McMurtry brings Complicated Game

(a portion of this piece was published by Planet JH Weekly)An artist that lives by the sentiment “It is not our job to be loved, it’s our job to be remembered,” Austin singer-songwriter James McMurtry’s schedule doesn’t push beyond the Texas border during the winter months, except to perform at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts this Friday. McMurtry’s poignant lyricism draws out the grit (and sometimes the ugly underbelly) of American society by utilizing keen character sketches and parody through his songs. On his first album in six years, Complicated Game (due Feb. 24), the lead talk-rap single, "How'm I Gonna Find You Now," is “a speed-freak song,” according to the Grammy-nominated McMurtry. “It comes from hanging out in North Texas where there’s just way too much meth. Some of my cousins are strung out on it, and it’s not funny. So sometimes you’ve gotta turn those songs into a cartoon to get to them.” James McMurtry (solo), 7 p.m. Friday at the Center Theater. $29-$34. JHCenterForTheArts.org.