Flanfire

Time flies when you are having fun.  Sometimes you just have to play catch up — and in this case, Flanfire had to back off on this column to write a speech that justified his recent pilgrimage to the shanties outside Cancun with a bunch of eager beaver college kids.  So here we have some of the OTHER stuff from the August month of 100-degree pure joy.  Sometimes we even just put down the camera and enjoyed the day — usually that happens on Monday nights at House Wine, thanks to Abbi Sims and the wonderful Kerry White (and her main man Nick).  Just yesterday we got to hang out with old pal Chris Jamison, my new great friend Ruby James, and a BUNCH of newcomers to the House Wine stage — including one Barbara Nesbitt, transplanted Georgia peach who had just escaped San Diego four days earlier.  Gal has the spunk, the spark, and the smile — and yes she paid her dues in Virginia Beach with a Grateful Dead cover band before embarking on a career as a singer-songwriter.  But that was not all — just two nights earlier I had been hanging with Natalie Zoe as her daughter’s band blew away Gary Clark Jr.’s crowd at Antone’s (see below) and I looked around and saw not only my good friend Nano Whitman (who played a solo set at Botticellis on Monday) but also an even older acquaintance — guitar genius Brad Tretola, whom I had not seen in five years.  He promised me he was back in Austin for good (or at least a good while) this time.  Next I know (maybe I said something), Ruby is over at Nuno’s on Monday recruiting Brad to come and play a few songs at House Wine – and nobody who had stuck around till nearly midnight was disappointed.  Brad’s return to Austin is great news for music lovers — and good friends.

And speaking of those returning to town, here is Jackie Bristow fresh from six weeks in Australia working on her new record at the Red Shed Tavern (how about that stage built by Chad Pope?) with my favorite Austin guitarist, Van Wilks.  I think these two ought to play LOTS of shows together — Van was as energetic as I have seen him on acoustic guitar making beautiful notes happen, and my good pal Mark Addison was caught playing DRUMS on one of the songs they did together.

In the middle is that same David Ramirez whose new record I just reviewed — shown here playing at Momo’s Club just before embarking on a lengthy tour with Boerne native Matt McCloskey (last I heard the boys were chowing down at Katz’s Deli in Noo Yawk City).  And truth be told, no collection of photos of Austin music would be complete without Scrappy Jud Newcomb, shown here on the Momo’s stage backing Jess Klein just before the two left on a West Coast tour.  Jess will be back at Flipnotics on September 3rd before heading east this time — to New England where the rain has been falling every day this summer, I am told by old friends) and the Carolinas. 

There is NOBODY better as a lead singer on any stage in Austin than Drew Smith — and I mean NOBODY.  Last week Drew was set to play a trio with drummer Kyle (the Smile) Thompson and Ryan (Beef Beeferson) Bowman, but at the last minute Guitar Hero Jake Owens (who admits to being influenced by fellow San Antonian Joe Reyes) showed up, and it was the Lonely Choir in toto sans keyboardist Matt Russell — and thus a brand-new sound, edgier in some ways.  And Drew?  He was just out there sweating and shouting and bringing goosebumps to just about everybody at Momo’s Club — especially that lovely woman in the second tier of tables who inspires many of his songs.

My very next trip to Momo’s was just as good — what with Ian Stewart and the Fireants down to just three members for the night (Victor Ziolkowski and Rebecca Pledger) but with musical magician Erik Hokkanen swapping licks with Ian, nobody seemed to mind.  Just WOW!  Erik has also been spotted at Momo’s lately sitting in with Utah emigres Wisebird (a band NOT to be missed while the price of admission is still affordable).  Earlier that same evening I had stopped by Flipnotics for a RARE appearance by sultry songbird Tawnya Lorae (again, a packed house cheering her every breath).  And to my joy and surprise there was Ram Zimmerman tapping out the rhythm to her blues … but no wonder!  I had not seen Ram since the Kim Deschamps Band days of olde. 

Here we have Austin newcomer (and Berklee grad who hails from California) Michelle Alany playing fiddle with The Inheritance (featuring Amanda Kitchens on accordian) at a packed-out Flipnotics (this band is HOT and will be back there and elsewhere soon).  Next up is Sasha Ortiz in total ecstasy at a Blues Mafia show at Antone’s (opening for Gary Clark, Jr., who along with Eric Zapata and a killer rhythm section blew the walls off the storied blues venue on Saturday night.  Blues Mafia was just as impressive in a shorter set — and they will be back at Antone’s on August 27th with the Bubbles as openers at The Daze CD release party.  The rowdy Mandy Rowden, she of Girl Guitar, is shown HERE with her all girl (what else?) band, Cover Girl (playing, what else, covers!) during a nine-band, six hour showcase at Antone’s sponsored by Austin Music Marketing.  I got in early to catch a short set from my old pal James Bullard and returned later for a kicking set from The Skeletons — punkabilly at its very best!  I have long been fond of Jeremiah and Amanda Ingram (that gal can pound the skins!), and bassist Vincent Salcedo is just pure slap-happy — but the band has taken on new life with lead guitarist Dan Nettles and mandolinist Nick Wicker.  I wanted these guys to play another hour or two.

