Writing more important than ever for Texas star McKinney

Back when Mark McKinney was playing gigs at the Godfather's Pizza in Big Spring, songwriting wasn't high on his list of priorities.

"It was sloppy," McKinney said of his first gig as a sixth grader. "We were playing ZZ Top or Skynyrd or whatever songs we could learn.

"Dad told us if we got 10 songs down that we could play all the way through, he would get us a gig," McKinney said of his first band with his older brother.

Nowadays, McKinney mostly performs his own work, as he will when he returns to Amarillo for a 9 p.m. Friday show at Midnight Rodeo, 4400 S. Georgia St.

He's about to film a video for his latest single, "Maybe We Should," the fourth release from "Standing My Ground," his fourth studio album.

"It's kind of one of those summertime kind of love songs," McKinney said of the new single. "It's kind of based on a guy who'd known a girl for a long time and spending a lot of time together as friends and realizing that maybe they should take it to that next level."

Is it autobiographical?

"Maybe a little bit, we'll just say that," McKinney chuckled. "Yes, yes it did (work out)."

McKinney began writing in his early 20s, but "you wouldn't want to go back and hear any of those songs. I know I wouldn't.

"But as you do it more and more, you get better at it," he said. "I've always loved writing. It's a way to express myself, to relax, to let my feelings and emotions out."

After a few years in real estate and construction, McKinney finally began performing full-time about eight years ago, getting his big break touring with Amarillo native Kevin Fowler.

"He's an old buddy. We've known each other when he was playing in rock bands and I was too, and we both had long hair," McKinney said. "I've known Fowler since the days he could touch his long red hair to the top of his jeans."

how to go

o What: Mark McKinney

o When: 9 p.m. Friday

o Where: Midnight Rodeo, 4400 S. Georgia St.

o How much: $8 advance or $10 day of show ages 21 and older or $12 for ages 18 to 20

o Information: 806-358-7083 or www.midnightrodeoamarillo.com