Taylor came to the work after military service, including time in Iraq in 2003. That sequence matters to how he plays. He treats a gig like a shift that has to get done, not a costume.

On his own nights he writes and sings the songs and carries them with a Final Drive. With KCB he is the guitarist — lock in, cover the parts, leave the room standing. He is a veteran live player and a working session hand, the kind of musician rooms hire when they need the set to hold.

Texas is the map. The guitar is the trade. The rest is showing up.