The Cowboy Palace
This crowd was decked out with Cowboy hats, denim, and boots.
That evening we drove up north from Beverly Hills, and just like any other night in California, the weather was just perfect. We arrived at a corner building that was dressed in a wooden facade, which was situated on a typical California intersection, surrounded by mountains. The place was called "The Cowboy Palace".
We walked in and it was Honky Tonk to the hilt! Coming from Miami, I had never seen such a sight, just in the movies. The place was covered in wood, cowboy decor, and neon signs. The bar stretched out for a mile, and folks were line dancing to Country. We took a corner table, I forget if I had a drink, but if I did, back then it would have been a Jack and Coke.
That night, I was to be invited up on stage, to play a few numbers with the band. When I moved out there, I mainly did so to have an adventure with a lady, and as a musician on the side, the possibility of making something of it. So with her, we did a lot of these invite gigs together. The place was packed that evening, and after a short while I was called up. I realized I didn't have a single Country song to offer, and this crowd was decked out with Cowboy hats, denim, and boots, not your average Rock or Blues music crowd. I came up on stage, was handed a guitar, the band looked at me tentatively, and I then turned to the microphone saying: 'Good evening, this is an old Country number, Mean Woman Blues in the key of E'.
I turned to the band and they nodded, which signaled to me that they knew what I was asking. I yelled out, One, Two, Three, and sang 'A black cat up, died of fright, cause she crossed his path last night', and then the full band launched into it. To my surprise, the crowd started line dancing, while others did the true to form Rock N Roll Boogaloo. As we played, I couldn't believe it was all working out, it was great!
Afterwards, the Band seemed happy with the performance, they offered nods and smiles in the positive. I imagined they wanted to let their wigs down and go hog wild in between Honky Tonk numbers, and this probably suited them. During the performance, as Blues tradition dictates, I had yelled out 'Keys', which signaled the Keyboard player to take a solo, and he ripped into it. Likewise, I did so for the drummer, though I think the Bass player declined. I think the band appreciated that.
Returning to my table, I was also congratulated by some of the people there. The lady I was with was smiling, she said she had taken various photos while we played. But as soon as it all started, it was over, Country music started playing again, and the evening continued.
The Cowboy Palace has been the location for various films, as well as T.V. shows and music videos such as: "La Bamba", "Twins", "I Love This Bar" by Toby Keith, and many others.