by Phil Houseal | Nov 14, 2012 | All Articles, Events, History, Music, Philosophy, Venue
Part II of my visit with Ray Price. Read Part I… Nov 14, 2012–When I first came to Texas, I was expected to learn a drumming style called the “shuffle beat.” I had never heard or seen the two-step, let alone been inside a real dance hall. That beat, my band...
by Phil Houseal | Nov 14, 2012 | All Articles, Events, History, Music, Venue
So what do you ask a legend? If you could interview country music superstar Ray Price, what would you say? This gave me considerable pause when Gene Wolf of Sharity Productions arranged a phone interview in anticipation of Price’s Christmas concert at Cailloux Theater...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 12, 2012 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
Sept 12, 2012–This sentence is supposed to make you want to read the rest of this column. I am fascinated with the power of first lines. Their importance is under appreciated. One brief string of words has the burden of drawing the attention of potential readers from...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 1, 2012 | All Articles, Education, History, People of the Hill Country
Aug 1, 2012–A significant milestone happened in the music world this month. You might have missed it, because it took place down a ways from Fredericksburg–10 billion miles down the Milky Way, to be exact. A recording from the 1970s left the solar system. It was the...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 25, 2012 | All Articles, History, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
July 25, 2012–Is it an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny coverup or a double-D big deal? Or maybe it’s just B.S. The national news media have picked up the story about a town in Texas that is causing quite a stir around here. According to the versions I have been reading,...
by Phil Houseal | May 26, 2011 | All Articles, Events, Food, History, Music, Venue
May 26, 2011–It’s been 10 years and a million memories: Will Owen-Gage rockin’ in the rain, a spritely Sarah Jarosz plucked from a jam session, Blaggards blasting Irish drinking songs, and a seasoned Johnny Gimble playing mandolin with an Austin jazz band. But that...
