop country, which excludes them from Americana in my book.
Pretty sure I started all of this and, for that, I apologize.
And Shania Twain is definitely red dirt.
And Shania Twain is definitely red dirt.
that don't impress me muchJCA1 said:
Pretty sure I started all of this and, for that, I apologize.
And Shania Twain is definitely red dirt.
ElephantRider said:These are straight Americana, my dude. Not even remotely "red dirt". Laughable to try to include them in this.BenFiasco14 said:TXAG 05 said:BenFiasco14 said:
Id consider Max Stalling both
Out of curiosity, why do you say that? And where do you draw the line?
Eh, I'm no expert so this is just my layman opinion. To me, the terms are interchangeable. To others, I kind of see "Red Dirt" as an umbrella that "Texas Country" is under.
I think what makes something "texas country" is first being from Texas. If it's not from Texas, it's just red dirt music (Turnpike, American Aquarium, Tyler Childers, Sturgill, Zach Bryan - to name a few).
If it's from Texas I think it has to have AT LEAST a fiddle or steel guitar - preferably both. Other instruments that will elevate the Texas Country status would be a mandolin, banjo, accordion, stuff like that.
Texas Country will also sometimes have a more rock and roll feel as opposed to "real country" and there's a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum you've got folks like Cody Johnson or say Randall King who are trying to keep the cowboy image alive and lean heavily into the "country sound" yet at the other end of the spectrum there's stuff like Whiskey Myers which sounds more like southern rock with some "country sounding" songs sprinkled in.
TLDR - interchangeable to me. Subtle differences to distinguish the two.
I literally prefaced my post with this is just my "layman opinion". Not sure why it offended you so much.
Why don't you draw me a distinction between "Americana" and "Red Dirt" then professor?
CNN is an enemy of the state and should be treated as such.
JCA1 said:
Pretty sure I started all of this and, for that, I apologize.
And Shania Twain is definitely red dirt.
It's been great talking about the good old days.
I will absolutely take it personally when you slander Sturgill Simpson like that (even inadvertently).
You said it yourself, Red Dirt is Texas Country that's not from Texas. None of those three sound anything like Texas Country. You can't put something in a genre just because you like them both and they have some very basic similarities. Those three are also on a completely different level from a songwriting perspective than any red dirt artists (outside of Turnpike; Felker can write).
Red dirt is also a very regional term to me, just like Texas Country. It's called red dirt for a reason.
You said it yourself, Red Dirt is Texas Country that's not from Texas. None of those three sound anything like Texas Country. You can't put something in a genre just because you like them both and they have some very basic similarities. Those three are also on a completely different level from a songwriting perspective than any red dirt artists (outside of Turnpike; Felker can write).
Red dirt is also a very regional term to me, just like Texas Country. It's called red dirt for a reason.
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