my home town.

http://www.privatespaces.org/courtland.htm 

This a link to a website created by a photographer who did a project in Courtland, Kansas. This was displayed in Florida. The site it’s self can tell you more about it with really great photography.

red-dirt/texas country

I am a huge fan of music. My mp3 player can go from reggae, country, rap, oldies, and then to punk rock. My computer has over 5,000 songs on it if that gives you a good idea of what variety there may be.

One genre that I never get old of is the red-dirt/texas country music. I was exposed to this music when I was a freshmen in high school. An alumnus of my good ol’ Pike Valley H.S. Jared Pete Gile was writing music performing shows at the local bars in Aggieville while attending KSU. Manhattan, Ks is one of the hot spots for these similar acts to play in Kansas. This music kept being spoon fed to us by our siblings and friends when they came back from college with CD’s of these talented unheard of bands. Most of these bands hailed from Oklahoma (red dirt) and Texas hence the references to the genre. (Cross Canadian Ragweed, Pat Green, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Stoney Larue, etc…)

I have 2 friends who in high school started playing the guitar and writing alot of music. Mark Garman who is 2 years older than my classmate Craig Stensaas each wrote constantly but never really started playing for friends until we were in college. I attempt to play the guitar still yet I can only play about 50+ intros and maybe 2 full songs after 4 years. I’d like to think I lack talent and not motivation.

In the summers we would come back from college and resume our rural lifestyles. We resided in what we call the Summer House, this old farm house outside of Courtland, Ks had no cable, internet, phone, or AC (for most the summers). Mostly it was used for sleeping and socializing. So with the lack of entertainment we resorted to bon fires, beer, friends, and guitars.

After being cooped up in collge dorms, cities, and class rooms all year this return home released alot agnst. And this is where much of the inspiration for my friends music comes. And from what they write resembles this red-dirt/texas country style with references to youth, girls, growing up in college, drinking, small-town morals, love, getting into trouble, and country life. Which would explain why we relate so closesly to this music and enjoy it so much.

You can check out more artist online on myspace here some of the locals sites:

Jared Pete Gile- http://www.jaredpetegile.com (official website) 

Mark Garman- http://www.myspace.com/marksquirrelgarman 

Craig Stensaas-http://www.myspace.com/craigstensaas