Comments for Joe Nick Patoski http://joenickp.com Writer, historian, Texan Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:47:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Bid to honor Western swing music hits sour note in Texas Legislature by gary whitford http://joenickp.com/music/bid-to-honor-western-swing-music-hits-sour-note-in-texas-legislature/#comment-554 gary whitford Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:47:51 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?p=386#comment-554 Now, that's just plain silly. There's supposedly four kinds of Texas barbecue, but nearly every backyard in the state has a grill of some kind and every single fire has at least one cook with his/her own special recipe. The same is true of Texas music. When the sun goes down and the pit starts to cool, we gather 'round with our favorite brews and pull out the guitars - and fiddles and concertinas and etceteras - and proceed to tell stories in verse. Name all those famous musicians - each one with their own styles and tales - then exponentialize to the millions of unsung rockers, bluesies, jazzers, contantes, preachers and god knows all the "genres" I'm missin. Salute Bob Wills, salute Narcisso, Gatemouth, Stevie, but don't try to tell me there's one kind of Texas music. Rumi said it 10 centuries before there was a Texas: "everything is music, man, everything." (kinda paraphrasin, but you know what I'm singin here...) Now, that’s just plain silly. There’s supposedly four kinds of Texas barbecue, but nearly every backyard in the state has a grill of some kind and every single fire has at least one cook with his/her own special recipe. The same is true of Texas music. When the sun goes down and the pit starts to cool, we gather ’round with our favorite brews and pull out the guitars – and fiddles and concertinas and etceteras – and proceed to tell stories in verse. Name all those famous musicians – each one with their own styles and tales – then exponentialize to the millions of unsung rockers, bluesies, jazzers, contantes, preachers and god knows all the “genres” I’m missin. Salute Bob Wills, salute Narcisso, Gatemouth, Stevie, but don’t try to tell me there’s one kind of Texas music. Rumi said it 10 centuries before there was a Texas: “everything is music, man, everything.” (kinda paraphrasin, but you know what I’m singin here…)

]]> Comment on Barbecue’s New Battle Breaks Out In Austin by buckley wineholt http://joenickp.com/uncategorized/barbecues-new-battle-breaks-out-in-austin/#comment-534 buckley wineholt Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:54:50 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?p=528#comment-534 I have been getting Mutton at Willie's BBQ on wayyy- east MLK for years...better than Sam's ! Great foodwriting! I have been getting Mutton at Willie’s BBQ on wayyy- east MLK for years…better than Sam’s ! Great foodwriting!

]]> Comment on Bio by Mike Carlson http://joenickp.com/bio/#comment-529 Mike Carlson Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:27:04 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?page_id=6#comment-529 I am trying to preserve the history of the old South Austin as we knew it. I am not a historian but I love history. Any suggestions would be great. I am going to start interviewing what I call "South Austin Legends". There are some left. Would like to meet you. Mike Carlson I am trying to preserve the history of the old South Austin as we knew it. I am not a historian but I love history. Any suggestions would be great. I am going to start interviewing what I call “South Austin Legends”. There are some left. Would like to meet you.

Mike Carlson

]]> Comment on Book signing at Book People, Sat, June 25 by vince bell http://joenickp.com/books/book-signing-at-book-people-sat-june-25/#comment-510 vince bell Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:16:46 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?p=512#comment-510 Looking good, amigo. Looking good, amigo.

]]> Comment on Archives by Cath C - San Marcos http://joenickp.com/archives/#comment-416 Cath C - San Marcos Sat, 11 Jun 2011 19:58:03 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?page_id=4#comment-416 Hi Joe, I just read your article published in the Dallas Morning News from 2003 about the Texas Water Safari. Somehow I missed it in the past on their website. Today, for the 4th year in a row (since moving to SM), I watched the rowers pass Westerfield Crossing which is about 30-45 minutes from the starting line and just after they port Cummings Dam. Well, HOPEFULLY they ported the dam because it's dangerous to go over!! (some do) Your account of the race and history of some of the entrants was totally awesome! Please write again, perhaps next year? about this race for the Austin Statesman. Take care! Cath Hi Joe,

I just read your article published in the Dallas Morning News from 2003 about the Texas Water Safari. Somehow I missed it in the past on their website.

Today, for the 4th year in a row (since moving to SM), I watched the rowers pass Westerfield Crossing which is about 30-45 minutes from the starting line and just after they port Cummings Dam. Well, HOPEFULLY they ported the dam because it’s dangerous to go over!! (some do)

Your account of the race and history of some of the entrants was totally awesome! Please write again, perhaps next year? about this race for the Austin Statesman.

