McMurtry in tow with band

(Published by Planet JH Weekly)Grit meets raw, poignant lyricism when Mr. James McMurtry steps up to the mic. This Austinite grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records, and since his first album in 1989—Too Long in the Wasteland produced by John Mellencamp—McMurtry set a course that would lead to quotes like this one by Stephen King in Entertainment Weekly: "The simple fact is that James McMurtry may be the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation."In 1996, McMurtry received a Grammy nomination for his Longform Music Video of Where'd You Hide The Body and in 1997, It Had To Happen received the American Indie Award for Best Americana Album.This is not your typical singer-songwriter, but rather a rock ‘n’ roll-meets-alt-country approach that will leave you both inspired to live a true existence, or contact your local representative with a political fist in the air. James McMurtry Band, 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Pink Garter Theatre. Tickets are $20/advance, $25/day-of-show available at The Rose, Pinky G’s and PinkGarterTheatre.com.