Richard Cabesa’s Music Blog

Before his campaign to be Texas Governor, the casual music fan had probably never heard of Kinky Friedman. Most Texans probably recognize him more for his detective novels more than his music.  Or they know of his work writing a monthly column for four years in Texas Monthly magazine.  Any now he’s known for his campaign slogan of “Why the Hell Not?”   When I first heard that Sustain Records was putting out a tribute album for the Kinkster, I couldn’t wait.  And of course, “Why the Hell Not?” was the appropriate title for such a tribute. There is a fine collection of music on this tribute CD, including artists such as Dwight Yoakum, Bruce and Charlie Robison, Reckless Kelly, and Jason Boland.  And it doesn’t even include songs such as We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To You, Western Union Wire, Asshole from El Paso, and The Ballard of Charles Whitman, a song about the UT tower gunman in 1966.
My first Kinky experience was at the old Poor David’s Pub in Dallas, Texas in 1992.   By then most of his original band, The Texas Jewboys, no longer played with him.   Only Little Jewford still remained.  Previously, the band also consisted of humorous names:  Big Nig, Panama Red, Rainbow Colors and Snakebite Jacobs. He performed with Billy Joe Shaver that night, and I’ve been hooked on both ever since.  I immediately went out and bought the Old Testaments & New Revelations CD and I have since added to that collection. 
I like Friedman’s songwriting more so than his singing, and with the star studded lineup on this CD, that became even more apparent, as they consistently sing his songs better than he does.  The album opens with the humorous Get You Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed.  Kevin Fowler pulls this one off as only he can do.  He was perfect choice to sing this goofy song that has long been a Friedman classic.  Lyle Lovett is unbelievable singing Sold American.  This has never been one of my favorite Friedman songs, and Lovett has never been one of my favorite artists, but what he does with this song is beautiful.  I dare say his version is better than the original.   This is followed by Charlie Robison performing Wild Man From Borneo, which presumably was penned during his two years there in the Peace Corps.   Robison, like Lovett, nails this one.  I have no idea where Rapid City, South Dakota is but when Dwight Yoakum sings this song, he makes it sound like one of his own.  Yoakum has such a distinct sound, and is one of my all-time favorites; so naturally, I love his work on this song.   The greatness keeps rolling on The Gospel According To John, sung by Jason Boland.  This one is right up there with Lyle Lovett for tops on the album.  No punches were held by Todd Snider singing They Ain’t Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore, a song written by Friedman that faces racism and anti-Semitism eye to eye.  I love Bruce Robison, but he too, like Friedman, is a much better songwriter than singer.  Even with the brilliance of wife Kelly Willis singing, there is only so much he can do with Lady Yesterday.  This is the one lowlight of the album.  Some musicians are legends and sing the phone book and make it sound great.  Willie Nelson is one such legend.  He sings Ride ‘Em Jewboy, a remembrance of the Holocaust.  Like Yoakum, Nelson has his own distinctive sound and he hits a homerun on this recording.  Homo Erectus, a fun filled college song, is recorded by Reckless Kelly and Asleep at the Wheel.  I’m not sure this is the best song for either of them to sing, as something just isn’t there.   Another legend, Delbert McClinton, closes the album with the bluesy Autograph.  McClinton pours strong emotion into the song and it sounds wonderful.
Why the Hell Not: The Songs of Kinky Friedman proves that Kinky Friedman has long been a country maverick, even if the general public didn’t know who he was.  His gubernatorial campaign brought that into light and even shocked some people who had no idea to expect that from him.  When Friedman was writing and recording songs in the 1970s, there were no limits.  Everybody, every race, every religion wass a target.  As he says “he is an equal opportunity offender.”  And we wouldn’t have him any other way.  I’m just thankful that during this campaign he didn’t go away from who he is and become politically correct. He stayed true to himself until the last vote was counted.  His long storied career has included multiple albums, books, and other columns, and his candidacy for Texas Governor did not due justice to his talent and legacy.   With any luck at all, the will remain in the public eye and keep Austin in line.  Maybe by 2010, we’ll again be asking the question “Why the Hell Not?”  But for now, we are stuck with “Why the Hell Didn’t We?”  But at least we have his music to keep us busy until 2010.   Stay Kinky!

