HARLINGEN - Aaron Watson couldn't care less about Nashville.
The Amarillo-based country singer-songwriter is a true Texan, using any chance in a conversation to boost the state's rep as a big, friendly frontier where even the most damaged soul can pull himself up by his bootstraps.
"It doesn't get any better than Texas," Watson said in a phone interview. "This state has given me so much I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."
Not that he couldn't.
Watson, 29, has recorded and released seven well-received independent albums in the past five years. Fans statewide blanket the message board on his Web site (www.aaronwatson) with praise usually reserved for Billboard-topping pop stars. They love his sound, a throwback mix of George Jones-style country traditionalism and Merle Haggard honky-tonk, and chances are they're quite fond of his grounded, country boy character.
Watson's music might sound out of step with what's topping the country music charts these days, but that's by design, he said. He admits that a switch in his current career track could land him in Nashville, and on a major label, but he's not ready to play pop star just yet.
"I really love the traditional country sound and I think a lot of other people do, too," he said about his music. "But the corporations think they know what the fans want to hear, and that's pop, or pop country.
"I'm not a big fan of pop country, and I can survive in the industry doing what I do."
Fans can catch Watson live Friday at Wild Bill's Saloon in Harlingen. He's currently balancing a statewide tour with recording sessions in Austin for a follow-up to his critically praised 2006 effort "San Angelo."
Watson fan and Asleep at the Wheel front man Ray Benson is producing the new album. This will mark the fourth time the two have recorded together.
Watson also counts country legend Willie Nelson as a fan. The two sang a duet on Watson's 2004 release "The Honky Tonk Kid."
Even with much critical success and brushes with fame, Watson remains humble, constantly praising his band, road crew and, most of all, his fans.
"I like to say that the fans are the ones who put gas in the tour bus and diapers on the kid back home," he said.
Friday will mark Watson's third show at Wild Bill's. While it's not Madison Square Garden, Watson said he has a fondness for the small venue and is looking forward to the Rio Grande Valley crowd.
"We draw bigger crowds every time we go down there, and I'm proud of that," he said.
Watson has no plans to glam up his image or lace his songs with innuendos like some major country stars. He seems content pickin' and grinnin' to his own tune.
"I love music and I love my fans. I want everyone to remember me as a good ol' country boy that made some good country music."
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Aaron Watson
When: 10:30 p.m., Friday, May 25
Where: Wild Bill's Saloon, 3811 W Business 83, Harlingen
Tickets: $15, adv/$20
Info: (956) 425-2900
