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 | Mar 2, 2018 | All Articles, Philosophy
Feb 28, 2018–I overheard some older folks talking fondly of “simpler times.” Balderdash. There were no simpler times. Never in history has life been so simple. Examples: Cars What was simple about tuning your car? You had to change the points and spark plugs, set the...
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 | Feb 15, 2018 | All Articles, Music, People of the Hill Country
Feb 14, 2018–Last Sunday morning, I was poking around online, seeking inspiration. I clicked on a link and found myself looking inside a radio studio listening to Amazing Grace. I had stumbled on to Sunday Mornings with Doug Burns on 107.9 FM KFAN. I felt like...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 8, 2018 | All Articles, Music, People of the Hill Country
Feb 7, 2018–When his clients ask why Tim Porter, CPA, spends so much time playing guitar in addition to working on their taxes, he has an answer: “Music is math,” he said. “I find it’s all related.” Be assured the Hill Country musician does get his clients’ Forms 1040...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 1, 2018 | All Articles, Philosophy
Jan 31, 2018–You should do something every day that scares you. I read that somewhere. It was one of those sayings that niggles as you go about your daily habits. Like a religious aunt looking over her glasses at you. The thought percolated as I listened last week to...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 25, 2018 | All Articles, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Jan 24, 2018–Here’s some advice for beginning musicians: Choose an instrument that is small and easy to carry. I made the mistake of playing boat anchors. First it was drums. “You can’t serenade your girlfriend in the backseat with a drum set,” said old Frankie Lee...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 18, 2018 | All Articles, Philosophy
Jan 17, 2018–Here’s a riddle: What is something we greet every morning by pressing our lips to it and cradling it to warm our hands, yet we literally overlook it? The answer: Your coffee mug. A random kudo from a reader who shared how happy she was to win my genuine...
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,...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 3, 2018 | All Articles, Philosophy
Jan 3, 2018–Ah, the new year is here and that means it’s time to endure the cascade of “resolutions” that last as long as a bunch of organic bananas. I have one resolution, and it’s the only one you’ll ever need: be more creative. If social media has done nothing...
