Gunsil wrote:Yeah Ken those are all greats. I have sirius radio in my car and they play all these folks on their "outlaw country" channel. I have been lucky to see Robert Earl Keen with Freddie Eaglesmith opening for him in a tiny place that only sat 65 people. Lucky also to have seen John Prine and Iris DeMent at an outdoor concert and they each performed alone and in duet. Lucinds usually plays my area every year or two, she can bring down the house for sure. Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen were roommates in college and although I like some of Lyle's stuff I prefer Mr Keen. The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson) sang a Robert Earl Keen song one one of their albums which they named after it, "The Road Goes on Forever (and the Party Never Ends)", one of the best modern ballads written. And let's not omit James McMurtry, Choctaw Bingo is a cool song and he writes some great stuff with a social conscience.
The threads I find in common among these artists is the sense of humor that comes through in many of their songs, and the ability to tell a story in their lyrics. The first time I heard McMurtrey's
Choctaw Bingo I was astounded and amazed. Living in North Texas and having relatives in northeast Oklahoma, southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri, that song (minus the drugs) could easily describe one of my family's reunions. I've been to Lake Texoma, Big Cabin, Muskogee, and Baxter Springs many times. I've seen Lake Eufala, the Indian Smoke Shop at the Big Cabin exit off the Will Rogers Turnpike, the McDonalds built over the turnpike, and the biker bar in Baxter Springs with the Rolling Stone's lips neon sign. I've even shot tracer rounds at night in the pasture at my uncle's farm at a reunion!
It's too real not to be true!
I'd post the YouTube video here but some of the lyrics are a little too racy for this site. Those interested can go there and find it themselves - some great music and an interesting story told in the lyrics. Warning - about nine minutes long and some adult content.
Ken
Have Seen John Hiatt in concert a few times thru the year and his music and lyrics are always Great!
