Some would call it fate. Others might chalk it up to coincidence. Either wa… Read Full Bio ↴Some would call it fate. Others might chalk it up to coincidence. Either way, the story of Texas Renegade’s genesis seems more than random—and their new album, “Bad Dreams and Other Things,” proves the union was meant to be. Consider this. Twins Tyson and Eli Carver, who were born in the Texas Hill Country town of Wimberley, moved to Durango, Colo., at age 14. That same year, Andy Bertelsen and Kasey Klepfer moved with their respective families to Wimberley. When the twins graduated high school, the lure of their hometown tugged them back—when a friend introduced them to their future bandmates, their course was set. The Carvers and Bertelsen formed Texas Renegade in 2002; Klepfer joined in 2004, and drummer Luke Ayres came on in 2007. Except for Ayres, it’s the only band any of them have been in (unless you count Bertelsen’s stint playing snare in his elementary-school band). In Texas Renegade—the moniker their first guitarist bestowed on them at a high-school party—Bertelsen handles lead vocals, songwriting and guitar. Mandolinist/guitarist/backing vocalist Tyson and bassist Eli picked up their instruments at 20 and 19, respectively, after ditching fiddle lessons at age 13. Klepfer taught himself to play harmonica seven years ago, and only Ayres (drums) has played his instrument—or any instrument—consistently since childhood. But they’re hardly a batch of late-bloomers. Bertelsen’s voice, which could earn him honorary Braun brother status in Reckless Kelly, carries the nuances of a practiced, yet intuitive singer. With mandolin and harp as frequent lead instruments and Tyson’s harmonies, Texas Renegade creates a soulful, rootsy country-rock blend that places them squarely in the Americana realm; which is only fitting for a band whose formative influences include the Wallflowers, John Hiatt, Counting Crows, Emmylou Harris, the essential Texans and the classic rock their parents played. “Bad Dreams and Other Things,” their third album, cements their status among talents like The Band of Heathens, Jack Ingram, the aforementioned Reckless Kelly and similar artists who share deep Lone Star roots and hybrid sensibilities. And like many of those artists, they honed their skills under the tutelage of Kent Finlay at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, where the Carvers and Bertelsen earned degrees at Texas State University. (Klepfer is a University of Texas grad; Ayres’ degree is from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.) Recorded mainly at Top Hat Recording in South Austin and produced by Austin drummer Stephen Belans (James McMurtry, Alejandro Escovedo), who helmed their last release, “After Everything,” it features 12 Bertelsen-penned cuts and guest spots by keyboardist Michael Ramos (BoDeans, John Mellencamp) Dobro player Cindy Cashdollar (Van Morrison, Ryan Adams) and guitarists Gabe Rhodes, Brad Rice and John Sanchez. Filled with smart lyrics and sweet harmonies, “Bad Dreams” stylistically encompasses everything from the harp- and guitar-driven mid-tempo rock of the first single, “Crazy,” to the soulful country-rock of “Coming Home,” the mournful “Comanche Moon” and the heartfelt “St. Christopher,” an acoustic ballad about death that Bertelsen sings with such an ache in his voice, he leaves no doubt about its authenticity. “Every one of my songs has some sort of story behind it,” he notes. “That is to say, every single song stems from some actual event that has occurred. However, the extent can vary considerably from song to song.” Rarely, he admits, does he write a song that’s entirely based in reality. Which is not to say his lyrics aren’t personal—or meaningful. At least some of his inspiration has to come from being so involved in the lives of his bandmates. Bertelsen and the Carvers are also roommates, and all five swear they’re having the time of their lives in the band. “We like to think we have more fun than any other band on the scene right now,” says Tyson. “People always approach us and say they really enjoy the music, but they also enjoy the fact that we are having fun onstage. We are the true definition of a band. Everyone has equal say and we are a family of guys who really care about one another and love to play music together.” Adds Eli, “We have a lot of fun together on the road and have a very laid-back vibe when we’re together. Pretty much anything goes.” “Anything” includes Camp, a fluffy canine described by Tyson as “half Lhasa-apso, a quarter Chihuahua and a quarter wolf,” who has traveled everywhere with the band for two years. “Some people think he has magical powers, but we just think he is the coolest dog in the world,” says Tyson. Adds Eli, “People try to steal him everywhere we go. There is a very good chance he is more famous than we are.” Well, maybe for now. But once people get a chance to hear “Bad Dreams and Other Things,” Camp’s popularity may have to take a back seat to the band’s. He’ll still get to ride in his primo leather captain’s chair, though—unless they graduate to a bus, in which case, he’ll probably get two seats—and his own bunk. Because, like the rest of these guys, he’s a Texas Renegade!

