Miles of Texas

Texas: Everything’s bigger there, everything’s better there.

Home to the beloved “America’s Team,” the highest number of executions*, last place in overall child health care**, the best barbecue (if you think over-smoked brisket’s the thing), the highest narcissism rate (barely beating out New Orleans), threatening to secede from the U.S. (as if the rest of the country would object) – Texas is all that and more.

But what Texas product can I not make any smart remarks about, indeed, can only shake my head at in wonder and admiration? What’s the point of this column again?

From Bob Wills to Willie Nelson, from T-Bone Walker to Stevie Ray Vaughn, from Buddy Holly to The Butthole Surfers, Texas has given the world the best in country, blues and rock.

Here are but three examples of old and new Texas artists with new platters (or megabytes) available.

DOUG SAHM was a one-man compendium of Texas (and American) music. He began as a country music child prodigy, but his first big break came when he cynically but brilliantly tried to cash in on the British Invasion phenomenon with the Sir Douglas Quintet. Looking suitably foppish (even with two Hispanics in the band), the group sported a mishmash of styles, from rock and rockabilly to blues and Tex-Mex.

“She’s About a Mover” and “Mendocino” are the best-known songs from this period.

Sahm then traveled to San Francisco where he soaked up the psychedelia of Haight-Ashbury but kept his soul.

The righteous “DOUG SAHM AND BAND” was released in 1973 and featured Bob Dylan, Dr. John, David Bromberg and Flaco Jimenez (a must-get).

“HELL OF A SPELL” came shortly after, a typical smorgasbord of genres with a heavy dose of Guitar Slim blues.

It wasn’t until he formed the Texas Tornados with Freddy Fender and his long-standing compadres Augie Meyers on keys and Flaco Jimenez on accordion that he tasted any real commercial success.

The Tornados were a blend of styles, too, but they made the most cohesive music of his career, heavy on the Latino strain of his make-up. His last work was a couple of R&B stompers and a reformation of the Quintet.

He died of a heart attack in 1999.

The occasion for this retrospective is a new album, “KEEP YOUR SOUL: A TRIBUTE TO DOUG SAHM.” Like most of these efforts starring various artists, the record keeps you comparing the re-dos to the originals, as well as trying to gauge the thoughtfulness and passion of the tribute-makers. On all fronts, this record succeeds.

Kicking off with the obvious and therefore risky “She’s About a Mover,” Little Willie G. (backed by Ry Cooder and the universal rhythm master, Jim Keltner) audaciously knocks it out to the cheap seats.

Los Lobos follow with the sunny bounce of “It Didn’t Even Bring Me Down,” and Alejandro Escovedo crunches out an opening trifecta with “Too Little Too Late,” featuring his now almost trademark guitar raunch leavened with swinging cellos.

Other highlights are Delbert McClinton’s “Texas Me” (his rasp so warm, much like Sahm’s), the menace and snarl of Charlie Sexton covering “You’re Doin’ It Too Hard” and Jimmie Vaughn’s blues plea, “Why, Why, Why.”

But there are no phone-ins, as Dave Alvin, Flaco and Freda and the Firedogs turn in fine efforts. His son, Shawn, closes with his second biggest hit, “Mendocino,” and it’s impossible not to believe Doug’s being channeled.

Doug Sahm’s heart was outwardly-worn and was as big as his beloved home state’s ego. Delve into his work here and then dive into his rich recorded legacy afterward.

Could we carve Austin out and bring it here, say about 50 miles north of Lafayette? It’s too cool for Texas, and too darn far to drive. Besides its numerous other charms, it’s home to a ridiculously abundant music scene. Roots music thrives and lends historical credibility to thriving experimental rock hipsters.

A new example of the former scene is BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS.

Rightly could they be accused of shameless retro imitation, but they blow the doors off with such violence you don’t have time to care. Mr. Lewis has the pipes of an unpolished Wilson Pickett/James Brown half-baby, and his band really cooks, with tight blasts of horns, greasy B-3 and a driving rhythm section.

Their newest record, “TELL ‘EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS,” roars out of the chute and barely pauses for a breath.

“Gunpowder” starts the sprint with onomatopoeic glee (Junior Walker’s “Shotgun,” anyone?). Hard-to-miss message songs like “I’m Broke,” “Big Booty Woman” and “Get Yo S**t” forgo any involvement from the neck up.

Likewise, “Humpin’,” “Boogie” and “Bobby Booshay” require only a functioning medulla oblongata to appreciate. Only “Master Sold My Baby” approaches something akin to seriousness, but any real message takes a back seat to Lewis’ juke-joint moan and shuffling martial beat.

This is a band that’s made to be heard live, so catch them if you can.

A band made to be heard under the influence is WHITE DENIM, a trio from Austin practicing the aforesaid hip experimentalism. Sometimes funky, other times herky-jerk Frankenstein lurching, sometimes both at once, the band never allows comfort or predictability to seep in.

Their recorded output is not easy to find, with an EP and MP3-only new one called “EXPLOSION.”

From the rococo opener, “Don’t Look That Way at It,” to the garage-strumming of “Transparency,” to the let’s-name-the-song-with-the-phonetically-spelled-chorus, “Ieiei,” the album serves notice: expect the unexpected. In less talented hands, such a plan could weary the listener from the strain, but White Denim has real chops.

“Wda” gets a head of steam (or something) going, “You Can’t Say” soars on Pet Shop Boys-wings, “Shake, Shake, Shake” goes from spastic to grooving, “All You Really Have To Do” actually rocks out, and “Sitting” approaches polished professionalism.

You can’t fault these guys for lack of spirit or willingness to step out of the herd, but how far you’re willing to follow them depends on your ears’ openness.

“You just can’t live in Texas if you don’t have a lot of soul”, sang Doug Sahm. The more you think about it, the more it makes sense.

* http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/number-executions-state-and-region-1976

** http://www.statemaster.com/graph/hea_ove_chi_ hea_sta-health-overall-child-status