I love it in Texas. There is always something cool to do, and lots of great folks around to do it with. The days are a jangle of phone calls and meetings, scheduling and planning, and then out to the clubs! And so it was that last Sunday I walked into Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX, one of the oldest Texas Dance Halls. You need to visit the Texas Dance Hall Preservation Inc. to see how this tradition shaped Texas, and furthermore Austin, into the live music hub that it is.

When you attend a dance hall growing up, it is a multi generational social outing. As a little one, you dance on your Dad, or Granddad's shoes, or with your Mom or Grandma. It plants the seeds in you to embrace live music, to dance, to meet and greet, and it is a wholly joyous occasion. The tradition is alive and well at Gruene Hall. The band as I arrived? Jason Eady with a special appearance from Jamie Wilson! How wonderful to casually drop in and have the music be this hot! I stepped up to the bar, ordered a Michelob Ultra, and proceeded to sing along. Watering Hole indeed!

-Jessie