Texas songwriter James McMurtry will make a long-overdue return to Amarillo this week for an 8 p.m. Sunday show at Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.
In the songwriter’s estimation, it’s been more than 30 years since he performed for the first and, until now, last time in Amarillo in a show at the long-defunct club Shooter’s.
“It was about 1992 or ’93,” McMurtry recalled. “I remember there wasn’t hardly any backstage, just like, a little, tiny sort of place you could hide,” he continued. “There was graffiti all over it, and somebody had written on the wall ‘Ian Moore is misunderstood in Amarillo. Love, God.’ And somebody wrote underneath that, ‘Ian Moore misunderstands God. Love, Eric Clapton.’ That was my Shooter’s experience.”
At that time, McMurtry—son of the legendary Texas author Larry McMurtry—was promoting his second album, Candyland, with no studio support. This time around, he’s promoting album #14, The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy, and he’ll bring his full band, The Marshall Law Review, along for the ride.
The show is very nearly sold out (limited tickets remain at presstime at $25 plus fees), but McMurtry took some time to chat with me recently. (This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.)
Chip Chandler: While I was listening to the album, I ran across an old Q&A with you from about 11 years ago, and they asked how you had adapted to the ever-changing music industry, and I’ll quote you. You said, ‘The business seems to have adapted to me. I never had much in the way of record sales. Now nobody does, and acts like me who already know how to tour on the cheap are the ones still up and running.’ How accurate is that assessment now in 2026?
James McMurtry: It remains the same, pretty much. I mean, now you really got to tour cheap because gas is $5 a gallon in some places.
CC: What does touring on the cheap mean to you?
JM: Well, it just means touring the way I’ve always done it. It’s usually four of us in a van, with a bunch of gear, and we’ve expanded slightly, because we’re working with (opening act) BettySoo. We’re carrying a lot more merch, so I tend to ride with her, and there’s the other three guys in the van full of merch and gear.
CC: Is it even worse now on the record sales side, much less whatever you can get from streaming?
JM: I don’t even pay attention to record sales. I mean, the royalties for streaming and downloads are negligible. I mean, like, less than nothing, so we still sell a lot of hard product at the shows. We carry CDs. We carry our vinyl. It’s become popular again, unfortunately. I kind of wish they left the vinyl in the ground with the dinosaur bones, but they didn’t.
CC: Those can’t be easy to lug around.
JM: They’re not easy to lug around. You know, everybody thinks they sound warmer or something. To me, they just sound fuzzy and with less fidelity.
CC: You obviously come from a literary family, but why do you think you went the songwriting route?
JM: Because I don’t read. I listened to music when I was a kid. I wanted to be Johnny Cash when I was a kid, and then somebody turned me on to Kris Kristofferson. He was the first one that was introduced to me as a songwriter. I had never given any thought to where songs came from till I was about 9 years old. I got to see Kris perform in Richmond, Virginia, and they just seemed to be having such a great time. I thought, that’s what I want to do.
CC: Has it lived up to those expectations?
JM: Yeah. I mean I’m still doing it at 64 years old.
CC: What keeps you out there at 64?
JM: It’s my job. What else am I gonna do?
CC: I know in some of your other interviews, you say your songs aren’t personal, but do some elements of yourself find themselves into the songs anyway?
JM: Well, certainly, but, I fictionalize it. I don’t do straight autobiography. That would bore me and bore everybody else, too.
CC: This album is a bit of a family affair with your dad directly inspiring the title song and your son (musician Curtis McMurtry) showing up on ‘Pinocchio in Vegas.’ What’s it like to work with your son?
JM: It can be scary. He knows a lot more about music than I do. He actually has a degree in music composition from Sarah Lawrence, with an emphasis on ethnomusicology, so he’s got a lot to draw on.
CC: What’s it like to see his career growing?
JM: Well, it makes me proud, as it should anybody, I guess.
CC: I really was struck by this in ‘Pinocchio’: ‘It won’t be long till I have very few to ask who the neighbors next door were.’
JM: Yeah, all three of my band members lost their fathers while they were on the road with me. The first time it happened was with Tim Holt, who was running sound for us then and now plays guitar. He said, ‘You know, the weird part is, if you got a question about something from your childhood, you can’t call up and ask them anymore because they’re not there.’
Amarillo Little Theatre’s 99th season opens Friday with the ALT Academy’s two-weekend run of the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, in the ALT Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle.
I chatted with lead actor Owen Parker, who’ll round out his near-decade with the Academy by playing the lovable blockhead Charlie Brown. (This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Full disclosure: I’m an ALT board member but would cover the show anyway.)
CC: If someone’s never seen this show, what’s it about?
Owen Parker: If they’re not familiar with the Peanuts cartoons, for me, it’s very reminiscent of just how I felt when I was 5 years old, playing in my backyard.
CC: How so?
OP: The whole show has a lot of childlike wonder to it. It’s very playful and silly, but it’s also got some really hard moments as well.
CC: Were you familiar with the Peanuts strips?
OP: It’s not like I was a super fan or anything, but I had seen the (TV) specials growing up and the newer animated movie they did.
CC: What was your overall impression of Charlie Brown and the gang?
OP: I think Charlie Brown is a very interesting character. He’s very down on himself all the time, and he never wants to admit his strengths. And everyone else also doesn’t want to admit his strengths and kind of just beats him down.
CC: Was this the role you wanted in the show?
