Viva Terlingua

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We're at the Wittliff Collection at the Texas State University, San Marcos for the opening of an exhibit  "Viva Terlingua: The Big Bang of Texas Music" (the exhibit closed December 6, 2025). In August of 1973 Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band recorded the live record "Viva Terlingua". Tapes of the out takes, rough recordings and more are kept at the Wittliff Collection in the JJW archives which were donated to the University. These have been researched for academic work, this exhibit and more.

Jerry Jeff is, of course, no more (see the February 28 blog on our visit to his grave) but many of those Gonzos are still around and playing -- e.g., Gary P. Nunn and Bob Livingston who we have enjoyed seeing several times over the years. Gary P. is famous for "London Homesick Blues" (home of the Armadillo) recorded for that album. Other timeless gems from the album include "Gettin' By (on Gettin' High)", "Desperados Waiting for a Train" (writer Guy Clark) and "Up Against The Wall, Red Neck Mothers" (writer Ray Wylie Hubbard). If you don't know the album I would encourage you to give it a listen. You won't be disappointed; even this 52 years later!

There was a packed house at the Wittliff for the opening, they weren't prepared for how many came but were pleasantly surprised, we were lucky to find parking near the library (Kate's mobility pass), and lots of stories were told of the hijinks involved in making the album. This was the album that introduced me and many others to JJW and what came to be known as "Outlaw Country". Probably the main reason for our continued return to Texas over these many years is the music from this album. For example, we've been to Luckenbach several times; we even saw Gary P. there! We've been lucky to see Gary P and Bob Livingston many times in and around Austin. We caught JJW only a very few times -- my most notable experience was seeing him at the Horseshoe in Toronto around the time of "A Man Must Carry On" (that was mid 1970's before Kate). He was certainly "carrying on" back in those days.

We ducked out a bit early, before Gary P. played the piano, as we had tickets to see Garret T. Capps at the Redbird.