What we knew as “Texas Music” in the late 90’s to early 00’s is dead. Like so many things in life, it was a time capsule of our lives. One of the best segments of our lives, but just that…a piece of a larger picture. Texas Music has been around since the days of Bob Wills in one incarnation or another…and 2007 marked the year where the latest installment ended.

The explosion of the 90’s was fostered by a potent mix of proper ingredients.

First and foremost, mainstream country music had become a slick, schmaltzy, Shaniaized mess. Every label in Nashville was trying to cross over to the pop charts, Garth was headed to retirement, A&R guys were signing teenage girls in Abercombie and Fitch stores to lip synch to sappy tunes written by Richard Marx, male artists were transformed into horrid boy band type singing groups (4Runner anyone?), and just about every cliché had been overused and overexposed. These things caused the audience to have a hunger for gritty, real music…much like had happened in the 70’s when Waylon and Willie rebelled against the Nashville Sound of Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley’s masterminds. This time around we had Pat Green singing about “giving up on Nashville a long time ago…” and we as fans and artists stood up with him and resoundingly said “Hell yes, brother.” Pat had struck a nerve and was the right guy at the right place at the right time with the right message.

Secondly, the Internet as a tool was just coming into its own. People were discovering what was possible by using the ‘net. Production, promotion and distribution were all at one’s fingertips now. The ‘net replaced flyers on a telephone post, visits to a radio station, and many other avenues that were now obsolete. Artists could now control every aspect of their careers, and this played right into the hands of the grassroots nature of the burgeoning Texas music scene. The explosion of Napster type file sharing services helped spur people into the discovery of new music, merely by searching for Texas on their program of choice. Discussion boards such as this one, inventive artist websites, and online stores created a great environment for artists and fans alike.

This perfect storm of music was completed by having talented, charismatic, and business-savvy songwriters deliver quality product. Demand was at an all-time high and the supply was just right. As the “scene” was kicking off in this era, you could be assured that nearly anyone from the Pat Green tree would deliver you a quality product. However, it did not take long for there to be an influx of crap that diluted the pool of quality music and began the first strike at the respectability of Texas Music in this incarnation.

Sadly, over the course of the past couple years this business model has been driven into the ground. Supply rapidly outgrew demand via crappy bands writing crappy songs and disguising themselves as legitimate artists with help from shady bar owners and booking agents. Pat Green moved on to the greener pastures of Nashville, and a great number of the fans he hooked moved on as well…they were never in it for the music…they were only in it for the fad of being at the right place to be seen and get drunk at. As has been covered relentlessly here in this column and elsewhere, the drought of quality material and the fickle nature of fans and club owners have slowly been closing the book on the Texas Music scene as we know it.

As the cliché goes, the chapter ends but the book continues. It was a fruitful, fun chapter. But the future looks rather bright based on some things that happened in 2007.

As it is, it is another January, and another year in Texas music awaits. And, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Bands like Ragweed and RRB march on, guys like Bleu and Cory resurge, artists like Ryan Bingham and Drew Kennedy emerge, and Pat Green still confuses (Dan Huff producing the next cd?!!?).

2007 was a banner year for our scene. It marked the changing of the guard, a rebirth...the start of a renaissance.

Of course, we've got the posers of cool who try to act like they're too far refined and removed from the scene nowadays for it to ever be cool again. However, all it will take is for them to connect with one great artist or album all over again. 2007 had so many fantastic new releases that hit the streets and there are only a handful of intriguing albums are on the horizon.

The main thing I hope carries over into this New Year is thinking outside the box. Artists were using fresh producers, new touring markets were broken in, and fan expectations continued to grow. With the increased dependence on digital media to deliver songs, fans are now looking to buy tunes one at a time instead of whole albums. Musicians must make music that is catchy and heartfelt to stand out in a sea of pretenders.

You can’t fake or copy the authenticity of Ryan Bingham, the soul of Adam Hood, the depth of Josh Grider, the melodic genius of Randy Rogers, or even the firepower of Miranda Lambert…so don’t try. Be yourself…people will dig you all the more.

Here at Galleywinter, we are still grappling with how to reinvent our model. We need to do some forum reorganization; some redesign on our layout, and refocus our intent to coincide with the new landscape of the music industry. In Tank’s words, we must be rebuilt, and I hope everyone will hang in there with us until we get to the other side.

MINOR CHORDS:

-Continued prayers go out to Rusty Wier and Mike McClure’s family. It has been impressive to see the response to the plights they have been facing. I know the support of everyone here and throughout the scene is bolstering their hopes and fostering miracles.

-Greenfest 2008 was unveiled this morning. I think it is the most complete line-up we’ve ever assembled. Like most things in music, that opinion is subjective. Sat, March 29, 2008 in San Antonio at Rolling Oaks featuring Bleu Edmondson, Hayes Carll, Jason Eady & The Wayward Apostles, Drew Kennedy, Larry Hooper, Bo Cox, Scott Matthews and a special guest or two we've yet to announce. Stay tuned for more details as we rapidly approach the date!

-Why couldn’t the Horns have played like that all year?

-The strike in Hollywood is going to have a negative impact on much of my television entertainment options in the spring. 24 is already on hold…and it looks like if this keeps up we’ll be left with reality shows featuring You Tube sensations. I suggest letting Reckless Kelly take their RKTV to CMT or VH1…that would be quality viewing…sorry for partying.

-Another year, another January not in Steamboat. The only thing I’d enjoy is the shows…I’m not one for skiing or cold weather. I’ll take LJTs or something on the coast any day. One cool thing for us not in Colorado during that time is that Tank will be doing nearly constant updates from Steamboat on his blog at: rebuilt.galleywinter.com. I might try and do something like that at LJTs this year instead of just doing an entire wrap-up when I get back...don't know if internet connectivity will cooperate. We here at GW are working hand in hand with the LJT folks more than ever before. I'm writing several pieces for their 20th Annual Music Fest preview magazine and we'll have unlimited access to the festival from all angles to bring you the best coverage.

-As I mentioned above, Pat Green is having Dann Huff produce his next cd. While, I admire Pat’s continued artistic awakening and respect Huff’s lofty session work status and production track record…this pairing just seems odd to me. Huff has produced Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, and Carrie Underwood among others. I’ll definitely be interested to see how this experiment comes out. Huff also fronted a slick 80’s hair band named Giant, they had a big hit with “I’ll See You In My Dreams”…maybe he can take a lesson from fellow hair metal survivor Kevin Fowler and honky-tonk up Pat’s sound to the Dancehall Dreamer days...but I doubt it.

-This month’s recommended album: Country Ghetto by JJ Grey & Mofro. Grey’s music is straight up southern front porch soul. If you enjoy the style of Adam Hood or the grit of DBT, then this cat’s record is for you. He’s from Jacksonville, Florida and combines the best elements of southern music traditions for a sound that is entirely original. Check it out. http://www.mofro.net/home.shtml

-This month’s recommended film: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. The Apatow success streak continues. This movie tweaks every facet of music biopic pics and the music industry in general. What may seem rather silly on the surface, is actually a commentary or the music biz and the idiocy in which legends' stories are portrayed on screen. Hilarious and poignant…a must see for music fans.

-“Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.”-Mark Twain