Jimmie Vaughan. Atlanta, Georgia. May 2004.

Jimmie Vaughan, formerly of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, played a concert at the 2004 Libertarian Party National Convention in Atlanta, Ga. I had heard only a few of the man's songs and didn't even recognize him when I met him at a party before the concert.

"Hey, I'm Jimmie," he said, sticking out his hand for a shake.

I talked to him for a few minutes. Luckily I could remember a few songs -- including "Tuff Enough" -- but didn't remember at the moment that he's Stevie Ray Vaughan's older brother. The younger Vaughan is, of course, more well known, perhaps because he died young.

Why's this picture here? First, because I like it. The primary colors echo the immediacy and drive of Jimmie's music, I think. But also, I figure any musician whose Web site includes the text to the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution deserves any attention he can get. Vaughan is a member of the Libertarian Party and is a long-time advocate of liberty in America, which is more than you can say for most so-called "patriotic" acts, whether country, rock or otherwise musical.

This is no Toby Keith character: Vaughan actually stands for a free country rather than dishing out nationalistic pabulum dumbed down enough so the average American dim bulb can understand the concept. With TK you get: Us good. Them bad. Kill them. ... and not much more.

Come on, America. Wake up.

And if nothing else, Vaughan absolutely rocks on that guitar. Check him out.