The band covers country standards and party favorites. There is no set list; they each suggest a song, and agree on them as they go. They take requests, and Marty gamely makes up lyrics when no one in the band knows them.
Howard sits near the back of the stage. After a few songs, he makes space for a young woman to join them with her black acoustic bass. The streaks of blue in Brea Guettner's black hair shine in the lights of the stage. Her tank top shows off an ornate tattoo collar that gracefully frames her neck and another floral design snaking its way up her right arm to the shoulder. She went to school with Troy Shimek, and still works in town, but goes to Austin and San Antonio as often as possible to hear music. She cites punk rock as one of her major musical influences.
About 11 PM, the evening starts to wind down. The store closed at 10, and the one person who thought ahead and bought a cold twelve-pack of bottles is very popular. He hands out the last bottles as the band puts away their instruments. Children nod off to sleep, and families gather to take their kids home. We suddenly realize our quick stopover stretched into five hours of fun and make our way home to Austin.
Getting there: Howard's is on the west side of Shiner, Texas. It is on Alt US 90, at the intersection of Boehm Road.
Article comments
1 - Coni Kurtz Jenkins
It was very intersting to read this article. It brought to mind a multitude of childhood memories of my family. Marty Shimek is my 1st cousin and as a child of 4 years old I attended the private school run by Ms. Gloor, Howards mother. This story was every weekend of my life growing up as a member of the Kurtz family. Even though over 20 years ago I moved on to surburbia and embraced an urban lifestyle, I am proud that this is my family and the rich heratige in which I grew up. It made me who I am today.