OP: It was just really Charlie and Snoopy that piqued my interest. I think Charlie’s a very nuanced character. A lot of the other kids are kind of like big caricatures. I mean, like, Lucy’s whole thing is that she’s just kind of mean all the time. It’s not to say that she’s one dimensional, but I feel like Charlie has a lot more going on.
CC: Why Snoopy?
OP: He’s just a big goofball.
CC: This is your last show here, right? How’s that feel?
OP: Really scary and surreal. Actually, nine years ago was my first camp show. It’s weird because I’ve known this place my whole life, and now I’m gonna go off (to Sarah Lawrence College) and do what I do here elsewhere. And that’s really scary.
Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. July 16 and 17, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. July 18, and 2:30 p.m. July 19. Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for children, plus fees. Call 806-355-9991.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Starlight Theater with Big G & The Tradewinds with Old Dog Tray with Dani Bee: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; 806-378-3036
Amarillo Sod Poodles vs. Arkansas Travelers: 7:05 p.m. July 7, continues through July 12; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-803-9547
Much Ado About Nothing: 8 p.m. Tuesday; Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park; tickets $25; 806-651-2181
High Noon on the Square with You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown cast: 11:45 a.m. Wednesday; 501 S. Fillmore St.; lunch $12; 806-372-6744
Dawn & Hawkes: 5 p.m. Wednesday; Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A; $15 suggested donation; 806-576-2480
July Truckin’ with St. Andrews featuring Sadie’s Rangers: 7 p.m. Wednesday; St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St.; free; 806-376-6316
Music at Wellington Square Courtyard featuring Band Directors’ Big Band: 7 p.m. Wednesday; 1619 S. Kentucky St.; $15 cash or Venmo at the door; kids ages 10 and younger free; 806-584-9571
Wibby Wednesday with James Owens: 7 p.m. Wednesday; Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St.; 806-576-3396
Texas Outdoor Musical: 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays through Aug. 1; Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park; ticket prices vary; 806-655-2181
FM90 50th Anniversary Celebration: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday; Parcells Hall on Amarillo College’s Washington Street campus; 806-371-5228
Jacy Detton: 6 p.m. Thursday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Cameron James Smith: 7 p.m. Thursday; Pondaseta, 1001 Second Ave. in Canyon; 806-656-5100
Music in the Gardens featuring Broken Echo: 7 p.m. Thursday; Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; admission $10 nonmembers, $5 members; 806-352-6513
Mississippi Blues Queen: 7 p.m. Friday; Drunken Oyster, 7606 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6668
Touching Voodoo: 7 p.m. Friday; Georgia Street Taphouse, 2001 S. Georgia St.; 806-803-7000
Geezers Gone Wild: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; 806-335-5644
The Obvious Few: 8 p.m. Friday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Jonny Lackey & The Pocket Aces: 9 p.m. Friday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Katie Beth & Coyote Rose: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Tim Wiles & The Ramblers: 9 p.m. Friday; Cattleman’s Club, 3803 E. Amarillo Blvd.; 806-383-4818
Yellow City Comedy: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover $10, plus fees; 806-374-9237
Canyon Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday; continues through Sept. 26; Fourth Avenue and 15th Street in Canyon; 806-567-0746
Sunset Marketown: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday; continues through Sept. 19; Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; 806-354-8802
West Texas Collectors’ Expo: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex South Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St.; 806-378-3096
Summer Nights on 6th featuring Faith Spencer and Danny Lake: 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday; Texas Route 66 Visitors Center, 1900 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-310-9503
Colton Amerson: 6 p.m. Saturday; Sad Monkey Mercantile, 9800 Texas Highway 217; 800-692-1338
Petroleros Del Bravo, Pilotos De Chihuahua and Grupo Incomparable: 6 p.m. Saturday; Azteca Music Hall, 500 N. Farm-to-Market Road 1912; tickets $40, plus fees; 806-335-9990
Songwriters in the Round: 7 p.m. Saturday; Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A; $15 suggested donation; 806-576-2480
Koben Puckett Invitational PBR: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 S.E. 10th Ave.; ticket prices vary; 806-376-7767
Touching Voodoo: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; 806-335-5644
Black Sunday Revival: 8 p.m. Saturday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Katie Beth & Coyote Rose: 8 p.m. Saturday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Austin English: 9 p.m. Saturday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Clay Gibson: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; cover; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Me Like Bees: 9 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Pony Hernandez & The Loaded Six Band: 9 p.m. Saturday; Cattleman’s Club, 3803 E. Amarillo Blvd.; 806-383-4818
Sirkiss: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
’90s Trivia Night: 7 p.m. Monday; Pondaseta Brewing Co., 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
Starlight Theater with Pocket Break and Ezekiel Johnston: 6:30 p.m. July 14; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; free; 806-378-3036
Much Ado About Nothing: 8 p.m. July 14; Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park; tickets $25; 806-651-2181
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Wednesday: horror sequel Evil Dead Burn, comedy The Invite and live-action remake Moana (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: The Angry Birds Movie (Tuesday through Thursday, Cinergy); The Blair Witch Project (Tuesday and Thursday, Cinergy); Citizen Kane 85th anniversary (Wednesday, Hollywood 16); A Minecraft Movie (Wednesday and Thursday, Hollywood 16); My Neighbor Totoro (Saturday, Sunday and July 15, Hollywood 16); Dog Man (Monday and July 15 and 16, Hollywood 16); Kung Fu Panda (Monday through July 16, Cinergy); Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (July 14 and 16, Cinergy)
