From his opening song, “Carolina In The Pines” until his encore song after “Wildfire” and a standing ovation, Michael Martin Murphey had the Hank’s Texas Grill audience spellbound. Hank’s, which usually has a rambunctious, rowdy redneck crowd there for the great bands it brings in, settled quickly into a respectful, reckneck listening room the instant Michael set his cowboy boots on the stage.

Murphey played a solo set, acoustic, mostly on his guitar and switching off to banjo for a few of the tunes. He talked between songs, explaining his background and growth in music through the original Texas Music Scene, dubbed Progressive Country or Redneck Rock in the 1970s. He explained his love of the Lone Star State, having been born and reared in Plano, but why he now lives in New Mexico. He explained the background to many of his songs, such as the history behind “Geronimo’s Cadillac;” the early childhood connections with blues legends Mance Lipscomb and Lightning Hopkins; the youth of the cowboys in his songs, like “Little Joe The Wranagler;” and the family values learned from his grandparents and incorporated nito such songs as “What’s Forever For?”

He stopped and talked to a 5-year-old girl, the only dancer on the floor. He stopped and asked the bar for a Guinness Stout, his beer of choice being, he said, Irish himself, noticeable by his blond hair and blue eyes. He stopped just to reflect for a few seconds, but none of those stops interfered with the momentum. The almost-2-hour show ended, leaving the audience with the feeling they had been given maximum value for their time spent.

It was a trip through Texas music, including his John Lomax song which, he said, is also Texas music, and those he called music of the juke joints.

The little dancer had brought her own guitar with her, and after waiting her turn in line to talk with Michael, she got his signature on it, grinning all the while they talked after the show.

Hank’s Texas Grill is on the southeast corner of U.S. 75 and White street in McKinney. There’s an open mic on Wednesdays, and bands Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

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For more on Hank’s Texas Grill, click here

For more on Michael Martin Murphey, click here

Gary P. Nunn

It’s timeless and changeless, yet Gary P. Nunn’s music continues to grow with every one of his concerts and CDs Again timeless and changeless, after years of observations and just ‘hanging out’ with The Jeepster, it’s clear he remains unjaded and unaffected by his continued success. But what would one expect from an Okie transplant turned Texan. A genuinely nice guy who loves taking moments (and sometimes in his schedule that’s all he can muster, but still…) with all his fans who want a handshake and a hug.

Gary P. and his Sons of the Bunkhouse Band knocked it out of the courtyard Friday night when he took the Hank’s Texas Grill stage in McKinney. Joining him as the S.O.B.s was Lars Albrecht on lead guitar, Evan Chistian on bass, and newcomer to the group, actually playing his second gig with the band, was Jim Adair on drums. Together, they took fans and dancers through many of the classics that began Gary P.’s near-40-year career  through those he’s released on his latest CD, “Taking Texas To The Country.”

It’s no wonder that Gary P.’s 1970s music was a major factor in the Progressive Country music movement that began Texas’ break from traditional Nashville music in the mid-1970s. His song, “London Homesick Blues,” recorded originally on Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Viva Terlingua,” became the theme song for “Austin City Limits.” It’s continued since, and has been a great source of mailbox money for the Austin-based Nunn.

A personal favorite has and always will be “The Last Thing I Needed,” which Willie Nelson took to the top. More than his version, this reporter is especially partial to the former El Paso band, “Applejack,” with Cleo Bell singing the lead on it.  Their project “First Swig” is a hard one to find nowadays, but worth the search

Hank’s Texas Grill has moved its tables back a few feet from the stage, and that makes for more room for dancers. They took advantage of the space and the music to keep a steady stream of two-steppers moving, skate-rink style, around the friendly floor.

In a refreshing deviation from so many bands who take a 15-minute break, only to return almost 30 minutes later, The Jeepster and the S.O.B.s were back on stage within 12 minutes of taking their break, just in time for serious Texas boot lovers to get an up-close look at his red boots “some people call many footwear.” (From”London Homesick blues.”)

Nate Kipp

Opening up and warming up the show was our own Nate Kipp, with Ryan Littrell on lead guitar with him, in an acoustic set showing Nate’s big talent, and Gary P. said Nate has been sharing the stages with him quite often lately. And when he wasn’t on stage, Nate was on the dance floo.

For pix, click here

Hank’s Texas Grill hosts open mic, with Ronnie Scott at the helm, every Wednesday, and has live bands every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. It’s on the southeast corner of U.S. Highway 75 and White Avenue in Mckinney.

For more on Gary P. Nunn, click here to connect with his Web site.

Hank’s Texas Grill was alive Saturday night (Jan. 28) with Texoma fans, there following two of their favorite North Texas bands, The Dustin Perkins Band and Robby White & The Tejas Gringos. The double bill was also a double CD release celebration.

Dustin’s CD has been out for a couple of weeks now, recorded with Greg White. It’s a collection of standard favorites of Dustin’s fans, along with some new songs and one or two with new arrangements. It’s the second CD this Sherman/Bells native has released in less than two years.

Robby’s CD is due out within a few weeks, and so for this Saturday night gig, they were offering better prices for those who ordered ahead. Great bargains, and the CD promises, if their set was any indication, to be even better than the first two Robby has released within about five years.

Hank’s covered patio/bar was jam-packed with fans, some from as far away as Yankee-land.

Others used the time to catch up on old friends and make new ones, with the common appeciation of these bands as a good starting point.

One thing to be said about Texas musicians, and it’s been said and will continue to be said by me and so many others — they are the most “let’s all win” group of musicians in the world. Robby was there in support of Dustin, Colton Gilbreath, Nathan Brown, Michael Waitt, and Chris (Jet) Romain, all of whom play with Dustin Perkins Band. Then, when it came Robby’s turn to hit the stage, those musicians were right there for Robby, and Tejas Gringos Scott (Cowboy) Lytle, Mark LaFon, and Brad King. Let’s all win!

Thanks to Hank’s for supporting Texas music, combining the bigger names, traveling bands with local and regional artists. Everyone wins! If you haven’t checked it out, Hank’s Wednesday night open mics are packed with good musicians, also there to support each other while getting a two-song showcase. Ronnie Scott hosts that night.

Dustin PerkinsBand pix, click here

Robby White & The Tejas Gringos pix, click here