A dozen-plus times a year, Matt Martindale is performing as a solo artist or as lead singer of Texas country greats Cooder Graw.
But his full-time job is a bit more serious: Judge of the Randall County Court at Law No. 2, a position he’s held since first being elected in 2018.
So when we recently spoke, I tried to address him as “Judge Martindale”—but that cracked us both up.
“We’ve known each other too long for that, unless you’re in court,” Martindale laughed.
The judge and I have known each other since he was an assistant district attorney in Gray County and I was a cub reporter at The Pampa News. Martindale also served as city attorney for Lefors and I covered their monthly city council meetings, so we got to chat quite a bit before he moved up to Amarillo and private practice.
At one point after I started covering the Amarillo entertainment scene, his former boss, the late John Mann, called me up and asked if I’d ever heard Matt’s band play. I scoffed to myself, thinking, how good could a lawyer’s band possibly be?
I never said I was bright or particularly imaginative.
Cooder Graw, indeed, was and is a hell of a band—one who, soon after that call with Mann, broke out not only statewide but also nationally, thanks to Dodge’s licensing of their hit “Llano Estacado” for a series of commercials and before the single “Better Days” charted for 40 weeks with national airplay for its music video.
After around a decade, though, the band announced an indefinite hiatus from touring in 2006—”indefinite,” in this case, meaning about six years. Since reuniting in 2012 for the Larry Joe Taylor Music Festival, Cooder has continued to play about seven or so shows a year, including their latest at 8 p.m. Saturday in Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Martindale and I caught up to talk about the upcoming show, why Cooder Graw has stayed together all these years, and if fans can expect a new album anytime soon. (This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.)
Chip Chandler: So, first off, I was looking back at the dates, and I think you guys have been together longer now in this second time around than you were on the first. Is that right?
Matt Martindale: Wow. I haven’t even thought about that, but I think you’re probably right. We got back together in 2012 so from 2012 to 2026, we’re looking at 14 years. You’re the first person who pointed that out. That’s fantastic. I can’t believe we’ve been playing as long as we have. To have started this just as some kind of little cover band and just playing weekends to what it developed into and still being able to play now, it’s amazing.
CC: Are you the only member still living in Amarillo?
MM: Our bass player, Paul Baker, moved away and then came back. Then our current fiddle player, Carmen Acciaioli, lives in Bushland. (The band also still includes founding member Kelly Turner on lead guitar, longtime member Kelly B. Test on drums and Jeremy Moyers on pedal steel.)
CC: So how often do y’all get together to play? I see more solo shows for you, but I see every once in a while a full-band show.
MM: We do seven or eight full-band shows a year. I do about that many acoustic shows a year.
CC: What keeps it so fun?
MM: It’s probably that we don’t play a whole lot. I think it’s that we don’t have to do it for a living anymore, and we really enjoy hanging out with each other. I mean, these guys are really great guys. Everyone has a great sense of humor. They’re fantastic musicians, and just really good guys. And we’ve known each other for so long. We know our ins and outs. We know what each particular face means and we don’t really have to talk. Whenever we get back together, we enjoy doing so, and talking to each other, and giving each other a hard time, but we don’t get tired of each other.
CC: This show in the Pioneer Amphitheater. Have you ever played down there before?
MM: No, I’ve only been (in the amphitheatre) a couple of times, once to see one of my friends play Tucker Yelldale (the late Corey Coon in Texas) years and years ago, and then probably a few years ago again. It’s such a cool venue. I can’t believe that we get to play in that venue. I’m so glad that they’re actually having concerts there because when I sat there, I though, wow this would be a great place for a concert—never imagining, of course, that I would get to play there.
CC: Are y’all working on any new music?
MM: We are, actually. I just sent about 21 tracks to the band, and we’re gonna go into the studio sometime in the next few months and start recording some stuff. I’ll probably end up cutting some stuff with the band, and then I’ll probably end up cutting a solo album again. It’s been a while since we’ve cut anything (since the 2016 EP Love to Live By). I’m not very prolific, but it’s been so long that I’ve had plenty of time to write stuff.
CC: So, are there a lot of sitting judges in Texas playing bars and recording music?
MM: (Laughs) Not that I’m aware of. I have met one other one who is from Corpus Christi (Judge Travis Kitchens of the 258th District Court) who is a musician, but I believe they have a cover band. There are quite a few attorneys who do, but I don’t know of too many judges, so maybe I am one of the few. There’s probably a reason for that, too.
