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Tuesday, March 1, 2016

My Texas

Shortly after moving to Texas in 2014, I discovered Josh Abbott Band. Their music is fantastic and provides listeners with the sounds of what it’s like to live in Texas, including West Texas where front man Josh Abbott is from. One of their songs is titled “My Texas” and Josh Abbott sings about characteristics and places in Texas that if you haven’t seen, then you “ain’t met my Texas yet.” For anyone visiting or moving to Texas, it might represent a bucket list of sorts to check off, especially as Texans tend to restrict their travels to within the state. At 790 miles long and 660 miles wide with beaches, deserts, near-tropical green spaces, Texas has it all. And after living in Texas for almost 3 years, I have completed a good portion of Josh Abbott’s My Texas bucket list, which I wanted to share with you below. I thought I would list each place he sings about, and provide my thoughts if I have been there, with links or pictures where appropriate:


Josh Abbott’s Texas
My thoughts
Climbed up Enchanted Rock
(never been here but I definitely want to go)
Drank a cold Shiner down in Luckenbach

Taken your baby to the River Walk
The River Walk is a must-see in Texas. Make sure you take the boat tours of the entire River Walk, then go check out the Alamo.
Floated down the ol’ Frio
I floated the Guadalupe, which is close enough!
Heard Red Dirt music on your radio
Red Dirt music is everywhere in Lubbock. I used to walk by the Red Dirt Rebel radio station everyday on my way to work at Texas Tech University
Eaten Cooper’s down in Llano

Been to the Houston Rodeo
Houston Rodeo is one of my favorite things in Texas. Especially the World Championship BBQ Cook-Off that kicks off the whole rodeo
Sang “Carry On’ at a Pat Green show
I sang Carry On with Pat Green when he opened for Josh Abbott, so I should get double points for this
Seen an Abilene sunset
Abilene sunsets are pretty nice. Feels like you can see the whole Wild West when watching the sun go down there
Caught a trout in Port A

Heard the words to Corpus Christi Bay
Corpus Christi Bay is a classic Robert Earl Keen song. Keen is from Houston
Seen fireworks on PK
(never been to Possum Kingdom, which is a state park just west of Dallas, but it looks pretty awesome)
Had a kolache when you go through West

Heard of the Larry Joe Taylor Fest
Not only have I heard of LJT music fest, but I went a few years ago. One of the craziest weekends I have ever had but the music is fantastic there
Think polished pop country sounds the best
Polished pop country is trash
Been to the Ft. Worth stock show

Sang along with Cory Morrow
Got to sing along with Cory Morrow at the Houston Rodeo this year
Seen a hill country sunset
I’ve seen a  hill country sunset AND sunrise. Both are really nice
Hiked through Big Bend

Had your hair blown back by a Lubbock wind
Lubbock weather can be nuts. The night I moved to Lubbock, the wind and rain were so crazy that it was raining sideways and flooded my loft.
Been somewhere where they call you friend
They call you friend everywhere in Texas
Been to the San Antone rodeo

Sang “Everclear” at a Creager show
If you ever go to a Creager show, make sure you are prepared to get soaked with beer, because when he plays “Everclear” everyone goes nuts
Seen an El Paso sunset
El Paso sunsets are really cool, especially if you watch the sunset over the mountains that run through the middle of the city

If I had my own “My Texas” song (or bucket list), I would include the following:
  • Sat on the Front Porch at Blue Light Live
  • Park your car on the beach at Mustang Island
  • Drank a Call-A-Cab at Tom’s in Lubbock
  • Watched the Longhorns play at Memorial Stadium
  • Sit on a rooftop bar on 6th street
  • Sang “She Likes the Beatles” with William Clark Green
  • Thrown a tortilla at the Jones
  • Watched the Aggies Midnight Yell
  • Eat fresh caught seafood in Galveston
  • Spend an afternoon on the USS Lexington 
  • Nachos and DP Shootouts at Chimy's
  • Late-night Taquitos at Whataburger
Front Porch at Blue Light Live in Lubbock
Sunset over El Paso mountains
Looking out to the Gulf of Mexico from Galveston Island
Sunset at Larry Joe Taylor Fest while William Clark Green plays "Rose Queen"
Pat Green!
Chuck wagon races at Houston Rodeo
My wife and I enjoying the BBQ Cook Off before the Houston Rodeo


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