James McMurtry

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We were at the Continental Club Gallery to see James McMurtry on Wednesday performing solo at 8:30 with a $15 cover charge (he performs with his band downstairs on Tuesdays later in the evening). It's an awful dive bar but gosh we keep coming back. James is an amazing performer — great lyrics and he makes a 6 or 12 string sound like a full orchestra. We first saw him back in 1994 here in Austin at La Zona Rosa (a club in the warehouse district that's long gone as are the warehouses). ... 30yrs ago, so I guess we're fans.

James isn't much of a talker and doesn't tolerate an audience who want to talk over him: "Simon says keep it down" — that small group chatty left. He did many tunes we know like "Levelland" (which was a hit for Robert Earl Keene), "Choctaw Bingo" (described as his hit — a couple got up and danced! I think there's a new verse in there), "Long Island Sound" (Kate says it's her favorite), and "Red Dress" (in protest to some of the recent anti-drag laws he has been performing in a red dress, but not tonight).

He did a new song, "Pinocchio in Las Vegas", which was pretty interesting and more than a little weird. It tells the story of Pinocchio after Geppetto dies, inheritance battles, lawyer fees, ugly rumors and how Pinocchio wins at cards because he has a blank face and now it's his penis that grows when he lies, not his nose. It's weird, I'm not sure what the story is really about. 

He reminded guests to tip big, he suggests you start at 20% and work your way up, as TX does not pay waitstaff (I think I read the wage for staff who receive tips is only $2.15/hr. sic!). I recall our bar tab being quite reasonable and we left a good tip. Prices seem to very widely at the clubs.

We see he's going to be touring soon with BettySoo so we want to catch him here while we can. Perhaps we'll show up next week.

See also "James McMurtry plays in a dress to protest new Tennessee law" (May 10, 2023).