A lot of people probably remember Cooder Graw for the DodgeCommercials that featured their hit song, Llano Estacado.  But for Texas music fans, the group was far more than that.  But as they say in show business, all great things must end.  And with the conclusion of 2006, the curtains came down on Cooder Graw played at the Horseman Club in Ft. Worth, Texas. Cooder Graw, originally called “Coup de Grace” when they first formed in 1998, released its debut album that year – Home at the Golden Light, named because it was filmed live at the Golden Light Cantina in their hometown of Amarillo, Texas.  The album was self-produced by the band, although executive producer credit is given to Matthew McConaughey a fraternity brother of Matt Martindale.   The name change had already been made to Cooder Graw because there was already another band using the name “Coup de Grace”  Their first album featured mostly cover tunes such as Gary P. Nunn’s London Homesick Blues and Robert Earl Keen’s The Road Goes on Forever, but it was a sign to the masses that these guys could become stars.The original band consisted of Matt Martindale, Kelly Turner, Paul Baker, and Joe Ammons.   Martindale, the lead singer, Turner, and Baker lasted throughout the ride, while being joined along the way by Jimmy Whisenhunt, Nick Worley, Kelly Test, and John Hunt.   Cooder Graw was a diverse group, coming from all backgrounds.  Lead singer Matt Martindale, was the assistant district attorney of Gray County, Texas before becoming a full time artist.  Guitarist Kelly Turner was the manager of a manufacturing plant in Slaton, Texas.The band’s first “national release”, self-titled Cooder Graw was released in late 1999, and featured what would become their signature song Llano Estacado.   When Dodge featured the song in their TV commercials, the band found themselves thrust into the limelight in the state of Texas. With their self-professed loud and proud rocking country, they quickly became one of the hardest-working, most popular bands in Texas for the next several years.   In 2001, Segundo was released.  This album was primarily a combination remake of Home at the Golden Light and Cooder Graw.Also released in 2001, was Shifting Gears.  This album featured several hits including the title track, the humorous Willie’s Guitar, and my personal favorite, Better Days.   In Willie’s Guitar, the person doesn’t want to be famous.  All he wants his name on the legendary guitar. And he’ll do anything he can think up to get there -  like being caught sleeping in the car, not paying rent, stop getting haircuts, getting caught up in IRS affairs, and drinking whiskey every night.   This song showed the creative writing of Martindale.  Anybody that has gone through a breakup or divorce can relate to Better Days, when you see a happy couple kissing.   But the song inspires that one will eventually have “better days”.

When you are asked to record in the Live at Billy Bob’s series, then you know you have arrived.  And Cooder Graw achieved that status with the 2002 release of Live at Billy Bob’s.   The band’s final release was 2004’s Wake Up.    This CD featured the title track that rose quickly on the Texas Music Charts, as well as hits Clarksdale and That Girl Crystal.   Clarksdale is a rocking song that talks about temptation and the search for salvation, while That Girl Crystal sings about the dark side of drug abuse.The bands last show from the Horseman will be available on DVD soon, and it’s recommended that everybody buy it when it comes out.  It was great that the show was sold out and it was a very emotional setting.   There were several fans – men and women – that were in tears when Cooder Graw played Better Days for the last time.    As the guys go their separate ways, they will be forever linked together by their Better Days as Cooder Graw.  And rest assured that they have earned their spot on Willie’s Guitar, and they have made a Lifetime Stand in the hearts of Texas music fans. “I’ve had better days, in airports with rain delays.   Flat tires in traffic jams, and anytime I’ve been damned.  I’ve had better days, when the pain wouldn’t go away, and tears watering down my pride.  Yea, I’ve had better days.”