Dale Watson

https://youtu.be/J58z0igjFWU

Independent Country Rides On Some stories are written in songs. Others are written in miles alon...

Absolutely. We all miss this man

Remembering James Hand
July 7, 1952 – June 8, 2020

Six years ago today, country music lost one of the last truly authentic voices it had left.

James "Slim" Hand grew up in Waco, Texas, and came up the hard way, playing honky-tonks and roadhouses as a teenager, long before anyone was paying attention. Before music became his life's work, he held jobs as a horse wrangler and a truck driver. He wasn't performing a character. He was just living, and the songs came from that.

He didn't release his first album until he was 47 years old. Most people would have given up long before that. Slim didn't. For much of his life he remained a local legend in Texas, quietly playing in smoky dives and dancehalls for a slowly widening circle of people who understood what they were hearing.

His influences were Hank Williams, George Jones, and Lefty Frizzell, and it showed in every line he sang. Not as imitation, but as something he'd absorbed so deeply it just came out that way naturally. Willie Nelson put it simply: "Folks, like I said before and it's STILL true, James Hand is the real deal."

He once said about his own songs: "A song is what you do for three minutes that you hope somebody else understands. Life writes 'em. I just try to remember the words."

That's as good a creative philosophy as you'll find anywhere.

He won an Ameripolitan Award and opened the Ameripolitan Awards as a performer every year since it began. Younger artists looked up to him. British country singer Ags Connolly paid tribute to him with the song "I Saw James Hand," and Charley Crockett featured him in a video for "How I Got to Memphis." His peers knew what they had in him.

When news of his passing spread, Dale Watson said: "The world is not as bright today with his loss." Hard to argue with that.

James Hand didn't chase fame. He chased the truth in a song, every single time. That's rarer than people realize, and it's worth remembering today.

Rest easy, Slim. 🕊
Your songs and your soul live on forever.

The Texas heat rolled in and suddenly we’re feeling like it’s summertime at the again with a cold in hand. 🍺

Last night was something special. Thank you to everyone who packed the room and made for a sold out show in Austin.

Feels good to be back in Texas… with a quick stop in Memphis tonight!

If you’re looking to catch Dale and the Lone Stars this weekend, here’s where you can find ’em:

📍 Tonight - Memphis Italian Festival, Memphis, TN
📍 Saturday - , Wortham, TX
📍 Sunday - , Llano, TX
📍 Monday - , Austin, TX

Thanks for keeping real country music alive and well. See y’all down the road. 🎶

LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH = CHICKEN SH*T BINGO TIME at 🐓

Dale Watson & His Lone Stars are headed back to Sundown for an afternoon of music, bingo, cold drinks, and a true Sunday Funday. Alongside, will be joining too - y’all are gettin’ lucky, Llano!

PLUS - vintage market pop-ups, yummy snacks, and a lot of

$2 bingo tickets. Up to $108 to win. Music from 2-6PM. See you Sunday.

Austin! Swang Thang with Twang returns this Thursday, May 28 🎺

Big band night with Dale Watson at , and a night you won’t want to miss.

These shows are always something special and they tend to fill up fast, so grab your tickets now!

7:30PM - Austin, TX
Tickets at DaleWatson.com

I’ve Known for over 30 years.

We got to know each other when his band Hellhounds would play the Rock side of Babes on 6th street and I did Wednesdays on the restaurant side. He always love to sit in and sing country songs. He took the leap and became a Country Smash. I’m very proud of him.

Rob seen here in the other side of me is an amazing Auctioneer. He hired me during the Covid hard times to play the Threadgils Auction as they closed the North location. Helped me a lot in those hard times. It was fun hanging out with them at the Gruene Grove after my show at