Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen is almost as beloved for his stories as for his songs. After he played “Swervin’ In My Lane” during his recent performance of The Birchmere (on the second of three nights), he spoke at length of his relationship with the late Nanci Griffith. She was a judge at the Kerrville New Folk Contest, which he won.

“You almost lost,” she told him, “because you played that Swervin’ song, and it’s a real piece of shit.”

Fortunately, she thought better of many of his other songs, recording “I Would Change My Life” and becoming a mentor to him. She even took him on tour to open for her in Ireland, where Keen says, “She was a rock star.” That affection didn’t extend to him; “the Irish people hated me,” he said.