CMT Blog: Archive

There's a reason we say "Don't mess with Texas."  Sure you shouldn't litter on our highways, but it's more than that.  Driving around 6th street today, the last official day of South by Southwest, it was apparent on all faces.  Stage techs loading up gear for the trek back home, weary talent scouts, bands who had one more show to play.  SXSW will take it out of you.  Texas will take it out of you. 

We only played a total of three shows and I'm thoroughly exhausted.  I can't imagine doing, say five in one day.  Or fifteen over the course of a weekend.  And unless your tab was covered by the company dollar, you probably subsisted on a steady diet of liquor, beer, and greasy food the entire time.  Not to mention how hard it is to look cool and be comfortable.  I mean, I think everyone would feel better about this hadj to the Mecca of musical showcasing in gym shorts and orthopedic shoes.  But dammit, you gotta look cool.  So you'll suffer through it in those new shoes with no support or those tight, sweaty jeans that make you look oh so badass.  It's that cowboy mentality.  Clint Eastwood probably wasn't so comfortable shooting "High Plains Drifter" in a pancho that looks like it was made of burlap.  But when he puts that cigar in his mouth and wields a six-shooter, everyone knows he means business.  

What am I saying here?  I guess that you can only mess with Texas for so long before you have to say to yourself, "It's time to go home."  Even if you actually live in Texas, like we do.  Sure, there are those true Texans who live the hard life and it's all they've ever known.  And maybe one day, we can be a band like that.  I hope so.  But for now, we're ready to go home, maybe watch a movie or order some comfort food, and crash like trains into our own beds.  And then the next tour will come around and we'll do it all over again.  Only we'll mess with America.

Ryan
The New Frontiers