Boot scootin' close to home

Offering live country music every Friday and Saturday night, Cypress Saloon is one of the few places in the area for good ol' boys to cut loose.

Open for nearly six years, the saloon has hosted local and national acts such as the Bellamy Brothers, Stoney LaRue, Asleep at the Wheel, Roger Creager and David Allan Coe.

"We have the biggest dance floor in Cypress and the only place out here that has national acts come through to perform," said James Plog, manager. "It feels awesome that we can offer a great place for people to come and enjoy themselves. People don't have to drive in to the inner loop or to Spring or to The Woodlands."

The concert hall grew out of P.O.'s Burgers, which has been open for 32 years. Owner Philip Dahl started the restaurant with his father, P.O., and cousin, Kirby.

To accommodate various gatherings for little league teams and other organizations, there was a need to expand and build a pavilion.

"We had a couple of concerts and that went well, so we enclosed it and made it a full saloon," Plog said.

Many big name bands are hesitant to play a new venue, so Cypress Saloon struggled to bring in national acts at first, Dahl said.

"It took us a few years to get a top-flight band to play because they are skeptical about getting paid since they want their money up front," he said. "We have gotten over that hump because we have been doing this for so long. Now, we have a such a good reputation that Nashville will call us instead of just us calling them."

Bands like playing at the saloon because of the wide-open set up with the big stage and high ceilings, Dahl said.

"We have acoustical materials sprayed on the ceilings and walls, and the curtains are designed for acoustics as well," he said. "It's probably one of the better-sounding buildings in Houston."

For added entertainment, the saloon has a horseshoe pit and offers a washer tossing game outside as well as beer pong. Customers can also throw darts or shoot a game of pool.

Besides concerts, people rent out the saloon for private parties, weddings and corporate events.

There are weekly happy hour bar specials Tuesday through Sunday and other drink specials throughout the week.

Local musicians show off their talent at the saloon's open mic night on Thursdays. Future plans include offering more live entertainment throughout the week via karaoke and progressive rock nights, Plog said.

Upcoming performances

Schedule

• Pawn Shop Gold, May 18. 8 p.m. $8.
• Justin Grant, May 19. 9 p.m. $8.
• Jason Bolland and the Stragglers, May 25. 9 p.m. $15.
• Six String Boys, May 26. 9 p.m. $6.
• Rosehill, June 1. 9 p.m. $8.

Cypress Saloon, 12710 Telge Road, Cypress, 281-304-7777, www.cypresssaloonlive.net