There’s a private party at Avant Garden tonight, so Jimmy Pizzitola and I will resume our troubadourean revels there again next Wednesday evening from 8:00-10:30—same time, same place each week for a while. Last week’s show had a great energy about it; it had some ephemeral, eruptive quality that is hard to define but you know it when you feel it, when everything just falls into place and works in so many ways at once. It was a breezy evening full of cool drinks and friendly passersby . . . And our caterer, “The Taco Guy,” really made the event with the still-haunting scents and tastes of succulently grilled chicken and beef fajitas—so tender, melt-in-your-mouth delicious with just the right seasonings grilled over fresh cut wood right there at the edge of the Avant Garden parking lot and the bustling Westheimer curve, where pedestrians wander from venue to venue against the moonlit backdrop of conversations and tunes wafting from the patios and inner rooms where people meet . . . Jimmy and I want to develop a regular crowd of people who like to hear good songs here in Houston on Wednesdays, so please come join us at Avant Garden if you’re in the area, and mention it to anyone you might know who would appreciate an evening of stripped-down acoustic entertainment. We’ll be doing songs you might not have heard in a while: Blaze Foley’s “Cold, Cold World,” Del Reeves’ “The Girl on the Billboard,” Johnny Cash’s “Get Rhythm,” Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down” . . . and the terrific originals off Jimmy’s new release, Poet on the Run, and my forthcoming release, “Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love, and Murder.” The feel is that of the ‘50s/‘60s-era coffee house, casual and up close but not conspicuous. Everybody fits in. And nobody gets “shushed.” We’re not talking “folk nazi”—just a relaxed good time for all! We will be there most Wednesdays, but you might want to call first just to check in case there’s another private party coming up. The number is 832-519-1429. The Web site is avantgardenhouston.com.
So Jimmy and I are keeping it real in Houston. Playing our songs and sticking to our Texas roots here in the inner city as the Houston Press Music Awards evolve year by year, more categories for the new “urban genres” and fewer nominations in the tried and true areas like zydeco, blues, folk, and country. At the Awards ceremony last year, there was even talk that some genres may be eliminated altogether due to lack of public interest. Well, I feel honored to have been nominated for several Houston Press Music Awards in the roots categories (Folk and Country) over the last five years or so, thanks to the support of many of you who took a few minutes of your time to write me in. And I want to keep being a contender, a vibrant part of a vibrant scene here in Houston, so I would certainly appreciate it if you would nominate me for “Best Folk” and “Best Country” again this year at the link, below:
http://polls.houstonpress.com/polls/hou/musicawards2010/
Thank you. And to close, here’s a thought for the day. Just something off the top of my head: It is fun to participate in a process. Life is a process, I’ve learned through experience. And so is my journey in music. I hope that these letters have brought you some sense of sharing this time with me here on the road less traveled. I’ve enjoyed that good feeling myself through different endeavors of mine, such as observing my students at Houston Community College develop and grow as writers and as individuals. There is a unique pleasure in seeing others succeed at what they feel passionately about through hard work and time. And to somehow be a small part of that success is even better. My good friend, Manisha Thakor, once wanted to be a writer and publish a book. About ten years ago, we would get together for coffee at our favorite coffee house in Houston, and we would brainstorm and discuss copies and revisions that she was working so diligently to “perfect.” This Friday (May 14), Manisha will be a featured guest on the Rachel Ray talk show, which is poised to replace Oprah! Manisha is now a twice-published author of two successful books on financial management and a guest on a plethora of talk shows. On the Rachael Ray show, she will be helping a couple who is having financial angst. In Houston it airs on KPRC (Channel 2) at 2 p.m. To find where it's airing in other markets click here: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show-info/showtimes/
If you want to know more or sign up to receive financial tips from Manisha, you can go to: http://www.ManishaThakor.com
Manisha has been a source of insight and inspiration to me through the years, and I believe that you would find her to be genuine, accessible, and educational. I plan to tune in on Friday, and I hope that you will, too. Y’all come!