by Phil Houseal | Oct 28, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Oct 28, 2026–As pets go, I’m a goldfish guy. They don’t require walking or vet visits, they don’t bark all night, and when they inevitably cross the Rainbow Waterfall, you have many easy, low-cost disposal options. So it is surprising my favorite pet was a turkey....
by Phil Houseal | Oct 21, 2026 | All Articles, Events, Music, Venue
Oct 21, 2026–What would make a concert experience more illuminating for an audience? Try doing it in the dark. That was the spark of inspiration that came to Will Taylor, a composer, violinist, and all-around impresario who created the Concerts in the Dark Austin...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 14, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Oct 14, 2026–Were you ever aware you were living in a special time, as you were living it? Perhaps it was watching a sunset. Or while holding a baby. Or marching in a halftime show. My first experience with this was when I was 9 years old. We were at our neighbor’s...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 7, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Oct 7, 2026–In our current world, there is one pathway to power: Have a platform. To spread your influence, or at least share your ideas, you don’t require intelligence, talent, wealth, or insight. All you need is a platform. Think about it. Throughout history, who...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 30, 2026 | All Articles, History, Music, People of the Hill Country
Sept 30, 2026–After interviewing hundreds of musicians and celebrities, I still get nervous when they give me time to talk. After all, they have been asked every question dozens of times already. My first big “get” was the legendary Ray Price. I had grown up listening...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 17, 2026 | All Articles, Events, Music, Venue
September 23, 2026–Even casual and un-wizened fans will recognize Ray Wylie Hubbard as the guy who wrote “Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother.” Every bar band from Nebraska to Namibia has covered that ode to hippie cowboy southern culture. Ray Wylie Hubbard, the Texas...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 16, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
Sept 16, 2026–Most people are living at the place where they stopped moving. It’s true for me. I arrived in the Texas Hill Country back around 1980. And I just never left. There was no grand scheme, no analysis of cost of living, year-round average temperatures, or...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 9, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy, PR Tips
Sept 9, 2026–I have discovered the secret to defeating Artificial Intelligence, at least in the field of writing. Flaws. First, I apologize to loyal readers, as this column smacks of “inside baseball.” But it addresses a current topic and reveals a larger lesson. As...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 2, 2026 | All Articles, Philosophy
Sept 2, 2026–Five years ago, while dying, I learned some things about life. While I don’t recommend it, almost dying is a way to achieve perfect clarity as to what matters and what does not matter. Existing in the liminal space between light and darkness, I glimpsed...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 26, 2026 | All Articles, Events, History, Music
August 26, 2026–If you are a Beatles fan, you might think every possible story about the legendary British band has been told. But someone found more stories, buried in boxes. Marty Scott portrays George Harrison in the Liverpool Legends, a tribute band officially...