There’s this old song, “Rueben James,” which asks the question, “Will you remember their names?”  Now here in Austin, folks have gotten accustomed to the name Ruby Jane – which of course is that soon to be 15-year-old Mississippi fiddler whose last name is Smith.  No doubt about it — she’s pretty special.  But just wait, Austin, until you tune your ears into the incomparable Ruby James — whose sulky smooth vocals remind me of the finest dark chocolate with a raspberry center — throaty perfection indeed.  Will Sexton and Charlie Faye kept telling me about this California woman who had come to Austin by way of South Carolina, so we are told, to make a record with the Sexton brothers — both producing AND playing — which may well be generally available by mid-October.  Just wait till you hear this — OR sit outside in the late afternoon sun next Monday at Cedar Street (or get down to the Red Shed Tavern on August 27th) and catch her live and in person, ruby red hair and all.  You will just have to wait to get my CD review — but this stuff is just beautiful.  I got to meet Ruby (after taking her photo at Charlie Faye’s CD release) at House Wine — my favorite Monday night hangout and a great place every night of the week — over cheese and crackers and, well, wine.  Ruby sang a few songs — and I pledged to get out the very next week to Cedar Street — and again at House Wine, where she closed her set with Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide” (for her mom).  But her own songs are just so very good — which of course is why Charlie and Will (and Mike Thompson) were thrilled to work with her on “The Austin Sessions.” 

Now I had been out of the country admonishing college students about how to value the poor enugh to learn from them and work together to build a better life and so missed five days of Austin music — but I returned Saturday night with a vengeance.  Last stuff I had seen before leaving town was The Daze at Waterloo (promoting their own brand new CD and the soundtrack from the movie “Bandslam,” where they and the members of Joker are featured performers) and Max Frost and Sasha Ortiz (from Blues Mafia) doing an acoustic set at Hyde Park Bar & Grill’s Westgate location.

I got off the plane on Saturday, grabbed a cab, changed into going out clothes and went to the Aligator Grill to dine and catch a set from the Carson Brock Group before heading over to the Continental Club for Bruce James’ CD release and a blazing 100-minute set from T-Bird and the Breaks (my first time to see Miranda Dawn as one of the Breaks).  Stephen Beasley put on quite a show on baritone sax — and fellow hornblowers Houston Rawls and Mark Price (he who it is rumored broke out into Michael Jackson routines while on the road recently) clearly out-danced the three girl singers all of whom are very good dancers (Miranda, Sasha, and Stephanie Hunt  –  who is showing off her powerful pipes more and more as she prepares for another season of “Friday Night Lights”).  I hope to write more on Bruce’s new CD later, and he had packed the house with enthusiastic supporters of his keyboard funk.  But T-Bird and the band left the still-packed house screaming and shouting for a good fifteen minutes even though the band was totally spent. 

The other photo here is longtime Troubadillo and old friend Pat McCann playing at Ming’s with Eldridge Goins, Brad Houser, and Cole El-Saleh.  I stopped by long enough to chow down on the spinach stir-fry and visit with Parker Delaune and catch him rapping into his headphones (his mike, of course) out on the patio.  Parker, BTW, will enter first grade later this month – as will my grandson Caleb, who is already working on his guitar licks.

Okay — HERE are the guys from the Daze — Evan, Eric and Chris — signing BandSlam posters.  I had to show a photo of the stately rocker Amanda Lombard whose new band Struck debuted at Momo’s recently (and they will be back soon).  And that’s Tammy Brown, whose pesto made me dance — and who made a fabulous feast for the hundreds of folks (including dozens of children) who showed up at Momo’s on a HOT Sunday afternoon for another of Feeding 5000’s renowned “feeds.”  Tammy’s husband Aaron (who doubles as music teacher at Gymboree and thus as rugrat hero) is the band’s keyboard player, of course.  And I just had to throw in this great photo of Joe Beckham playing with Wisebird (he is also back with the Beckham Brothers too!) — one of Austin’s really good guys.

