Deep Texas roots – that’s what we have here. Seven generations actually, from East Texas and from the same parts that Ray Price hails from. Pauline Reese has many talents. She is a ranch owner who knows how to be a ranch hand. She is a mother of two, and she has a husband who makes a living in the rodeo. She’s a happy soul, seemingly beautiful inside and out. 
And she’s been singing and making music for about 17 years now, starting out with “pigtails and starched Wranglers” at a much younger age. She has shared the stage with Willie, Gary P. Nunn, Pat Green, Johnny Bush, Merle Haggard, and many more well-known lonestar favorites. She calls Freddy Powers her mentor. Heck, she’s even imbibed with Willie… but that’s another story altogether. And stories she does tell. In between most songs, the audience learns a lot about Pauline – her joys and her challenges, all shared with a smile.
She’s no stranger to the true honky tonks and dance halls throughout much of Texas. And she does a great “Star Spangled Banner” I hear. Long-time sponsor Anheuser-Bush backs her, and recently she’s been signed on by the Western wear folks at Southern Thread. 
Having seen her open for Billy Joe Shaver at Antone’s last year, I was happy to accept an invitation from my friend Sona to go see her at a matinee show at the Saxon Pub in South Austin. We weren’t alone in our enthusiasm; the place was packed in the middle of this sunny afternoon. Here’s hoping she becomes a regular.
And, if I got it right, today she was joined by Scott Hennig on guitar, Mike Rieman on drums, Jimmy McFeeley on bass, and Vinnie “Bean” Garbonzo on fiddle and guitar. A small listing of songs played includes the following: older tunes such as “Banks of the Guadalupe”, and “Yellow Wine”, along with “Lemonade”, “Front Porch Sunday”, and the title track from the newest CD, Just Getting Started. They also did a fine cover of Tom Petty’s “Free Falling”, and had a rousing ending with her hit from the award-winning Too Texas CD, “Lone Star Flag”. 
Once upon a time a promoter may have told her she was too Texan, but you won’t be hearing it from me.
(There are a few more photos in an album on my page. )
