Kafka in a Sundress

Like many who move here to attend Texas State, singer-songwriter Jack Henry came to San Marcos as a student. Then he met the river and the people who love it, and now he’s gone full San Martian.

Henry’s a folk singer who pens clever- yet-melancholy lyrics which he then sings with a voice like bourbon mixed with Dr Pepper. Recently, he wrote a catchy summer song called “Beautiful People” that captures the deep zen-love spirit of the town. The song — which will be featured on his upcoming LP “Kafka in a Sundress” — has garnered 3,500 listens on Spotify, just by word of mouth.

In the video for “Beautiful People,” dozens of locals frolic on the river’s banks while Henry sings in voice over, “Getting sunburnt even though they sit in the shade, laughing about the plans that they once made.”

Henry admits that the river is one of the most prevalent motifs of his music. “The river means something different to San Martians than it does to the world at large,” Henry said. “Classically, a river is a place for contemplation on the impermanence of life, for cleansing and laying down swords and shields, but in San Marcos the river means joy and debauchery and presence and respite and grace. It means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but we all agree the world at large doesn't understand what we understand about it.”

Henry, now a staple in the San Marcos music scene, began exploring music with his ukulele at the age of 18 as a way to cope with the discomfort of conversee sations. “People would talk to me and I would reply, ‘Would you like to hear a song?’ That got me through the day.”

At Texas State, Henry was known as the Ukulele Guy. Every morning, he would learn a new song that he would play all day around campus, which he would do in true San Martian style — while wearing a captain’s hat.

With the ukulele, Henry honed his musical skills, learning songs by Tom Waits, Arcade Fire and Radiohead. He picked up the guitar, made friends within the music community and began to write songs. His previous projects include the folk collective “Whoever and the People” and the heavier “Nightclerk.”

enry’s new album “Kafka in a Sundress” is set for release on June 15 with a celebration at Tantra Coffeehouse.

“I went into it with the idea that it was maybe my only studio album,” Henry said. “I wanted to prove what I could do if I threw the kitchen sink at my songs and didn't hold anything back.”

With that creative energy, Henry has written enough songs to make a second record. “I keep writing new songs, and each new one I think, ‘Okay, now I’ve finally written the best song of my life’ which I only think until I’ve finished the next one.”

Henry’s goal is to gather the kind of attention that will allow him to continue making music. “My dream is to be able to record songs as fast as I can write them, and to have financial support to never have to do anything else but share my art.”

For a good exploration of Henry’s music, search up his page on Spotify and add all the songs to your queue. His voice rings with the classic vibrato of Roy Orbison, and his guitar lends just the right note of bluesy folk. His music feels exactly like the kind that should be played on a dusky patio, the sun setting through the trees while friends gather over beers to say goodbye to another summer day.

For intricate lyrics with social commentary folk roots, enjoy “Swing Low Iscariot,” “Artificial Rain” and “Margot” (Favorite line: A poet with a Molotov cocktail is just a waste of booze).

For a harder 80s rock edge, check out “The Stranger.” For solid, heartfelt songs, listen to “John Wayne” and “Blue Dahlia.”

To support Jack Henry, visit his Patreon at patreon. com/jackhenry. For the price of a $3-month subscription, listeners will have access to his latest demons and stories, including the new album release “Kafka in a Sundress.”

Jack Henry will celebrate the studio album release of this LP at Tantra Coffeehouse on June 14 with The Lonesome Heroes and Halleyanna Finlay. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For tickets, visit songkick. com/concerts/ 41889498-lonesome-heroes- at-tantra-coffeehouse.

Listen to Jack Henry’s songs on Band Camp at jackhenry.bandcamp. com.

Watch the video for Beautiful People on YouTube at youtu. be/P-kJSnzcrjI?si=v4g-DV9VrQw8ZdRpx.

“People sitting by the river Drinking boxed wine With a permanent stranger Trying to talk but all our mouths are full. I just wanna be so beautiful”

– Beautiful People, Jack Henry