Country Mike Blog

Texas Country

Mike Sudhalter  |  March 12, 2007

What is Texas Country and how does it compare to mainstream country music? First of all, it allows for more creativity and it's boundaries stretch to include more rock and folk-tinged acts while still remaining traditional. The themes in the songs seem to be closer to country than much of what we hear on country radio. Some of the lyrics and themes are a little edgier than mainstream country radio.

I've heard many Texas Country fans degrade Nashville country music for being too cookie-cutter or predictable. I disagree. I think both parts of the genre have different things to offer, and we should embrace all of them.

Modern Texas Country has featured artists who have gone on to enjoy success in Nashville (Pat Green and Jack Ingram). The reaction among Texas fans has been mixed with some happy for them and others saying they "sold out".

Like mainstream country music, no Texas artist is bigger than the genre.

While Texas Country was once just music limited to the Lone Star State, the Internet has made it possible for country fans everywhere to enjoy this subgenre. Will Texas Country ever became a national phenomenon? Probably not, but it can contribute a great deal as a subgenre much like bluegrass (Kentucky), cajun/zydeco (Louisiana) and western swing (Texas) have done up to this point.