Bohemian Princess Diary
Live music venues are hot! What a boon for local musicians to set up in a relaxed, casual atmosphere to play their music for an appreciative audience looking for an escape from a crazy work week. Meet some friends, have a few beers, dine on the burgers and barbecue, maybe even kick off your shoes, and enjoy the music.
I had the pleasure of visiting two such establishments recently. One was Pavlas Tavern in Moulton. (That's me at the Pavlas bar pictured above). In the family for years, they have decided to keep the tradition going. The tavern is open on weekends and at least one weekend out of the month, they present live music. Mike Stroup and The Moravian Woodpeckers were there when I visited. Tables were filled with friends sharing a good time and singing along to classic country. Hometown musician, Kenneth Kristynik and wife, Mary, drove up on their ATV, and Kenneth was even convinced to join the Woodpeckers to play a borrowed accordion and sing a Czech polka. Cheap beer and pulled pork sandwiches topped off the perfect evening. And it was fun to look at all the memorabilia the family has collected over the years.
The other venue was Mullins Prairie Store between Weimar and La Grange. Already a popular hangout for its food, cold beer, pool table, and shuffle board, the addition of Saturday night live music is brilliant! They even built an outdoor stage and dancing pavilion.
The night John and I were there, the moon was full, with a slight breeze, sitting under huge oak trees, listening to rockabilly by the Pettit Brothers. It was a perfect evening, made even more perfect when I beat John at a game of shuffle board. Brought back memories of Pate's Drive In on 19th and Beall in the Houston Heights where I grew up. That's where my parents would unwind on the weekends. No live music, but plenty of classic country and honky-tonk on the juke box. I got to be a pretty good shuffle board player in my tweens.
I encourage you to support the live music venues in your town or wherever your travels take you during this Oktoberfest season. We'll be back to Pavlas Tavern and Mullins Prairie Store, and hope to check out Cistern Country Store and White Horse Saloon in Burton as well, along with many others.
Until next month, Polka On! at live music venue near you!