Sherman -- Would you look at what came down the road today!

No, it wasn't Johnny Rodriquez singing the first line of his hit song, "Pass Me By," at Hot Summer Nights, but Blacktop Gypsy turned Rodriguez's classic into their own song when they came passing through downtown Sherman Thursday evening to perform at Hot Summer Nights.

Sherman's free concert series hit a high note Thursday night with a crowd-pleasing performance by this immensely talented band that is taking North Texas by storm. Texas music has been a lot of things over the years, from Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys to Bob Livingston and the Lost Gonzo Band, but right now there might not be another band that defines Texas music more completely than Blacktop Gypsy.

First of all, you gotta have a fiddle in the band and Heather Stalling is an award-winning fiddler that sings and writes as well as she plays the fiddle. But if a band is a musical team, this one has Andie Kay Joyner calling the plays. Joyner's vocals lead the way and blend ever-so-smoothly with Stalling's harmonies.

Even more impressive, Joyner and Stalling wrote every song on the band's debut album.

These tunes stand the test of time, too. "Ain't Your Momma" and "Carolina" sounded just as good Thursday as they did in 2005 when the album was released.

Blacktop Gypsy's new album Whirlwind includes the very catchy "Traci," written by Stalling, "Butterfly," written by Joyner, Stalling and Stalling's sister, Darcy Starcher, and "Hurricane," also written by Joyner, Stalling and Starcher. Although she didn't make the trip to Sherman, Starcher sings back-up harmonies during most performances.

This band has a rock-solid rhythm section that consists of bass guitarist Jay New and drummer Phillip Cardon, plus a lead guitarist, Steven Cooper, capable of dominating most bands.

Blacktop Gypsy will be at Big Barn BBQ in North Richland Hills July 20 and at The Woodshed Smokehouse in Fort Worth July 21.

For more information, visit www.blacktopgypsy.com