Charlie Shafter, Martindale’s brother in law and an acclaimed Texas singer-songwriter in his own right, will open the show at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for general admission or $50 for VIP packages. Call 806-651-2181.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Andy Chase & Friends: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; 575 Pizzeria, 2803 Civic Circle; 806-322-5575
The Solano Project: 6 p.m. Wednesday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Wibby Wednesday with Piles of Potential: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St.; 806-576-3396
Emmanuel Lopez and Sarah Rushing recital: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall at WT; free; 806-651-2840
Dani Bee: 6 p.m. Thursday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Katie Beth Mihm: 6 p.m. Thursday; Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux, 3506 Soncy Road; 806-398-2003
Plemons Bridge: 6 p.m. Thursday; High Fidelity Records, 2818 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 252-220-4729
Panhandle PBS Savor the Goods fundraising dinner: 6:15 p.m. Thursday; Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; tickets $125 or $200 for VIP packages; 806-371-5479
The Droptines: 9 p.m. Thursday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Birding Hike: 8 a.m. Friday; Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 Park Road 5; free with park admission; 806-488-2227
First Friday Art Walk: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; free; 806-354-8802
Oktoberfest with Plemons Bridge: 6 p.m. Friday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Amarillo Scaregrounds: 7 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; continues through Oct. 31; 2736 S.W. 10th Ave.; admission $40 and up; 806-367-9516
Amarillo Wranglers vs. Odessa Jackalopes: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum; tickets $22 to $35; wranglers@amarillohockey.com
For King & Country: 7 p.m. Friday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $73, plus fees; 806-378-3096
The Haunt at Sundown: 7:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; continues through Oct. 31; 1201 S. Sundown Lane; admission $30 to $50, plus fees; adeal777@suddenlink.net
Texas Transplants: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; no cover; 806-335-5644
Jackie Haney & The Geezers Gone Wild: 8 p.m. Friday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Gooseberry: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Touching Voodoo: 9 p.m. Friday; Blind Pig, 609 S. Independence St.; cover; 806-412-4251
Out of the Darkness Walk: 9 a.m. Saturday; Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.; westtx@afsp.org
Storybridge Live: 9 a.m. Saturday; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $5 for 9 a.m. admission, $10 for 10 a.m. admission; 806-282-9082
Toast & Prost Oktoberfest Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; 10001 W. Amarillo Blvd.; heliumheightsamarillo.com
Gee’s Family Farms: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; continues through Oct. 31; 7651 S. Whitaker Road; admission $7; 806-346-5899
Undead Con: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St.; 806-378-3096
Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday; continues through Nov. 1; 12908 S. Bell St.; admission prices vary; 806-373-9600
Polktoberfest 2026 and Rave Technoparty: 11 a.m. Saturday; Six Car Pub & Brewery, 625 S. Polk St.; 806-576-3396
Hope for Our Heroes Gala: 5 p.m. Saturday; Embassy Suites by Hilton Amarillo Downtown, 550 S. Buchanan St.; tables $1,000 to $10,000; 806-418-2458
A Night in New Orleans fundraiser: 6 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Ballroom, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $50 each, tables $500 to $2,500; 806-372-4035
The Art of Murder Dinner Pawty fundraiser: 6 p.m. Saturday; Change Nutrition & Fitness, 412 E. 16th Ave.; $30 each or $50 per couple in advance; 806-678-0340
Possibilities fundraiser for The PARC: 6:30 p.m. Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall, 401 S. Buchanan St.; no admission charge, sponsorships available; 806-367-8024
Journey of a Lifetime and Fleetwood X: 7 p.m. Saturday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door, plus fees; 806-335-5644
Nathan Stanley & Constant Sorrow: 7 p.m. Saturday; Buffalo Grass Music Hall, 123 Main St. in Panhandle; admission charge; 806-236-2933
The Randy Rogers Band: 7 p.m. Saturday; The Lumberyard, 850 N. 23rd St. in Canyon; tickets $52.60; 806-804-3000
Rak-45: 8 p.m. Saturday; Smokey Joe’s, 2903 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-331-6698
Hayden LaBrier & The Lucky Strike: 9 p.m. Saturday; Blind Pig, 609 S. Independence St.; cover; 806-412-4251
Red Dirt Rockers: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
Despicable P3: Pints, Pedals, People: 1:30 p.m. Sunday; starts and ends at 575 Pizzeria, 2803 Civic Circle; tickets $7.50; 806-322-5575
Jazztober featuring Sean Vokes & Friends: 6 p.m. Oct. 6; Historic Bivins Building, 1000 S. Polk St.; 806-372-6744
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: comedy-drama Digger and thriller Verity (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: concert film Linkin Park: Unshatter (Wednesday and Saturday, Hollywood 16); Spirited Away Live on Stage (Thursday and Oct. 8, Hollywood 16); Donnie Darko 25th anniversary (Friday through Sunday, Hollywood 16); Secret Movie Series (Monday, Hollywood 16)