More to come in a companion post — don’t want to overload the program.

These posts are going to be short and sweet!  Just a few photos and everything out of timeline order.  It is hot — and we have been busy.  OK so here is the lovely Kiwi Jackie Bristow, who lived in Australiia for many years and is back in Sydney as we write to finish up work on the new recordings she just finished here in Austin (at Church House and Cedar Creek) with JJ Johnson on drums, Chris Maresh on bass, and her old Aussie guitarist Mark Punch.  That handsome fellow with Jackie (and no wonder he is smiling) is Australian guitar maker Allan Tomkins, whose mentoring of Mr. Punch goes back nearly 40 years.  Tomkins was at the Continental Club to showcase some of his latest work — and out to see Heybale because Redd Voelkart is playing one of his creations. 

Moving over, we find Mark Ambrose and Bob Livingston egging the crowd at Kathy and Bill’s House Concert on as the whole place erupted in “London Homesick Blues.”  Now THIS was an OLD AUSTIN event, held at a century old house at 910 E. Cesar Chavez, where the amazing Eric Taylor will hold forth on Sunday, July 26th — with David Olney and Vince Bell coming the following two months.  For details go to www.myspace.com/housebooker or call (512) 743-8424.  Mark’s last CD was made with David Rawlings and Gillian Welch, who are his old friends from Nashville, and Bob of course is an original Lost Gonzo who has more stories than the tallest tower in Austin.

Then there is Austria’s contribution to Austin music, Ulrich Ellison (fresh from finishing his graduate work at the University of Texas, where he was on a Fulbright Scholarship and only won Downbeat’s jazz student composer of the year two years in a row) teaching two young guitarists prior to playing a set at It’s A Grind Coffeehouse in (nosebleeders catch your breath!) CEDAR PARK.  Now I gotta say, the folks who run this place have a great idea that is working well — they are moving the music outside (as weather permits) to a shaded area that faces the sidewalk so that more people can stop by for the fun.

Finally, here is Leaving, TX, songwriter Chris Patterson at Flipnotics as a guest of Troy Campbell (who has since turned the Thursdays over To Ben Mallott so he could play a few shows in Europe).  Chris was in town for a few weeks prior to relocating from the Washington, DC, area to Dallas (North Texas).  Now I just picked up the brand-new July issue of 3rd Coast Music  (thanks, John Conquest, and Leaving, TX is tied for 16th place on the Freeform American Roots music chart.  No. 1 with a bullet is Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women (nearly all of whom he borrowed from right here in Austin) — but sneaking up to No. 5 on that chart (ahead of Steve Earle and Slaid Cleaves) is my old buddy (and North Dakota native) Leo Rondeau.  Also making the chart is Waco native Steve Martiin (yeah, the guy from “The Jerk”) who will be playing his banjo out at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park in early October — the same event that will feature Austin’s own Fireants and many other NAMES YOU WILL KNOW (including other Texas bands).

[Photographs by Flanfire, collage by Gene Chavez -- that's Gina's dad!]

Sorry, no photos — the camera is on the fritz!  But soon!  Monday night very late (after Bukka Allen) at Momo’s a bunch of us were sitting out on the deck and this long-haired guy with a high voice (someone suggested Ray LaMontagne like) was up on stage singing and playing guitar to an empty room (inside).  We of course could hear quite well, and we knew right away this guy had something.  So on Tuesday I am down at Jovita’s for the Tiny Tin Hearts and there he is again — Chris Jamison, hair and all, and his guitar — and his songs.  Guy’s got a big smile as he steps off stage to introduce himself.  Hands me BOTH of his CD’s.  Hangs out all evening — and later I find out maybe why.

Turns out Chris is a native Texan with lots of family around here — but his folks moved up to Radford, Virginia, and he ended up going to the University of Virginia and becoming quite a songwriter.  Put a band together up there and made a record, “Into Surrender,” some of which was recorded at Woodworm Studios in Oxfordshire, all of it mixed there, and the whole shebang mastered at Abbey Road.  A year later he made his second record, “Strangers and Lovers,” mostly in Virginia but again taking it to Abbey Road for mastering.  Now he’s working on his third song collection, but here in Austin.

And what songs — powerful stuff like “Savage Nation” and “A Heart Unbroken” on the first record, and “Hollywood Cemetery,” “Holy Ghost” (absolutely stunning!), and “Wonderland Avenue” and “River of Tears” on the second — and he is closing his sets now with even newer material that is pure poetry.  Chris is out at Patsy’s Cowgirl Cafe on Friday — HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (as is the Sin City showcase at the Scoot Inn, featuring Stonehoney’s final set in central Texas until September 6 at Gruene Hall, and the Book People showcase featuring Tiny Tin Hearts at Momos).

