Description
Book SynopsisIn sunbaked Terlingua, Texas (pop., a few hundred), residents joke that there is a musician under every rock. Located ten miles from Mexico in one of the remotest corners of the United States, the town had a recording studio before it had a school, a well-stocked grocery store, or even a water utility. Open jam sessions are a daily ritual, and some songwriters make a living from their craft despite being thousands of miles from New York or Nashville. Why does such a tiny and isolated place ring with singing and guitars?Based on more than two years of on-the-ground research, On the Porch tells the story of this small but remarkable community. Chase Peeler invites us into the music, introducing us to a cast of characters as unique as the town itself. He reveals how novices and experts perform togethera rarity in contemporary America. He recounts the devastation brought on by a border closure and describes how music is once again uniting people across the Rio Grande. He considers the impa
Trade ReviewInteresting and compelling...Peeler’s sentences soar most when he’s describing the landscape of Terlingua, so much so that it’s impossible not to daydream about seeking out this incredible town. * Texas Observer *
On the Porch makes the case that Terlingua’s famous community porch is home to one of the most important and unique musical scenes in the state...As commercial tourism continues to grow in the region, there are some who worry that Terlingua’s musical culture could fade away. For those of us with our own porch stories, this book is a comforting testament that, whatever comes, these musicians and their music will always be remembered. * Texas Monthly *
Table of ContentsPrologue: On the Porch
Introduction: Hundred Miles from Nowhere
1. Starlight and Stage Lights
2. In the Incubator
3. The Austin Effect
4. Voices From Both Sides
5. Getting Fatter
Epilogue: Green Chile Stew
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
