Pat Green, good ol' Texas boy is living the highlife

Pat Green
with Jackson Taylor Band and Paul Eason Band
WHEN: May 22, 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
WHERE: Las Palmas Racetrack, 7509 N. Taylor Road at 6 1/2 Mile Road, Mission

(Directions: From US 83 East (McAllen), go west on US 83, exit Shary Rd. Take a right on Shary, travel North on Shary to SH 107, about 8 miles. Right at Hwy 107, travel about ½ mile East on SH 107. Right on Taylor Rd. Travel South on Taylor Rd. about 1 mile
Racetrack is on right (West side of Taylor))

COST: $25 (all ages)

Tickets available: www.ez-tixx.com or (877) 993-8499

By Miriam Ramirez
mramirez@themonitor.com

 He's come a long way from beer-soaked college crowds and being Texas' posterchild for underground country music.

Pat Green has gone from media obscurity to appearances on David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

People magazine recently hailed the singer as "The Bruce Sprinsteen of the Southwest"

But in the time span of the sold-out shows and chart-topping singles there have been moments on the way up when Green didn't quite feel the love from his followers.

"There are people part of this Texas movement who think I've moved on," the singer said in a phone interview. "I don't have control of what people think of me.

"I'm happy that it was an underground and Indie scene and I'm glad that I made a pretty substantial mark."

Green felt it was time to make his mark on another part of the music world. He knows people have called him a sell-out or that he's forgotten his Texas country roots.

He gets it, people.

"It's just ambition," he said. "I think people lack ambition in whatever business they are in.

"If you don't want to go into the next frontier that's when you get stuck in a rut. I can only control what I'm doing and I enjoy moving about the country and try to get on the biggest stage possible."

Local audiences have always given him a warm welcome, he says. And he looks forward to returning to the Rio Grande Valley once more. He is set to perform Thursday at Las Palmas Race Park in Mission.

"They always treat me so well down there," Green said.

In addition to touring alongside Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban, and the release of his first book, Dance Halls and Dreamers, Green has kept busy with his daughter, Rainey, who will turn two this year.

He is currently in the studio preparing for his next yet-to-be-titled album, with the first single due out the first week in July.

Green is working with producer Dan Huff who's roster includes Urban and Carrie Underwood.

"I let him do this thing," he said. "I don't pay him all that money to not do his thing. I trust him."