Rodney Crowell, Trishas kick off 2010 Sounds of Texas Series

Rodney Crowell, Trishas kick off 2010 Sounds of Texas Series

Well the last two weeks the sounds of Texas music have permeated the air in Conroe.

Starting Feb. 27, Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys rocked the Sparkle Event Hall with great Texas country music and side-busting humor. Kinky was on rhythm guitar and lead vocal with his sidekick Little Jewford on keyboard and vocals and Rastus on lead guitar and vocals.

Man Kinky looked great and both his vocals and humor were in top form. Kinky today is probably most well known as a mystery novelist and humorist and a political candidate (Friedman ran for Texas Agriculture Commissioner on the Democratic ticket.) That night under the stars at the old ice house he showed that first and foremost he is a singer/songwriter.

He did my favorite song of his “Sold American” and most all of his most popular songs. After the show he promised he would sign anything but bad legislation. I got the opportunity to visit with Kinky after his show and he told me how much he liked Conroe and how he would love to come back to the Historic Crighton Theatre.

He and Billy Joe Shaver played there about five years ago at a Sounds of Texas Music Series concert. I think having him back would be a great idea.

Mr. Friedman did not win the Democratic Primary although he made a good showing. He did win the vote in this county. No doubt Kinky Friedman is the real deal and a Texan through and through. No doubt Kinky is the most popular Texan Jewish cowboy and country western singer.

Texas Independence Day Festival


Well last weekend the 3rd Annual Texas Independence Day Chili Cookoff and Music Festival took place in downtown Conroe at the Heritage Place Amphitheater.

Man did the downtown area rock with the sounds of Texas country rock, Texas blues, Texas Americana and Texas honky tonk and rockabilly. About 50 chili teams gathered and cooked some of the best chili this side of the Pecos River.

The crowd in excess of 5,000 Saturday heard the blues rock sounds of Stevie and Jimi by 16- year-old guitar singer Clay Melton followed by the country rock Americana sounds of Cypress Station.

Jubal Lee Young with a full band tore the joint up and Austin’s acoustic blues masters the Porter Davis Band showed why they are being invited to large outdoor events all over the globe.

Dustin Welch, son of the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Kevin Welch and brother of Savannah Welch of the Trisha’s and his tight band showed why he and his band are on fire and once again proved correct that old adage that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Next up was blues diva and singer/songwriter Bonnie Bishop. Ms. Bishop whose stepdad is legendary football coach Jackie Sherrill introduced her early on to Darrell Royal and Willie Nelson and after graduation from the University of Texas she hung around Austin perfecting her singer/songwriting skills. She several years ago moved to Nashville and started hanging around Delbert McClinton, Rodney Crowell, Will Kimbrough, Mike Farris and Gary Nicholson.

Willie Nelson Tickets are available in the market on very competitive prices by Sold Out Ticket Market.