Joe Ely is on the move, from status as a West Texas troubadour, and into the rare air of Texas Music Legend. Ely wove his story telling magic in between the clouds of cigarette smoke (which drove him hoarse a couple of times) into a visual Texas tapestry that includes fighting cocks, a rendezvous with Jesus in the form of a gun toting hitchhiker and many other uniquely Texas threads.

Ely, who I have seen three times now, played solo at Dan’s Silverleaf last night, proving to be, and sound, as lean and hungry as the first time I saw him (headlining Denton Arts & Jazz Festival) with a full band, and the last time I saw him when it was only Ely and Joel Guzman (a masterful accordion player). Standing alone, with only a guitar for cover, allows an artist like Ely to paint pictures of outlaws, vast landscapes, love and life – without the distraction of being framed by musicians and their potential idiosynchrasies. At the end when it gets all boiled down, what showed was the essence of a musician, and Ely who takes requests, works as hard as anyone who’s graced Dan’s stage, and left no doubt about the soul from which his music flows.

The photography, part of an ongoing book project about Dan’s Silverleaf, was as usual – difficult and overtly frustrating. Live shows with little or no cooperation from light sources, are a crapshoot at best, nightmares that carry into the wee hours with the hangover of looking at hundreds of images and (if lucky) coming out with at most a hand full of useful shots. It has been about two years since last photographing Ely at Dan’s, and since then, I was able to find the lighting that now graces the rafters there, and that of course helps somewhat in the pursuit of images for the book.

We are starting to tie a few up for the journey to Gulf Shores next weekend, and in a few calls made in that direction, we’ve learned the Pompano could be running and some of the sweet spots on the Ocean side. Given my druthers, I would be content to chase fish in the Bay ALL DAY LONG. However, where the fish are is where I really want to be.

Well, the only redeeming thing about today’s entertainment is that the flooded creek (from last night’s storms) will be followed by the return of Joe Ely to Dan’s Silverleaf here in Denton. The last time Ely appeared here, it was something to behold – a show with Joe Ely and accordion player Joel Guzman. That was it – Ely and Guzman. Grizzled Texas music veterans attending that show still recall it with a glint in their eye.

The video of Hybrid Creek action is still being tooled upon – right now on another machine – as I write. I am hacking away at the whole “video thing” trying to create something to keep folks awake at night, watching and wondering. It is truly amazing the time that burns away working on video. I LIKE STILLS!

KORKERS BOOTS
I did find this video of KoRkErS boots after the most basic search, on their site. Take it with a grain of salt because switching out the soles is not as easy as it looks. However, these boots are so lightweight they almost have to be pushed to hit bottom, and with soles for every situation, they are every gimmick lover’s damp dream. In talking to Jon at Front Range Anglers, he said the only potentially negative feedback he had received was the boots are cut on a narrow last – meaning they are perfect for a skinny foot like mine. Watch the video, and if you would like a demonstration of how the soles really pop into place, SKYPE me and I will show you up close and personal. Meanwhile, I have to give them two thumbs up, and up the nose of traditional boots. If you are into experimentation, and frustrated with big, sloppy fitting boots, this may be a boot to remedy your tired dog blues. I am also considering sandals to take advantage of the different sole types I now have in hand – they come with the trail lug and the felt sole, and I went ahead and purchased the carbide studded rubber soles which are, to say the least, aggressive (at 7mm). They have had incredible traction for me at Texoma below the dam as well as at the notoriously slick Beaver’s Bend.

Sitting back with a glass of Rex Goliath Pinot Noir, and wondering just how I could have misjudged those Wipers so badly. Before I go into the short story on the back label of the Rex, I must confess that previous to this, I thought the Hybrid/Wipers were simple bruits who just powered their way through an even match – they won a few, lost a bunch.

Today, a new respect was handed down to me by actually seeing them – running for the sticks and stones in the creek, wrap around them, and pull away – popping loose with an irritating new lip piercing that looks a lot like my synthetic Clousers. OK, so they won a few today. I cut my leader down to about 3 feet (a 15 pound bass leader!), and tied on a patriotic Deceiver, all I had left in the color family, and began wrestling them away from the sticks and stones and ashore with much greater success. I guess the Fish Gods thought I could use some help in outsmarting a fish. Time to tie some more of those 600SP’s in a Clouser wardrobe, and hope for another shot at these nesting giants.

The Rex Goliath Story, according to and quoting from the label, “…HRM (His Royal Majesty) Rex Goliath was the treasured attraction of a Texas Circus. People came from far and wide to behold the 47 lb. bird, billed as the World’s Largest Rooster”. It’s not a Texas wine, instead a product of France and bottled in California in Woodbridge.
I am a little biased toward the Pinots in general, and this one is no slouch. It doesn’t rock your world either, but has an even nose and palate, and more psychologically affordable than a gallon of diesel.

Speaking of food and spirits, I had a wonderful assignment today photographing a lecture by a husband wife duo of writer travelers – Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison, authors of “Around The World in 80 Dinners” and “Texas Home Cooking”, and will go into greater detail tomorrow. Go straight cokingwiththejamisons.com to see the Jamison’s site and long list of cookbooks they have authored.

Current events seem to be preempting gear reviews, so as soon as I can figure out how to accurately depict how the Korkers Boots actually work, I will podcast it for mass consumption. It is a technically complex boot, and I have yet to see any online video that accurately depicts how they work. There’s also a ton of Wiper video in the can waiting for a marathon editing session. All in good time.