Legiondary Jam 7

Terlingua Americana Music – Legiondary Jam 7

Legiondary Jam continued the tradition of good times, great music, great food, and good friends hangin’ out.

This month, our beneficiary was the American Legion Post.  The legion is under new management, and the new team has a nasty fiscal mess to clean up.

The legion is crucial to the folks who live on Terlingua Ranch.  For some people, it’s their Internet cafe.  For others, it’s a place to leave messages or borrow the phone (not everybody out here has a phone and cell phones don’t work).  If you run out of gas or get a flat, it’s a place to go for help.  UPS and Fedex leave packages for those of us who live way off-road.

Most of us moved to the desert for solitude.  Sometimes, the solitude can get a little oppressive- and there are usually folks at the legion who are up for conversation, a game of pool, or to just provide a connection to another human.

This morning, it was big smile time at the Legion.  They had a good night, and we raised enough donations to cover the electric and phone bill for the month.

Thanks to all the musicians who played, the cooks who provided the pot-luck dinner, and the people who listened and partied with us.  Thanks to y’all, the legion is well on its way to solvency.

The new Terlingua Music “Hotter’n Hell and Cooler’n Shit” t-shirts made their debut last night, and it seems like everybody was wearing them.  We’ll have those at all future jams- all profit goes to charity.  Thanks to Anna Oakley for the fine design.

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Al Berry leades the band: Chris Baker (flute), Nick Cooper (bass), and Laird Considine (mandolin).
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Brandi, with Nick and Moses.
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The legion was full, with as many people outside as in. A good night.

Continue reading “Legiondary Jam 7”

Marfa – the grand tour. Playboy Bunny, Food Shark, El Cosmico, Padre’s.

Living in Terlingua, Texas opens up a universe of possibilities. All you have to do is adjust your concept of “neighborhood,” and you have access to a variety of fascinating experiences.

Living at Terlingua Ranch is one experience. Isolation. Off the grid. Technicolor sunsets. Wild, unpredictable weather.

Terlingua Ghost Town is a whole ‘nother experience. Great food, music on the porch and in the bars, and some very eccentric characters to hang out with.

Last weekend, LaRoja and I spent the weekend in Lajitas visiting with Trevor Hickle and his family. Lajitas is a resort, so we luxuriated in the pool, had dinner delivered to Trevor’s place, did some pickin’, and ended up in a very nice suite.

This weekend, we joined Jalapeno Schwartz for a grand tour of Marfa.

JP (Jalapeno) Schwart riding the airwaves.
JP (Jalapeno) Schwart riding the airwaves.

JP (Jalapeno) Schwartz is a country doctor, volunteer public radio DJ, and local celebrity.  He and LaRoja have known each other since they were in college.

Initially, I didn’t “get” Marfa.  After hanging with JP all day and being introduced to the city by an insider, I totally get it.  It’s definitely the cultural center of this part of Texas.  You meet lots of people whose other home is a high-rise apartment in New York or whose other store is on Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills. Continue reading “Marfa – the grand tour. Playboy Bunny, Food Shark, El Cosmico, Padre’s.”

Special Message From Pat Smith to his Band…

Friday night, Pat Smith and band were booked to play the High Sierra.  Pat made it but his band didn’t.  The previous blog post describes how a team of talented locals filled in and the show went on.  (The Show Goats on!)

Pat seemed a little disappointed that his band hadn’t made the gig.

Saturday night, Pat, Maggie Montgomery, and a crowd of locals formed a pickin’ circle at La Kiva.  I had planned to go, but a rainstorm came through the ranch and the roads were flooded.  By the next morning, the roads were passable, but I missed that show.

It’s all part of living with nature.

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When I walked into the High Sierra Sunday afternoon, the “Hangover Jam” was over. George Goss, Nick Cooper, Jim and Anna Keaveny, and Pat Smith were hanging out, drinking beer, and talking about how good the jam was.

Continue reading “Special Message From Pat Smith to his Band…”

Austin/Terlingua/Luckenbach Music Mashup at the High Sierra

When musicians from Austin, Luckenbach, and Terlingua, Texas get together to jam on the border, you get real Texas music.

Last night at the High Sierra Saloon in Terlingua, Pat Smith and Maggie Montgomery pulled in after driving all day across Texas. No time to change or shower… it was show time.

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The original plan was for Pat’s band to accompany him, but they were kidnapped by of viscous crew of nude marauding female pirates in a 57 Corvette – or maybe they had car trouble – it was unclear. So, word went out on the Terlingua grapevine and a band of top local hands joined Pat on stage. Chris Baker brought her flaut. Nick Cooper played his dog-house bass, Mark played mandolin and fiddle…

It was totally unrehearsed and absolutely delightful. Continue reading “Austin/Terlingua/Luckenbach Music Mashup at the High Sierra”