The last time Hayes Carll came through Rochester he sold out Abilene Bar and Lounge in a matter of hours. And for good reason: Carll is a natural storyteller. The Austin-based singer-songwriter has a gift for humor, honesty, and reflection, vocalized -- with a swaggering Texas twang -- over stout Americana. Carll has shown immense depth and flexibility through his writing, from the vintage country ballad-esque "Chances Are," to the rabble-rouser "Stomp and Holler," a track written for juke-joint Friday nights.

Carll's track "Another Like You" was voted American Songwriter's No. 1 Song of 2011, and his latest album, "KMAG YOYO," -- a military acronym for "Kiss my ass, guys, you're on your own" -- made year end best of lists for Rolling Stone and SPIN, and earned a New York Times Critics Choice.

To accommodate Carll's return to Rochester, Abilene is hosting his Tuesday, May 20, show at Downstairs Cabaret at Winton Place, 3450 Winton Place in Brighton. The show is under the "Abilene on the Road" title, for when acts are a little too big for the normal location.

Tickets are on sale at Abilene Bar and Lounge, Record Archive, The House of Guitars, and Bop Shop Records. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. For more information: 232-3230; Abilenebarandlouge.com; Hayescarll.com.

Music writer Frank De Blase spoke with Carll before his Abilene show in 2012, read more here.