Speaking of the Hearts, I simply cannot get enough of these guys and gals — new songs galore as they prepare to unveil their still in the final stages CD that George Reiff is producing.  But that’s nowhere near ALL the good music that has been popping up in town.  I already mentioned Bukka Allen, fresh from opening for the Flatlanders (and playing with them as well) out at the Boulder Theatre (I got a great report from my Devil in My Closet pal who saw the show!) with Robbie Gjersoe on guitar.  Freedy Johnston is also off on the road now, having played his final Monday night show at Momo’s for quite a while — though he will be back at the Continental Club in late July for a couple of shows.  Lots of folks are on tour for much of the late spring and summer — as it should be.  It’s getting hot here and the long winters of preparation have brought forth new flowers (for example, new CD’s from Charlie Faye, BettySoo, and a whole lot more) that need to be admired by a nation in great need of the real thing.

For this report, I will merely skim the highlights (memory and camera failing of late).  Let’s start with Ming’s, home to great jazz every Monday and tasty food every day (thanks, Fai Jow, for moving to Austin!).  Last week it was Gary Newcomb and his amazing skills on the pedal steel — so good that steel player John Leon showed up to take notes and get his picture taken with the master.  This week ringleaders Brad Houser and Eldridge Goins (now THERE’s a rhythm section for you) gathered together pianist extraordinaire Cole El-Saleh (Carolyn Wonderland, for starters) and Landis Armstrong (Paula Nelson, of late) with special guest Pat McCann (Troubadillos — but 25 years playing with Cole beginning in Shreveport and along with Landis one of the finest guitarists in town).  These guys are playing Autumn Leaves and Chopsticks and other standards (Moondance) — and Landis and Pat are trading off vocals as well as breathtaking guitar licks.  Did I mention the food – or the wine (BYO)?

Somewhere in between was a trip out to the Red Shed Tavern to see Shelley King and Floramay Holliday on their SASS tour — this place is flat out comfortable, and I had some tasty tamales from the Airstream diner on the premises.  [BTW, the Scoot now has its own semi-diner, too!]  Later that evening I stopped by House Wine (another great outdoor sitting venue) to visit with Margo Valiante, fresh from her successful showcase at the Wildflower Festival in Richardson (where she was one of three runners-up to the big kahuna winner and thus got to play again on Sunday).  There’s Margo through the rails with Etan Sekons — and the lovely smiling lady on the right is “Singer of the Year” Aria Hollingsworth, daughter of guitarist Kevin Hollingsworth, whom I ran into at Maria’s Taco X-press playing a set with Mandy Mercier (to whom I owe an apology for talking to Kevin while she was introing a song).  Aria, who will soon be at McCallum High, will tell you that it was “only” for her eighth grade class at school, but we know the girl is relentless and will have a good time on many stages in years to come. 

Then there was that WILD Thursday night (oh, wait!  That was right after seeing Aria!) when I ran back and forth between the Amsterdam Cafe and Momo’s because I first had to catch some o fJackie Bristow’s set, then hightail it outta there to fall in love over and over again with Molly Venter who for the first time in MY memory was playing with a full band (Bryan Austin on drums, Steve Zirkle on bass and keys, and the dashing Dave Madden on melodica?) — then back to the Amsterdam to catch a set from Noelle Hampton and Andre Moran (with Teal Collins and later though I missed it Josh Zee as well), and back to Momo’s for the David Newbould extravaganzabonanza whytheheckareyouleavingusforNashville celebration party where he both blew everyone awy on stage and handed out (for a small donation) hand-made copies of his brand-new CD.

David, who has after all given Austin seven pretty wonderful years (hosting the open mike at the Hideout, for example), nonetheless has been coming into his own as a kickass performer.  On this memorable occasion (with Cindy Cashdollar, Warren Hood, the unable to perform Redd Voelkart, Wendy Colonna, and Lord knows who all else — I DID miss a couple or three songs — plus the lovely new mom Megan Melara on vocals along with GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY!  And, yes, David closed his smashing set with a tribute to his opening act — which is just the type of dude he is!  And why Flanfire hopes to get to know this guy better on his occasional visits in the near and distant future.  Good GRIEF!  He is moving to Nashvegas! to become a BIG STAR!  Heck, he already IS a big star!

