July 31, 2025

Talkin' About the Weather | Steve Helms

58 minutes

This week, country roads lead us straight to Texas music royalty.

Mike Rhyner welcomes singer, songwriter, and all-around honky-tonk hero Steve Helms to Your Dark Companion—and let’s just say, this one’s got a little twang and a whole lot of heart. From Cleburne to center stage, Steve has spent more than four decades writing, performing, and winning over fans with his blend of grit, melody, and good ol’ Texas charm.

You’ve heard his anthem "Nowhere But Texas" blaring at every Texas Rangers home game for the last 18 seasons—but now you’ll hear the stories behind the song, the career that birthed it, and the man who still lives for that Friday night fever.

Steve talks about his musical roots, co-writing mishaps, life on the road, and waking up mid-dream to jot down lyrics before they disappear with the sunrise. Oh, and did we mention he performs three acoustic tracks live? This one’s as much a concert as it is a conversation.

So pull up a barstool, grab your favorite drink, and enjoy a good ol’ yarn with two legends—one behind the mic and the other behind the music.

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 – Lightning, World Series, and… Steve?

1:10 – Welcome to the podcast—Here’s what we’re doing

2:20 – Meet Steve Helms: Texas through and through

4:08 – Early gigs, cover bands, and learning the ropes

9:30 – First songs and finding a place in the Texas scene

14:55 – How "Nowhere But Texas" became the anthem

18:40 – Life on the road and the modern-day music hustle

24:15 – George Strait, family ties, and finding your people

30:00 – Acoustic performance: “Talking About the Weather”

35:14 – Acoustic performance: “Nowhere But Texas”

40:45 – Baseball stories, ballparks, and band memories

46:49 – Acoustic performance: “Friday Night Fever”

51:05 – Songwriting secrets, co-writing chaos, and dream scribbles

54:50 – Final performance: “Can I Buy You a Country Song?”

Whether you’re a die-hard country fan or just wondering how a guy ends up singing at every Rangers game for nearly two decades, this episode delivers. Tune in and two-step through the stories behind the songs. 🤠

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