“Under a starless sky--The moon hung bright--On a stone cold Mississippi Night.

The hounds and I

Chasing coons up trees.

When a sound came drifting back to me.

It chilled my bones and shook my brain…

To hear Tom Walker rattling chains….”

I like stories. I like true stories. I like stories about real people, real life and authentic life lessons.

I like songs that tell stories. Music is, after all, the international language.

I have a friend who uses outdoor/Dutch Oven cooking to tell stories and teach skills. We’re going to be combining his cooking strategies and my storytelling skills later this week for two groups of college classes interested in a fall/ghost story outing with food!

Stories are often told through art, architecture, fashion or even the language we choose to use.

I work a lot with people trying to do local research projects or document their respective family histories. At workshops, I encourage people to use benchmarks, triggers and personal hooks to engage their respective audiences. We do that sometimes with song lyrics to find common ground as we tell stories for the sake of the story, for cheap therapy and in our quest to find unconditional love and acceptance.

People who grew up during the 1940s and 1950s are often enthralled with the sounds of the Big Band Era. “String of Pearls” can bring them to their feet at a Senior Citizens Banquet.

Likewise, those who remember the music revolution of the late 1950s and 1960s, can rehash Beatles trivia or recount all the hit records of the Man In Black, Johnny Cash, who made headlines, just like Elvis. These American icons shaped our culture and just the mere mention of their names, their songs or their legacies can bring tears to the eyes of the most stalwart fan.

I was fortunate enough recently to receive a CD in the mail called “Eclipse.” The lead singer is Jason Marbach, who has been on a USO tour with his band in recent months. These musicians will be on hand this Friday night, October 29, at G&L’s Place in Fairview. That’s only about a 45-minute drive from here down Highway 60 past Monett to Highway 97 at the Monett Airport. Turn south and wind your way down around Pioneer, Corsicana, Rocky Comfort and Wheaton and you’ll soon find Fairview and the folks at G&L’s. (Use the internet to get specific directions from your front door.)The music is the group’s own brand and has been called “Texville.” I’ve listened to the new album now about three times. I’m hooked to this raw, eclectic, solid style.

Some of the songs are reminiscent of Lynryd Skynyrd, Asleep At The Wheel and even Alabama. It’s almost like they’ve taken the best of classic southern rock, contemporary country, classic country and western swing and revamped their own brand of music. Each song tells a story. Each song has a certain audience. Each song draws you in…waiting to hear the next one.

My two personal favorites on the “Eclipse” album are “Old Tom Walker” and “My Savior.” The Walker song is about a coon hunt gone awry in Mississippi and the tough hunter hears the rattling chains of a ghost named Tom Walker while he is on the hunt. The melodious gospel ballad “My Savior” takes the listener through the loss and pain of trying to find your way in all the wrong places. The singer finally discovers his salvation in the name and grace of the man who died to save people--just like all of us.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Jason Marbach and his band, please check out the website at: www.jasonmarbach.com. My gut tells me that somewhere down the road lies more fame and fortune for this band of renegade musicians with several stories to tell. I think you’ll want to be a part of their journey. Just be sure to stay away from Old Tom Walker and those “rattling chains.” After all, this week is Halloween.