Luckenbach, Texas

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The lady at the Fredericksburg visitor center suggested that I check out Luckenbach, Texas, a place where I could listen to live music at 1 pm or 5 pm. I think she mentioned Willie Nelson or another country music star as having some connection to Luckenbach. I didn't pay too much attention.

Anyway, I decided to check out Luckenbach on the way out of Fredericksburg on my way to San Antonio. I put the address into Apple Maps which guided me there in about 15 minutes. The place had a  very cool vibe, with an old post office (closed in 1971), a warehouse turned into a gift shop selling T-shirts and hats and sundries, and a bar serving beer and drinks. I got a root beer only as I still needed to drive to San Antonio, about an hour away.

As I soon discovered with my iPhone, the place has a deep connection with Country music. In 1973, Jerry Jeff Walker and The Lost Gonzo Band recorded his live album "¡Viva Terlingua!" at Luckenbach Dance Hall. Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Waylon Jennings have all performed at Luckenbach. In addition, Willie Nelson's famous 4th of July picnic was held in Luckenbach in the 1990's.

Of course, I didn't know any of this when I arrived at Luckenbach. When serendipity happens on a road trip, it's often for the very best, and in this case serendipity hit on all cylinders. I texted my musician brother-in-law, John Bohannon, and he was understandably jealous of my good fortune of happening upon Luckenbach, where the town motto is "Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach."

The music soon started after I got there about 5 pm. There were a few performers on the stage and one of them actually played two Bob Dylan songs, neither one of them from Dylan's country phase. It was all very good. I savored my root beer soda (it was a Henry Weinhard and it was very good) and stayed for about an hour before I had to leave to get to San Antonio. 

Statue of Hondo Crouch and Jerry Jeff Walker
The five o'clock performers, including Dale Mayfield on the left
At the old post office which closed in 1971 and is now a store and a bar

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