Songwriters like Walt Wilkins have fine bands like The Mystiqueros behind them to help the medicine go down. Now, some of you that are fans of this tenacious Texas troubadour's tunes a la carte can tolerate the heartache and honesty. Perhaps you temper it with a shot. But his songs' tug and mule-kick remain; "Trains I Missed" comes to mind. The rest of you greenhorns can two-step to the band with one hand around something with a longneck and one arm around something with long legs. Does Abilene have sawdust?

Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros perform Friday, June 15, 9:30 p.m. at Abilene, 153 Liberty Pole Way. $10. abilenebarandlounge.com.