Finally, after two more sets of directions from amused local people, we rolled into Gruene. Stand in line. So off we go, just the two of us, me and the trusty sidekick, one more time, to get some diner. But what with the lovely and lazy view over the Guadalupe River, the hills of Comal County, the verdant tree tops, the idea of fine al fresco dining is almost too good to pass up. Should've stuck to the burgers, out here in Texas.
Ambience only goes so far on an empty stomach.
But like the time before, the delay was fortuitous. We got back to Gruene Hall, just as the band was geting to the stage, arranging their instruments and starting to test their equipment over the house noise. There are not many things in this world which are so quintessentially Texan as Ray Wylie Hubbard at Gruene Hall. Here's man who writes soulful lyrics, sets them to a deceptively simple country beat, and yet seems more like a Zen Master than anything else. If anyone in this world is going to channel Elvis, it's Ray Wylie Hubbard.