A Temporary Farewell to Panther City

Temporarily, dear reader; temporarily. I've purposely kept my mouth shut about my inevitable departure, save those few closest to me. I'll be bidding a summer farewell on Monday, as I head out to Atlanta. Don't worry! I shall return! But now, dear reader, let us celebrate the great city of Fort Worth!

It was a dark and stormy night... No! Really, it was. In fact, I was stuck under an overpass, avoiding an intense hail storm, as I was entering I-35W off of HWY 121, heading into Fort Worth. The storm passed over in less than five minutes and I was back on the road, heading for The Scat Lounge to see Johnny Reno play and hang out with my friend Pete before we both head out (Pete's going to be working with me in Atlanta). The last time I heard Johnny play was at The Lone Star International Film festival, with The Rumblers (including Robert Rodriguez, T. Bone Burnett, Paul Boll, and Harry Dean Stanton), where they played the soundtrack from Road Racers. The set he played on this particular evening was perfectly timed. The band was really into the vibe and the storm gave the room a more intimate feel. In addition to the coolness of Reno and The Lounge Kings, we had the pleasure of hanging out with two other of Fort Worth's own: James Hinkle and Paul Boll--whom I can call a friend, since meeting him after I saw him play with Angie Cassada. Both of them, veteran guitar players, also played a few numbers with the band, which made for a really amazing evening.

What really got me excited--even more than the music--was the conversation. Fort Worth's got a heritage to it which is all too hidden from the common ear. But sit down at a local jazz club, sip a glass of Whiskey and listen carefully; you just might catch a glimpse. I'm purposefully being cryptic and I might explain later. But at this exact moment, I'll leave it at that and share with you, dear reader, two pinnacle aspects of Fort Worth's rich history:


Originally a military post--"Fort Worth"--now, the site of the city's courthouse.


In 1873, Dallas attorney, Robert E. Cowart wrote that he'd "been to a meeting in Fort Worth the other day and things were so quiet he had seen a panther asleep on Main Street, undisturbed by the rush of men or the hum of trade." Since then, the sleeping panther has been a staple of Fort Worth--also known as "Panther City."