This stretch of interstate seems to grow by a few miles each time I barrel through Plainview, TX...and my foot gets a little heavier each time too. We're at the halfway mark on the way to Amarillo, and just like each day, anticipation for what the next tour stop will bring is so thick in the air you can almost smell it - oh wait, for those of you who've driven through West Texas, you know that smell is not anticipation. Ugh.

Marty's Front Bar. The low ceilings and extremely low-lit ambiance suggest a meeting scene from some mafioso film, but Landon and I work our way to the stage area unarmed and unharmed.

"It's dark in here," Landon astutely points out.

"Who's saying that?" I answer in jest...partially.

 The stage is set, now the final chore in to complete before the 15 minutes of breathing time before a show is - the merch table. Surely, this is one of the best setups we've ever done, something of a dessert tray for the audiophile...well, judge for yourself:

Done. Now to grab a quick bite and a drink before showtime. Maybe a quick pit stop too...of course, this is where the panes stand out. Before your entry to the men's room, this is the scene before you:

I'm assuming a pay phone used to be in the corner. Strange. It's like a fun house, but none of them modify your image. For our purposes, it will be the pseudo-fun house then.

Showtime. Landon and I trade sets and the crowd responds with claps, laughs, and hooting that one would always expect from an awesome West Texas audience. During a break between sets, a group of silver-haired patrons catches my eye and ear, and I decide to say hello.

"You guys have a great melody and beat. Don't ever change that." The man who gives this generous critique is 80 years old, and has been a bassist for over half his lifetime. No fancy experience he claims...until his cronies point out that Ella Fitzgerald was his employer for a few tours she did. Wow. That seems fairly fancy to me.

The other two at the table continue on with a few other stories, and I find that one of them owns a club in Cabo San Lucas. Geez. Who knew the wealth of experience and diversity that's to be found in a venue slightly off the beaten path in Amarillo? Well, no doubt about it, these chaps are automatically cool. Lump this show in the successful gig pile. On to Midland tomorrow...

-TRMJ