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The Panhandlers: West Texas Tales in Supergroup Glory

By on April 29, 2025

At 2:15 p.m. on the Pony Up stage, The Panhandlers—William Clark Green, Cleto Cordero, Josh Abbott, John Baumann, plus Flatland Cavalry’s Reid Dillon and Wesley Hall—brought West Texas pride to Two Step Inn. Your notes captured their magic: each member shared a personal story leading into hits like “West Texas Is the Best Texas,” “Tough Country,” and “The Chilton Song.” For me, their camaraderie and storytelling made their Day Two set a festival pinnacle.

File Photo: Josh Abbott, John Baumann, William Clark Green, and Cleto Cordero of The Panhandlers perform in Georgetown, Texas at the Two Step Inn Festival on April 6, 2025. (Photo Credit and Copyright; Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

Background and Bio: Formed in 2019, The Panhandlers are a Texas country supergroup celebrating Panhandle roots. Their 2020 album West Texas and 2023’s Tough Country feature hits like “West Texas in My Eye” and “The Chilton Song.” Green’s “She Likes the Beatles,” Cordero’s Flatland Cavalry tracks, Abbott’s “Oh, Tonight,” and Baumann’s “Eagle Ford” are Texas chart-toppers. They’ve played Austin City Limits and Red Rocks. No major awards are noted, but their Two Step Inn return after a 2024 rainout was a fan highlight.

File Photo: Josh Abbott, John Baumann, William Clark Green, and Cleto Cordero of The Panhandlers perform in Georgetown, Texas at the Two Step Inn Festival on April 6, 2025. (Photo Credit and Copyright; Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

Performance Review: The Panhandlers’ set was a Texas-sized celebration. Your note about personal stories shone as Cordero shared a Panhandle sunset tale before “West Texas Is the Best Texas,” its playful regional pride sparking roars. Green’s gritty vocals on “Tough Country” and Abbott’s smooth delivery on “The Chilton Song,” as you noted, were highlights, each tied to heartfelt anecdotes. Baumann’s “West Texas in My Eye” evoked windswept plains, with Dillon’s guitar and Hall’s fiddle adding fire. The crowd, packed with cowboy hats, sang along, fueled by the group’s chemistry. Their storytelling—tales of small-town bars and open roads—made the set feel like a campfire jam. The band’s synergy, as seen in festival recaps, made Day Two unforgettable.

File Photo: Josh Abbott, John Baumann, William Clark Green, and Cleto Cordero of The Panhandlers perform in Georgetown, Texas at the Two Step Inn Festival on April 6, 2025. (Photo Credit and Copyright; Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

Final Thoughts: The Panhandlers’ Day Two set was a love letter to West Texas, blending hits and heart. Their storytelling and camaraderie made them a festival peak.

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