Flanfire

There is something GOOD happening down at 5th and Brazos — the One 2 One Bar recently switched to charging a cover for their downstairs music room, stopped letting people in an out from 5th Street (you have to go to the Brazos Street entrance now), and continued their practice of bringing some of Austin’s finest players to their stage (with windows open to the street except when it is REALLY COLD outside).

Thursday night was no exception — with the early show featuring Wayne Sutton and Wayne Duncan, always a quality act.  I got there in time for the later set — the Dank Trio (Douglas Jay Boyd, Clayton Colvin, and David Jimenez) plus J. T. Holt from Dertybird sitting in.  DO check out the videos — Doug singing with JT and David jamming on one and Clayton singing on the other. 

Earlier in the evening I was up at the Nomad Bar just off Cameron Road to catch part of a set from my old friend Rich Restaino and the Obits — now an eight-piece R&B flavored band with three Ronette-style girl singers (featuring the lovely and talented Sara Shansky, Ellzie Restaino, and Roz Mandola), Lloyd Wright on keyboards, Dave Wylie on drums, Alex Sefchick on bass, and Hunt Wellborn on guitar.  Rich and the band have a new CD in the works and were handing out free samples of “Susie” (after she woke up) to anyone willing to pick one up.  Sara showed her pipes on “You Don’t Miss Your Water (till your well runs dry),” and the girls kicked on “Please Mr. Postman.”  Early in 2010 we should begin to see the band on bigger stages — I am liking this.

The night before I stopped by Maria’s Taco X-Press for Jessica Shepherd’s CD release — which was moved INDOORS due to the 34-degree weather outside.  First time I had ever seen live music INSIDE at Maria’s but with the rousing success of this evening I anticipate it will not be the last time.  Jessica was stunning in a long black and white dress and her rich vocal power — and her band began with Perry Drake on drums and Kyle Judd on acoustic guitar, and David Valley on bass.  Spicing up the mix were Laurie Gibson on fiddle and vocals, Sally Gibson, Dee Ann Smith and Eric Leikam on vocals, Washboard Judy on, well, washboard, and special guest Danny B Harvey on electric guitar.  PLUS Maria Corbalan herself was in the house looking fabulous!  [Reports that Sin City's Shilah Morrow was sipping Mexican martinis with an unidentified music reporter are just not undeniable.]  But the real star of the evening was the room itself — Maria’s is so colorful, and the sound was so very good — do not be surprised if the Argentine Angel comes up with yet another winning idea!