“Outlaws, Inlaws, Crooks and Straights; All out Makin’ it Shake doing the Boot Scoot Boogie.”

Neon Boots is one of those places that stands in what I imagine is the modern ghost of places like Gilley’s in Pasadena which would have been hopping in the 80’s. But Neon Boots feels way more inclusive. I understand the history that the location maintains, but if honest I was only able to really appreciate Neon Boots in person for a buddy’s birthday celebration recently.

My girlfriend and I were invited out to the party and I was able to even better coordinate a surprise by coordinating a former coworker who had recently moved about 4 hours away to arrive. Neon was a great place to have a drink or two and share a dance. A side room had karaoke playing that evening, which we experiences from a distance.

But, what stands out most to me, and quite frankly is the most “Houston” thing I can think of is that everyone was able to do their own thing in a comfortable and inviting backdrop without any hesitation. That is where Neon Boots has evolved in ways other establishments may have missed the mark.

I remember singing many of Brooks and Dunn’s tunes as a kid, as that was on the radio in the 90’s. A close second, third or fourth to Garth Brooks, Tim Mcgraw, George Strait or even Billy Ray Cyrus, the hits just kept coming from the duo. You had the reflective “Neon Moon”. There was the party movin’ “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”. It was a challenge to see who could hold the long runs of “My Maria” and “Brand New Man”. These were straight up 90’s bops.

A couple of years ago I was fortunate to see the pair play the Houston Rodeo. The live show had aged a bit and the Rodeo itself isn’t the most concert conducive if we are being honest. Yet, it was in that moment that I dug back into their later catalogue and realized some real gems that I missed in the 2000’s.

Kacey Musgraves covered Brooks and Dunn’s “Neon Moon” which was a solid contender for a song companion this week. I have started embroidering (well, paying for someone who knows what they are doing to embroider) blankets for myself and a couple as gifts with song titles or lyrics. My mom has a Tanya Tucker inspired throw quote that reads “Always Sunrise”. My girlfriend just received a Kacey Musgraves inspired “Velvet Elvis” labeled blanket. And I have a “Neon Moon” tagged throw.

All in all, I am pretty sure that the selected songs and/or verses are applicable, in ways that I try to reflect on each week with you.

You can always stay in under the comfort of the covers (maybe with your “one and only”), but if you feel like letting loose a bit. If you feel like cutting a rug, firing up that pick up truck and letting the horsies run; Neon Boots is a great place to land.

Arrive for the history, stay for the warm welcome and the cold (reasonably priced) drinks.

Until next week, take care of one another.