The minute you walk into Blanco's and see the beaten hardwood floors, or breathe in the fog of cigarette smoke, or just push your way past a posse of cowboys in Wranglers and pearl-snaps, you know you've found the real thing: a genuine Texas honky-tonk. This oasis of traditional Texana in the heart of the Greenbriar area is no poseur's paradise; the people who frequent the place know their country music, and they know their right foot from their left. On the dance floor, as the band kicks in the kicker tunes, the two-steppers twirl and glide with a mechanical precision that is awesome to behold. Rookie hoofers need to watch for the oncoming train of two-steppers ready to knock them off the tracks. Joe Parsons, otherwise known as the River Oaks Redneck, books the bands, and there are few others in the Lone Star State who know the music better than Joe. He has an uncanny ability to spot young talent, like Clay Farmer, as well as to showcase the finest artists from around the state. The only drawback is Blanco's hours of operation, or lack thereof: The joint is closed Saturdays. We suspect the honky-tonk believes in the time-honored philosophy of artists everywhere: Always leave 'em wanting more.

Blanco's