Every Saturday I play a show at Filthy McNasty's Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards. I play 4:00-6:00 and take over the stage from the man who plays 2:00-4:00, Phil Wallace. Phil is one of the most entertaining musicians I know, but I don't always know how entertaining he means to be. He'll sometimes talk as much as he sings, and will let you know if he thinks you should be doing something different than you are. Phil has a unique approach to stage presence that sometimes involves not being on the stage at all.
As long as I've known Phil, I've known him to be talented and genuine. He has an old soul and writes that way. You won't usually hear him sing the latest release from the coolest new band, but he'll sing songs that make you think and sometimes want to lay down and cry. He'll also make you laugh till you almost wet yourself. Oh yeah, if he takes a shine to you, he's liable to make you blush. Go see Phil Wallace play. Listen to his music. You've never heard anything like him.
Sometimes, when Phil can't make it on a Saturday, he'll get our buddy T-Bone Stearns to fill in for him. T-Bone has the kind of voice that will pull you in from the street because you just know someone with that voice must also have something good to sing. Whether you catch him with his band, The Low Flying Buzzards, or by himself, his shows are really cool to watch. He'll sing heart wrenching love songs and good ole beer drinking tunes. He's an inspiration to people like me because of the strength of will he shows in this business that will put your willpower to the test every second.
T-Bone has a style that seems familiar, but not like anyone you've heard before. While he can sound just like Willie, Waylon, and Johnny, he doesn't. There's not a huge catalogue available on Spotify yet, but check out what he does have, follow, like I do, and wait for more. His new single "Buzzards" is a gritty mournful jam that takes you through an emotional desert reducing people to dogs and buzzards, reminding us to take care of the ones we love.
I can't wait to hear what more T-Bone will have for us to listen to, but for now, he plays several shows every week. I bet you can figure out when and where to find him, like a buzzard might...
And finally, why don't I tell you about Skylar Payne. Skylar has been around for awhile (not as long as me) but long enough for most people who hang out in the DFW honky-tonks to know who he is. He hosts lots of open mic nights, open jams, songwriter nights, you name it.
He's written some incredible music in his own right. One blew me away so much I did a cover of it on my YouTube channel. It's called "Before You Said Goodbye" and I can't even think of the song without starting to sing it in my head, cause that's where it sticks. Another, "Sittin' With A Psycho" I've only heard live, but hope he'll record it soon.
His voice and songwriting are filled with grit, emotion, and just enough vulnerability to help you believe him but not make him seem weak. I've had the honor of watching him work for several years and can't wait to see what else he comes up with. Go see Skylar Payne.
Go see Phil, T-Bone, and Skylar. Not only are these men great musicians, but I consider them good friends. I wish we had more recorded music from them, but until then, we gotta catch the shows. Follow them on Spotify, or Apple, or wherever so you can hear when they have new music.