Riffs, Roams and Raves: A Weekly Column

Riffs, Roams and Raves uncovers the creative, noteworthy and accomplished in the Wimberley Valley and beyond with tips on who to hear, where to go and what to see from managing editor Teresa Kendrick.

The intense, powerfully wry and introverted singer-songwriter James McMurty took to the Wimberley Players stage along with gifted performer Betty Soo in the second event of the 2024 season of the Stars over Wimberley Concert Series.

Onstage first was Betty Soo, stunning in four-inch stilettos, who, with a minimum of chit chat, took up her guitar and sang for the packed audience her song, “Blackout.” A grim account of a wordless journey of suppressed anger, it set the stage for a performance marked by songs of attachment, betrayal, the parting of ways, loneliness and sweet love. As she warmed to the audience, she joked about a new hairstyle and complained that ADD was cramping her style. She gave a warm shout out to Cash Edwards, music publicist and longtime friend, who knew her in her salad days, living in her car and working hard to make a name for herself. Soon she was in fine form, mesmerizing fans with songs filled with emotion and perfectly drawn images rendered with solid, professional guitar work and voice.

After her short set and an intermission, James McMurtry took to the stage and got right down to business, playing “Paint by Numbers,” “Saint Mary of the Woods,” “Red Dress” and other songs depicting characters living lives of unvarnished truths. Focused on listening to his lyrics, the playhouse was quiet. From time to time I could hear a voice behind me singing along with the lyrics and giggling to some of his more wry observations.

McMurtry made us laugh with the lyrics from “Copper Canteen.” “Don’t be yelling at me when I’m cleaning my gun,” he sang. That one line alone was enough to paint a vivid portrait of someone we might know. The raw emotion of “You Got to Me” brought a lump to my throat. “. . . I don’t suppose you even know you got to me, brought all this empty down on top of me, you got to me.”

Like his songs, Mc-Murtry appears to be a serious man whose connections to others are spare. The characters he likes to portray are of people whose lives are lived in the glass half empty. What is not to be overlooked is his talent as a musician and hardcore guitarist.

Kudos to Denise Renter and the intrepid volunteers at WimberleyArts. org for bringing superb talent to Wimberley. One purpose of their work is to further the dreams of young people who will receive scholarships from the Robert Moreman Memorial Scholarship fund. The other is to bring the rich cultural literacy of songwriters like Betty Soo and James McMurtry within our reach.

Roam: San Marcos Noodle House

My roam this week took me to the Xian Sushi and Noodle house in San Marcos. Famous for its upscale appetizers, chef entrées, scrumptious sushi and hand pulled Chinese noodles, it is one of five locations in the greater Austin- San Marcos area. Located below the Lyndon student apartments in the Springtown shopping area off Thorpe Lane at 200 Springtown Way, it has a sleek dining room with booths and bistro-height tables paired with leather chairs.

Because it’s located in an area populated by college students, the vibe at Xian is wonderfully relaxed. Fortunately the quality of the food isn’t. Xian means “fresh” and the food lives up to its claim. The place is a fantastic find, especially in the Asianfood desert of the Hill Country.

I ordered the Cold Sesame Noodle bowl and was bowled over by the flavor of the fresh vegetables dressed with sesame peanut sauce drizzled over tender handmade noodles. The next time I go, I might choose Poké, sashimi, steamed dumplings or the lovely shell-shaped har gow. Or maybe I’ll order from the long list of sushi, maki and specialty rolls. It’ll take dedication to work my way through this great menu.

For drink enthusiasts, there are sakis, a martini menu, beer, wine, juices, teas and sodas. I had a delicious iced honey and jasmine green tea drink that was worth the trip alone.

Like many places, their wait staff seemed a little shorthanded but I did not wait overly long for my meal to arrive. Their hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 10 on Friday and Saturday. If you want to make plans, check out their website at sanmarcos. xianfresh.com.

Rave: Rolling Oaks Music Fest Comfortable temperatures greeted the large number of music fans who attended the Rolling Oaks Music Fest last weekend. In what many described as a perfect day, visitors enjoyed music, barbecue, homemade desserts— including handmade ice cream—conversation and camaraderie during the two-day event. Although rain chased the Elliot Rogers Band off the stage on Saturday night, the music continued on Sunday inside the Rolling Oaks clubhouse.

“It was hugely successful,” said Camelo Colca, whose family has been involved in helping put on the music fest for the last 14 years. “We estimate that 250 people came out to enjoy the day with us. We sold 160 barbecue plates and raised the most money we have ever raised. It brought in enough funds to cover the projects completed this year—a shade structure and second pump for the pool and our new butterfly garden,” he said.

The site of a former ranch, the Rolling Oaks subdivision is located seven miles from Wimberley on FM3237. The friendly, tight-knit community built the clubhouse sometime around the year 1978 and added the pool as a place for its members to gather. The outdoor performance area is situated in a handsome meadow anchored by a massive oak tree that must be more than 150 years old.

As he has for the last 15 to 20 years, musician and resident Mike Bond hosts a Friday night jam session in the clubhouse and on game night, members play mah jongg.

According to Colca, who was raised in the neighborhood, there’s “something magical” about the Rolling Oaks community. “Like Wimberley,” he said, “it seems to draw musicians who find wonderful success for what they do.”