by Phil Houseal | Jul 31, 2013 | All Articles, Events, History, People of the Hill Country, Venue
July 31, 2013–So the Pastor was doing a sermon on the life of Jesus, and he asked what was the biggest festival of year. One youngster raised his hand, and said, “The Schuetzenfest.” “This actually happened at our church way back,” said Charles Feller, Secretary of...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 3, 2013 | All Articles, Events, History, Music
July 3, 2013–When promoter Gene Wolf asked if I wanted to interview Larry Gatlin before his upcoming Hill Country show, I said yes. I had a question I’d been waiting 30 years to ask him. So when the phone rang and I heard, “Phil, this is Larry Gatlin. How are...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 12, 2013 | All Articles, Education, Events, History, Music, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy, Venue
June 12, 2013–All we wanted was to play classical music in a bar. We didn’t know we were part of a revolution. It started one cold, dark night back in February when our local string quartet–Theresa Britt, John Reeve, Tammy Widener, and I–stepped on stage at Hondo’s,...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 5, 2013 | All Articles, History, Music, Philosophy
June 5, 2013–Everyone should dance. I’m not in the habit of handing out advice to my children. First, I don’t have any advice. Second, if I did, they wouldn’t take it. I never did. But when my oldest son set off for college, I felt I should say something profound. So...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 27, 2013 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Mar 27, 2013–When did men stop wearing hats? I’m talking the classic fedoras of the ‘40s and ‘50s. Think Sam Spade, James Cagney, Jimmy Durante, Elliot Ness. Clark Kent. All of our granddads. My dad. My abiding memory of my dad is his Sunday morning ritual, with him...
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...