Take care!
Cath

]]> Comment on Bid to honor Western swing music hits sour note in Texas Legislature by Paula Jungmann http://joenickp.com/music/bid-to-honor-western-swing-music-hits-sour-note-in-texas-legislature/#comment-279 Paula Jungmann Fri, 20 May 2011 15:05:05 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?p=386#comment-279 It's not about WHO folks it's about WHAT is Texas Culture and Heritage when you speak or write of a Symbol of Texas. None describes the melting pot of Texas' people musicially better than Western Swing music. The genre that was develped right here in the Lone Star State. My aim is to honor our culture and heritage just as those who chose the Lone Star, the blue bonnet, and the guitar and all the other wonderful things that make us who we are in this State. Would I like to keep this music alive? You betch'a I do it's plain too good not to have it here for people to enjoy. These symbols are the very things that tourist come here to learn about our culture the very things that make us unique to the rest of the world. If we didn't have those symbols and cultural heritage icons we wouldn't be much different from everywhere else. I think TEXAS is very special and so do our visitors. Paula E. Jungmann It’s not about WHO folks it’s about WHAT is Texas Culture and Heritage when you speak or write of a Symbol of Texas. None describes the melting pot of Texas’ people musicially better than Western Swing music. The genre that was develped right here in the Lone Star State.

My aim is to honor our culture and heritage just as those who chose the Lone Star, the blue bonnet, and the guitar and all the other wonderful things that make us who we are in this State.

Would I like to keep this music alive? You betch’a I do it’s plain too good not to have it here for people to enjoy. These symbols are the very things that tourist come here to learn about our culture the very things that make us unique to the rest of the world. If we didn’t have those symbols and cultural heritage icons we wouldn’t be much different from everywhere else. I think TEXAS is very special and so do our visitors.

Paula E. Jungmann

]]> Comment on Why Texans are Texans, a talk at Lamar University, April 14 by Conrad Woodring http://joenickp.com/uncategorized/why-texans-are-texans-a-talk-at-lamar-university-april-14/#comment-193 Conrad Woodring Wed, 04 May 2011 02:08:23 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?p=383#comment-193 Hi Joe, I just wanted to email you and say that I went to your lecture and it had a profound impact on my view of Texans. I wrote a blog post about it if you are interested. When I came down here, I had a negative view of Texans. Having lived here now for 2.5 years my opinion has gotten worse and worse. Your lecture, helped me something. I thank you for that. I have a new found respect for Texans and this state (although all my old ideas haven't left me), and have made a promise to myself to make the most of these last few months. Just two weeks ago I went to Caddo Lake State Park and was stunned at what I saw. Thank you for opening my eyes. Regards, Conrad Hi Joe,
I just wanted to email you and say that I went to your lecture and it had a profound impact on my view of Texans. I wrote a blog post about it if you are interested.

When I came down here, I had a negative view of Texans. Having lived here now for 2.5 years my opinion has gotten worse and worse. Your lecture, helped me something. I thank you for that. I have a new found respect for Texans and this state (although all my old ideas haven’t left me), and have made a promise to myself to make the most of these last few months. Just two weeks ago I went to Caddo Lake State Park and was stunned at what I saw.

Thank you for opening my eyes.

Regards,
Conrad

]]> Comment on Archives by Jim Rewerts http://joenickp.com/archives/#comment-181 Jim Rewerts Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:37:37 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?page_id=4#comment-181 Joe Joe Aronson "The Beast " was agood friend of mine. He was Willies bus driver in the70s and 80s. Joe drove the bus to the White House. I currently own this bus and have owned it since the 1990s. It is called the" tube" a 1972 GMC scenic cruiser that was originally owned by Dolly Pardon and Porter Wagonner. I have kept this bus in my Warehouse in Vidor for the past 20 years. Willies name is on the title as the previous owner.It still has Willie for President stickers on it.Do you have any photos of this bus I can buy . This bus toured a lot of old rock stars and has a great history. I consider it the ultimate head bus. Thank you Jim Rewerts 713=398=5527 Joe

Joe Aronson “The Beast ” was agood friend of mine. He was Willies bus driver in the70s and 80s. Joe drove the bus to the White House. I currently own this bus and have owned it since the 1990s. It is called the” tube” a 1972 GMC scenic cruiser that was originally owned by Dolly Pardon and Porter Wagonner. I have kept this bus in my Warehouse in Vidor for the past 20 years. Willies name is on the title as the previous owner.It still has Willie for President stickers on it.Do you have any photos of this bus I can buy . This bus toured a lot of old rock stars and has a great history. I consider it the ultimate head bus.

