Lil Keke took a brief pause to wipe the sweat from his forehead and readjust his black Astros hat. Standing center stage in a crisp white tee the H-Town legend uttered one word.
“Sensei”
The moniker adopted by the late Big Pokey was not only the term the Screwed Up Click MC choose as he made his return to music but also the name of his 6th solo studio album released in 2021. After not releasing a solo album for over a decade Big Pokey returned to the music scene with an album showing that not only had the MC not missed a step but had a lot more to prove. The man whose first solo album Hardest Pit in the Litter, released in 1999, influenced generations of artists with his freestyle flow turned around two decades later and showed the world that an old dog can learn new tricks. What’s more, even though the man had established his legendary status, we hadn’t even begun to witness his true capabilities. And then, in the blink of an eye, he was taken from the world.
“Everyone put your H’s in the air for Big Pokey,” instructed Lil Keke as a sea of hands rose in response. “It’s Big Pokey for the rest of this summer and the next 25 summers. This ain’t about your side of town because were together today. RIP Big Pokey.”
As the DJ began playing the intro to Lil Keke’s chart-topping classic Southside the crowd cheered and danced.
The summers in Houston are usually hot but this year the heat has been almost unbearable with multiple days of temperatures where the thermometer broke the triple digits. There were even reports that Texas will be hotter than 99% of the rest of the world and, while those reports ae probably overblown, it is a clear indicator of what everyone knows-
Texas is hot. Stay indoors.
That’s why a bunch of people showing up to Bayou City Event Center for an outdoor event would look surprising to anyone. That is exactly what happened Sunday afternoon as Gas God’s put on another car meet up, bringing out families, music lovers and car enthusiasts under the Texas sun. For vendor Vic, the owner of 75th and Canal, the turnout was a pleasant revelation.
“I’ve been here on foot a few times, but I hadn’t brought the trailer out,” he said as he motioned towards the people moving in and out of his mobile clothing store a few feet away. “I’m going to say this, when you can get the city of Houston to come out in 100-degree weather and the event is packed…you’ve got something going for yourself.”
What is going on is the All Gas No Smoke Car Meet, a monthly event made to showcase automobiles from throughout the city, and while that appeared to be the initial purpose, the event has gradually expanded into much more. The cars are still there. Candy painted lowriders rest alongside massive, lifted trucks. The trunks of 90’s classic cars pop revealing neon signs and flashing lights right next to pristinely restored pick-ups from 50’s. Photographers capture pictures and video with some even bringing out drones which hover overhead surveying the crowded lot. And while, of course, there are plenty of cars there is also entertainment for those wanting to see more than just vehicles. Food trucks selling bar-b-que, shaved ice, tacos, and more kept attendees fed while the OG Ron C DJ collective, The Chopstars, provided the soundtrack for the day. Today’s current hits played alongside Houston classics prompting people to gather underneath the center’s large canopy. Parents taught their kids how to do the southside while the Chopstars ran through a history of Houston music. Other vendors, selling everything from sweatshirts to cannabis, provided merchandise for attendees who moved around the grounds between the performance sets of Lil Keke and his opener Jet the 3rd. A bounce house nestled against the side of the canopy gave parents a much need break as their children jumped and rode mini cars through the grass.
For Rich King the event was more than what he even expected.
“I saw Gas Gods Instagram post about the car meet and the wife and I had nothing else planned so we figured why not? Figured we bring the kid up here and, if it was boring, we’d go get dinner somewhere. Well, were still here,” he laughed as he pointed at his son taking a break from the bounce house to cool off with a strawberry icee. “If they do it again, we’ll be here.”
