Tonight Hal played at the famous John T. Floores Country Store in Helotes TX. a small community northwest of San Antonio.  Floores as it is called around these parts is another Texas Dance hall but with small 4' X 4' tables and chairs lining each side of the middle area, which for tonight's show served more a traditional dance floor. I got the impression this place is not quite as loose as Gruene Hall as most everyone stayed nice and calm in their chairs and tables except for the few that got up and danced. It wasn't until the encore when everyone decided it was OK to approach the stage. Made for a much less warm and personable show. For some reason the sound was off at different times during the night as well, which also seemed to aggravate Hal at times. But the weather was perfect as Floores is a combo outside and inside venue. Hal played the inside area but still a beautiful night.

His singing is a good as ever and as I always have said with Hal Ketchum a concert is almost a spiritual experience. He is moved by his own performance and once you accept that there will always be the hits that people just have to hear, you can enjoy the other songs he weaves together for his audience.

It also doesn't take long at a HK concert to realize that Hal's favourite Album has to be Awaiting Redemption from 1999. At least that is our perspective here in TX. He consistently plays more songs from that album in each of his shows, and many times, as he did tonight, kicked the show off with the title track.

Although the set was long tonight (16 with 2 encores) I was a little disappointed it wasn't sprinkled with more songs from his UK CD release One More Midnight. I think that Little Red Dress, Just this Side of Heaven and My Love Will Not Change would be excellent additions. IMHO, when he comes back to Texas he feels obliged to play the hits and hasn't really let a new release dominate his set - well since Awaiting Redemption came out.

All that will change though. I have a feeling that the timing of Alamo will be just right and really give his career a burst of resurgence - like he needs it. But he does deserve it. A new generation will be turned on to his music once they hear the duet with Lee Ann Rimes. (The song already sends chills up my spine when I hear the line "San Antonio through the windshield of a Chevrolet.")

With more attention being paid to Hal maybe a new video would be appropriate. Hell a short film of Poor Lila's Ghost would be worth doing. The fantastic visual imagery that the song evokes is just nothing short of inspiring.

Finally, I would hope that with the new found success and recognition that he should achieve in the next few months, maybe Curb would consider recording a live album at a really nice venue before increased touring and popularity start to take it's toll on Hal's health. Think of a double CD set. I'd pay extra for that. Here's hoping anyway!

Here is the Song List from the May 12th show. I was not familiar with a few of the songs he sang as I have never heard him perform them before. I had to look them up first to make sure I had the right song.

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