"If anyone knows a thing or two about late nights in smoke filled bars, wild men and even wilder women, and how live music can incite a fight/start a romance, it is Long John Hunter. For a significant stretch of time between 1957 and 1970, Hunter ruled over Juarez, Mexico as the King of the Night, holding court in the Lobby Bar, the centerpiece of an entertainment strip that functioned as an all-purpose sin city for a significant percentage of the population of the southwestern United States, particularly residents of El Paso, Texas, just across the Rio Grande."

Hunter, whose shows in Juarez make for stories that sound like tall tales, never received the large-scale fan recognition a talent like his deserves, but he managed to make fans out of contemporary musicians like Buddy Holly, James Brown, and Billy Gibbons. Finally in 1996 a prominent label, Alligator, released his album, Border Town Legend, and Hunter started to get press, radio play and fan recognition. This year he's got a new album out called Swinging From the Rafters (also on Alligator) which I have not yet heard, but am eagerly expecting. The title of the new one refers to something that Hunter would do during his shows: hang from the rafters with one arm while continuing to play guitar with his free hand. Juarez is a wild town and Hunter had to do something to hold the attention of the audience there, hence the gymnastics. He's been on tour in Europe throughout November, but has shows in Houston, Austin, and Fort Worth planned for late December -- worthwhile gigs to catch.

Daddy of a deal: Sire Records, a label known for, among other things, putting out the early Madonna records as well as LPs for the Talking Heads and The Ramones, has entered into an agreement with Austin's Watermelon Records. The deal allows Watermelon -- mostly a roots rock and alternative country label -- to keep its autonomy, but enlists Sire's marketing ability for some larger releases. This should help some Texas bands find larger markets more easily and certainly indicates that larger labels have significant interest in what some of the smaller, local labels are able to turn up. The first release under the Sire/Watermelon agreement is the Derailers' Reverb Deluxe.

On the record: With the above-mentioned record deal and a new CD release, Reverb Deluxe (Sire/Watermelon), local Austin band the Derailers have been enjoying quite a bit of attention from Texas media. Deservedly so: these guys are beloved by everyone who knows them and their music -- fundamentally good ol' honkytonk country that is perfect for smoky bars and dance halls. They've got a stylish look -- slicked back hair, shiny suits, and big smiles when they play -- and their surfeit of character touches the songs on the album. A lot of the songs are familiar to the Austin audiences who've seen these guys all over the place, but the lively instrumental "Ellen" never fails to cheer me up. Furthermore, the incredible long, black, and fuzzy eyebrows of singer and guitarist Tony Villanueva add to the fun of a live show more than any other eyebrows in modern music history. Imagine how they sound on CD!

Steve Earle's El Corazon (Warner Bros/E-squared) is his third release in the last three years. The albums together comprise a kind of trilogy chronicling the stories and emotions of a guy who's just gotten off a stint in prison and is turning his life around. Of course, El Corazon means "the heart," clearly the place where the songs on this record originate -- and where they hit hardest. Earle is one of those great musicians whose soulfulness emerges even through the coldness of digital technology. The album covers a lot of musical genres from the bluegrass "I Still Carry You Around" to the smoldering, distorted Neil Young-esque "Taneytown" to the mellow, folksy "Christmas in Washington." The last track is called "Ft. Worth Blues" and is in memory of his mentor and friend Townes Van Zandt. This album is probably the strongest Earle has yet produced and is full of charitable sentiments to warm holiday hearts. Also goes well with a glass of egg nog.

Texas music news, comments, suggestions or recommendations? Email to jmackay@texasmonthly.com.

(12/1/97)

See previous installments of Texas Music News.