by Phil Houseal | May 3, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music
May 3, 2018–I was surprised when Kathy Mattea told me that to find her voice, she had to stop being “Kathy Mattea.” What did that mean? “It’s what I tell my students: do people feel something when you sing this song? Can you just be honest as a singer and that be...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 22, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music, People of the Hill Country
Mar 21, 2018–During the mid-1800s, the Texas Hill Country produced talented men and women, particularly in the fields of ranching, industry, cattle, and the military. Yet many still don’t know it was also the birthplace of a classical music composer who became a...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 15, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music, Venue
March 14, 2018–Guy Forsyth gave an unexpected response when asked what inspired his on-stage performance style. “Vaudeville,” he replied during our phone conversation. “If you look back, a lot of our favorite musicians were folks hitting their stride in the...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 8, 2018 | All Articles, Events, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Mar 7, 2018–When Bart Simpson told his dad he hated art, Homer commiserated. “Oh, everyone does, son. That’s why they lock it up in museums where no one will ever visit.” Hill Country artist Seth Avant is putting art back out on the streets where everyone can enjoy...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 23, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music, Venue
Feb 21, 2018–In 2001, Marty Scott was playing with a Beatles tribute band at a Chicago festival. A week later, he was sitting on a couch next to Paul McCartney. How’s that for fantasy? “Pretty scary” was how the ersatz “George Harrison” described it. “Louise...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 11, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music, Venue
Jan 10, 2018–When I first started a family, I nurtured gauzy visions of sitting on the back porch, strumming guitar with my talented wife singing at my side and my precocious children playing along at my feet. Alas, despite spending thousands on music lessons,...