Thank you

Jim Rewerts
713=398=5527

]]> Comment on The Fall and Rise of Blaze Foley by Charlie Day http://joenickp.com/music/the-fall-and-rise-of-blaze-foley/#comment-177 Charlie Day Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:19:46 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?p=75#comment-177 For the record, Moi Harris is not mentioned here or anywhere. Moi had published some of Blazes tunes and we did lots of demos at Mois' studio behind the Austin Opry House. Moi called me to come do overdubs at Spencers, I brought my Blanton pedal steel , built for my UNCLE Jimmy Day, and my D-28 martin....Spencer led me thru the tracks stacking rythem guitars and steel parts to match the Waddell boys stuff and man I think it was just a "magic" night for Blaze as well as the rest of us....after Blaze got shot I left for Nashville and carried with me a cheap cassette copy of the session and played it for picking buddies and grieved for ole Blaze.....years later I landed back in Austin and joined a band with Mel Pouch, Mel had hung out with the Waddell boys and heard so many stories about Blaze and Townes...anyhow I made him a CD copy of my wore out cassette and that is what was mastered as the album/CD mentioned here. I truly hope and pray that someone comes up with a better copy of the original session for folks to hear, Spencer is one of the best engineers in the buisness but what you hear was mastered off of a ten or fifteen year old cassette. and for the record, all this shit about Blaze being drunk all the time is crap! He was sober as a judge the two nights I recorded this album with him and even talked with me about forming a band and going for the brass ring.......he never gave up, he was NEVER a phoney, he always had a lot of soul and would grab a guitar and pick or jam at the drop of a hat. His legacy should be more about the music than the crazy stuff that a lot of pickers used to get away with...just having a little fun with the good neighbors. "Another sinking sun, sad songs for us to sing." Rest in peace my brother, we'll sing yer songs fer ya...it's all about the love ya'll, share the love and share the songs. For the record, Moi Harris is not mentioned here or anywhere. Moi had published some of Blazes tunes and we did lots of demos at Mois’ studio behind the Austin Opry House. Moi called me to come do overdubs at Spencers, I brought my Blanton pedal steel , built for my UNCLE Jimmy Day, and my D-28 martin….Spencer led me thru the tracks stacking rythem guitars and steel parts to match the Waddell boys stuff and man I think it was just a “magic” night for Blaze as well as the rest of us….after Blaze got shot I left for Nashville and carried with me a cheap cassette copy of the session and played it for picking buddies and grieved for ole Blaze…..years later I landed back in Austin and joined a band with Mel Pouch, Mel had hung out with the Waddell boys and heard so many stories about Blaze and Townes…anyhow I made him a CD copy of my wore out cassette and that is what was mastered as the album/CD mentioned here. I truly hope and pray that someone comes up with a better copy of the original session for folks to hear, Spencer is one of the best engineers in the buisness but what you hear was mastered off of a ten or fifteen year old cassette. and for the record, all this shit about Blaze being drunk all the time is crap! He was sober as a judge the two nights I recorded this album with him and even talked with me about forming a band and going for the brass ring…….he never gave up, he was NEVER a phoney, he always had a lot of soul and would grab a guitar and pick or jam at the drop of a hat. His legacy should be more about the music than the crazy stuff that a lot of pickers used to get away with…just having a little fun with the good neighbors. “Another sinking sun, sad songs for us to sing.” Rest in peace my brother, we’ll sing yer songs fer ya…it’s all about the love ya’ll, share the love and share the songs.

]]> Comment on The Fall and Rise of Blaze Foley by Bobby Nelson http://joenickp.com/music/the-fall-and-rise-of-blaze-foley/#comment-169 Bobby Nelson Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:40:42 +0000 http://joenickp.com/?p=75#comment-169 I enjoyed your article. Thank you for the memories. Blaze was special as so many of the artists of that time were, and are. I was there the night Blaze spit at Rod Kennedy. Actually, the spit hit Poole (?) the owner of a Dallas club who was sitting next to Rod. Rod didn't get in a fight with Blaze. I think if he had, Blaze could have taken him. Blaze was immediately asked to leave. He did. Blaze was 86ed from the club (but only for a while). It was not the first club Martin Wiginton (my partner) and I had thrown him out of or let him back into to. The Alamo Lounge was the first. A rare talent was Blaze. Regards, Bobby Nelson I enjoyed your article. Thank you for the memories. Blaze was special as so many of the artists of that time were, and are.

I was there the night Blaze spit at Rod Kennedy. Actually, the spit hit Poole (?) the owner of a Dallas club who was sitting next to Rod. Rod didn’t get in a fight with Blaze. I think if he had, Blaze could have taken him. Blaze was immediately asked to leave. He did. Blaze was 86ed from the club (but only for a while). It was not the first club Martin Wiginton (my partner) and I had thrown him out of or let him back into to. The Alamo Lounge was the first.

A rare talent was Blaze.

Regards, Bobby Nelson

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