I didn't really have a topic in mind for this week's blog.  I was running out of time, and then, miracle of miracles, late on Saturday evening, I watched Austin City Limits, a weekly TV program, run out of Austin, that features hour-long musical performances.  This week, they had a concert by Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band, a group I'd never heard of before.

I immediately fell in love with Allen and his music (and wondered why the hell I didn't know more about him already).  During one of the songs, I got on Google and did a little research about the originator of the band.  I was delightfully surprised to discover that Allen is world-famous in all the areas I mentioned in my title.

I've always been fascinated by Renaissance men—sorry for the sexist language; there are Renaissance women too, but no such phrase was ever coined—and Terry Allen is one. 

It's damned hard to be good at anything in life.  To be so incredibly talented at so many things—I recommend that you listen to Allen's music and look at his sculptures and paintings too—just blows my mind wide open. 

As it turns out, the writer/artist/musician/generally cool guy also talks pretty well too.  Here's an interview he did where he discusses all manner of subjects (especially his own development as an artist) in the most compelling sort of way.  (Notice his gargoyle head sculptures in the background.)

And here's one of his songs.  Listen all the way to the very end because there's a wonderful reference to Herman Melville's Moby Dick in the last few seconds.

I always get inspired by creative people.  I hope you find Allen inspiring too.  Thanks for reading.

Troy Headrick's personal blog can be found here.

If you'd like to see some of Troy's art, have a look.