Bob Harris from BBC TV and radio has been a great inspiration for me. Back in the days of 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' he was the first person to introduce me to Pink Floyd, Van Morrison, The Cars, Souther Hillman Furay band and numerous others.
In more recent years he's been broadcasting 'Bob Harris Country' on BBC radio 2, and it was during one of these shows that I first found out about Hayes Carll. I'd been to Nashville for the first time a year or two before and hearing country, americana and bluegrass, opened a whole new world to me. So many bands, artists and songwriters I'd never heard of before.
I think it was 2006 when we visited San Antonio, TX, and found out that Hayes was playing at Floor's Country Store in nearby Helotes, an amazing honky tonk with stages inside and out. I was so excited to be seeing him perform, especially in this one-of-a-kind setting.
Wanting to get a good seat we were amongst the first to arrive; the band was on stage doing a sound check. $7 was the entrance fee.
I was blown away as I tend to be when seeing places like this for the first time. The guy on the mixer desk was taking a break so I took the opportunity to talk to him. I asked if he worked for the venue or the band, and sure enough he worked for Floore's. Next I told him I'd come to hear Hayes as I'd heard Bob Harris from the BBC play some of his songs. "Yeah, we know Bob" the guy replied, "he's been in here". Wow this I going to be fun I thought.
It got better. We took seats up front but to the side, ordered two chicken friend stakes, and as we finished our grub, Hayes walked over and sat with us. Mixer man had mentioned about me being from the UK. It was wonderful to speak with Hayes, we felt connected, and I came to understand that little things like that are part of what makes small venues and emerging artists and original songwriters so special.
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