Happy Anniversary
Texas Renegade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Happy anniversary heartache from Colorado Springs
It'll be a year again on Monday, January 17th
There's blood underneath my fingernails, there's whiskey on my breath
I spent last night in cheap motel; 39 dollars did not get me any rest
Cause it's snowing in Denver and it's raining down on me
Tonight I'm slow dancin to another memory

Happy anniversary heartache, I'm sleeping alone again

On the shorter side of the give and take, I'm on the darker side of sin
There's nothing around here, there's no love in the atmosphere
Just a cross and a rosary, baby I'm slow dancing

There's a certain someone in a photograph, she's gonna haunt me to my grave
Along with the letters, postcards and the roses, don't forget the love she never gave
Cause Valentines is coming, they swear tonight it's gonna freeze
I'm out here slow dancing to another memory

Happy anniversary heartache I'm sleeping alone again
On the shorter side of the give and take, I'm on the darker side of sin

There's nothing around here, there's no love in the atmosphere
Just a cross and a rosary, baby I'm slow dancing to a memory

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Texas Renegade's song "Happy Anniversary" tell a story of heartbreak and loneliness. The singer is spending his anniversary alone in a cheap motel in Colorado Springs. He is haunted by memories of a past love, represented by a certain someone in a photograph, who he knows will continue to haunt him until he dies. The lyrics suggest a sense of regret, as he reflects on the love that he never received from his past partner.

The singer's surroundings reflect his internal state; he is surrounded by cold, snow, and rain. The use of the image of the cross and rosary suggests that he might be seeking solace in religion, although it's unclear whether that is bringing him any comfort. The last line of the song, "baby I'm slow dancing to a memory," speaks to the idea that sometimes when we're hurt, we're forced to keep reliving our past experiences, unable to move forward.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of profound loneliness and regret. The singer is grappling with the pain of a broken heart, unable to escape his memories of a past love.

Line by Line Meaning

Happy anniversary heartache from Colorado Springs
Acknowledging the anniversary of a failed relationship, lamenting it and feeling the heartache that still remains from the time spent in Colorado Springs

It'll be a year again on Monday, January 17th
Reflecting on the passage of time since the relationship ended and noting that the anniversary is approaching once again

There's blood underneath my fingernails, there's whiskey on my breath
Feeling physically and emotionally battered from the pain of the failed relationship, evidenced by traces of blood and whiskey on the body

I spent last night in cheap motel; 39 dollars did not get me any rest
Having nowhere to go, finding comfort in a cheap motel whilst contending with the emotional turmoil of past memories

Cause it's snowing in Denver and it's raining down on me
Linking the weather phenomenon to the dark mood of the singer, exacerbating feelings of loneliness and desolation

Tonight I'm slow dancin to another memory
Reliving past romantic moments through dance, but with a sense of disappointment and regret given how things turned out

There's nothing around here, there's no love in the atmosphere
Conveying the emptiness and absence of love around the singer, compounding their sense of isolation and sadness

Just a cross and a rosary, baby I'm slow dancing
Turning to religion as a form of support, expressing that the only thing left is prayer and dance as a form of release

There's a certain someone in a photograph, she's gonna haunt me to my grave
Referring to a specific person in a photograph who will always be a reminder of a past relationship, creating a lasting mental image that will haunt the singer for life

Along with the letters, postcards and the roses, don't forget the love she never gave
Recalling past tokens of love, but also acknowledging that there was always an absence of true affection

Cause Valentines is coming, they swear tonight it's gonna freeze
Feeling helpless and hopeless, trapped in the cycle of heartache during a particularly difficult time of year

I'm out here slow dancing to another memory
Closing the song by circling back to the idea of reliving past romantic moments through dance, and suggesting that this cycle will continue on into the future

Contributed by Elliot L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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