What the Hale is going on? Former Abilene musician, now in Austin, back for one-night gig

What's crackin' with Bracken Hale?

The former Abilene resident, still maintaining local ties, has been in Austin for the past 25 years, playing in the outfit The Derailers and with Texas music legend Gary P. Nunn.

He's in town Friday evening to share the music corner at The Ice House with longtime friend Evan Christian. They will start at 8:30 p.m. There is no charge.

Hale expected to be in the area a day early to see his father, longtime Cisco College professor Dr. Duane Hale. His father is winding down his academic career, he said, teaching a couple of classes currently at the Cisco campus.

He previously taught American and Texas history at the Abilene campus.

Hale, who grew up in Oklahoma and began his musical journey there, was in Abilene from 1994-96.

"I played in bands in high school and knew that's what I wanted to do," he said.

He fell in with Danny Thomas, soon to become a local music legend. Hale, Christian and others honored the late singer-guitarist with tribute show in August 2020 at Play Faire Park.

It was through Thomas that Hale met Christian.

"Danny helped me get started," said Hale, who had some experience as a performer but still was learning when he motored into Abilene. He had gone to Nashville for a year after high school to make his name but, he admitted, "I didn't get much done. It was really too early for me to be there."

After a summer back in Oklahoma, he moved south to West Texas, where he met a master.

"Danny helped me get started. I had played in band before but I hadn't made my living at it until I lived in Abilene. He taught me all kinds of things," Hale said. One was not to rush and to make your name where you are.

Hale laughed and said he didn't take to that advice, soon moving to Austin where things were happening.

But in retrospect, he understands what Thomas was telling him. Thomas was further along in his music career while Hale said he was "champing at the bit."

"He told me it can be done anywhere. You don't need to be in Nashville or Austin or wherever. I think he's right about that. It was a fast track for me," Hale said. "I'm glad I did, but he's right. I think he said you can build a quality house anywhere. People will come."

Hale said Thomas was "fun and kind." He was leery about his move to Austin, hearing "horror stories" about the music business and club owners. But, he said, he found "there are plenty of nice people.

"I've had a good experience."

Hale caught on with Gary P. Nunn from 2008-11, then concentrated on his own music after recording an album. It was Christian who took his place, and then Hale taking his place with Nunn a few years back.

He has been a member of the Austin-based country band The Derailers, a group started in 1994 and still led by founder Brian Hofeldt. The drummer is Lisa Pankraz, something that sets the group apart.

Their home base the third Saturday of the month is The Broken Spoke, the famous Austin dancehall.

Hale has played bass and contributed vocals for the band since 2014, he said.

His return to Nunn actually coincided with the pandemic. Nunn organized livestream shows, including one in New Braunfels that was a hit, and needed a bass player.

"I've been doing most of the gigs lately," he said, laughing. Nunn, whose signature song is "London Homesick Blues," was going to retire. But maybe seeing how quiet that can get during the pandemic, "I'm not sure what his plan is now. I think he had all the retirement he could stand."

Nunn in December turned 77. And like Hale, he's an Okie, too.

"He's doing really well," Hale said. "It has been nice to be back around him again and catch up."

For the show at The Ice House, Hale said it will be just him and Christian. It'll come pretty natural and maybe unscripted.

"We've done things like this before," Hale said. "I don't have too much of a plan."

They will do Thomas songs, and originals.

And likely a song or three by Nunn.

"There's just no telling," he said. "The good thing about sitting down with Evan is that we can do anything we want."

It's as comfortable as seeing his father. Both share an interest in history, mostly before Texas was settled when Native Americans and Spanish explorers roamed the Southwest.

"I know quite about the area," Hale said. "I've always been drawn to (it)."

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Former Abilene musician Hale, now in Austin, back for one-night gig