Finally, I have to mention yet another visit to the Amsterdam — to see Leeann Atherton and the wonderful Sunny Coleman.  Now while we were there in walked a vision of loveliness wearing a mask — a mystery woman, to be sure (who just happens to be a dynamic singer who was born in Wyoming).  And so we will leave you with the unsolved along with yet another photo of Molly Venter “posing” with Aimee Bobruk (that’s two of my favorite women in the world who just happen to write topnotch songs).

Okay, already.  Our first photo here is Mingo Fishtrap – definitely NOT a teenaged band, but one worth mentioning for their Monday night Antone’s residency that is soon coming to an end.  And throughout this missal we may mention other bands whose guys have been shaving for more than a year or two.  But let’s get real — Austin is beginning to recognize the genuine talents and creativity of some of its younger musicians.  Now Flanfire, of course, has been writing about teen music in Austin for years, and so we are more than glad that people like Margaret Moser and Roggie Baer are giving props today.

So here we have the members of Edison Chair taking a little break from the hard work they did on a recent Sunday afternoon at Jovita’s, helping Roggie and ALTWorld host an all-afternoon showcase with half a dozen or so bands and four judges evaluating all of the younger musicians and more.  Ms. Moser was indeed one of the judges, as were Harmoni Kelley (my favorite red-headed bassist), Billy Harvey (whose own recognizable talent may soon be eclipsed by his production skills), and designer-photographer Mark Alba.  [Don't they all look superbly intent!]

As Ms. Moser reports in her own Chronicle blog, the bands (I missed half the show for reasons explained below) included South of Center (12-year-old funksters), Euphoria (winners of the Austin High battle of the bands) and a band I heard and liked — playing as an instrumental quartet, Team NEXT (whom I first met at Austin CAN Academy over a year ago), Edison Chair itself, the Fireants — fresh from Old Settlers, followed by a 30-minute jam that all the guys were talking about afterwards, the Carson Brock Group (just back from Germany), and the band I was most glad to see for the first time, the Cafe Racers, featuring Taylor Bartholemew [bottom left] and Brandon Mays (plus Sam on bass and Damian on drums).  This band really brought it — and Taylor writes good songs.

Earlier on Sunday, I had stopped by Jo’s Coffees on South Congress to visit with Ruby Jane Smith (and her lovely mom JoBelle) — and to hear a little of her band — Lefty Nafziger, Willie Pipkin, Lindsay Greene, and Damien Llanes (a more than passable bunch).  But I spent the better part of the day at the Second Annual Shotgun Party Chili Cook-off (I refuse to report on the contest other than to note that Kinky Friedman was one  of three chili judges — and that my two favorites did not even place).  This crowd photo shows people of all ages having a wonderful time — and why not?  Great food, great music, and a great bunch of friends having a blast together.  I got to see sets from J.W.W. and the Prospectors (bottom left — with Heather Rae on fiddle), Deadman, Leo Rondeau and his marvelous band, and Graham Wilkinson (dreads) and the Underground Township (featuring PJ on lead guitar — whose other band is Dub Kids).  Every set I heard was just downright fine and dandy!  And after all of that, I headed over to the Saxon for the Shelley King Band (see my review of Floramay Holliday’s CD).

 OK, that was Sunday.  Saturday was just as wild and crazy — with much of the action out at Threadgill’s World HQ in the form of a benefit concert hosted by none other than Margaret Moser.  Here we have the revitalized El Gaupos (with horns) and the Diving Captain (the band my pal Hoe’s daughter and her friends came to see).  Lots of others had played earlier, and I totally missed the Daze and Blues Mafia playing some Cinco de Mayo event over near Town Lake.

Now I did not take my camera out on Friday, but I have to mention sets at Momos from Jarrod Dickenson (playing solo) and Josh and Jake Halverson (Jake is Josh’s brother who is better known for his bronco riding on the rodeo circuit — but I like his singing, too).  Those, though, were lead-ins to the magnificent show at the Saxon Pub by Jackie Bristow and her hot band — George Reiff, Dony Wynn, and Aussie guitar god Mark Punch.  [But I take way too many photos of Jackie already!]

The photos below here are of Erin Ivey at the Parish (with Jon Dee Graham way down below) — the highlight had to be their duet, if for no other reason than that Jon Dee had never met Erin or impresario Brian Conway until he was asked to do the show with her.  Clearly, the magic was there — and Jon Dee showed why this “miracle man” should be one of the world’s most widely revered people who sing.  The other photo here is of Mike Harmeier and Burton Lee (Mike and the Moonpies) at Uncle Billy’s Second Anniversary Party on Thursday afternoon — Shotgun Party, Leo Rondeau and Slowtrain were also on the bill that day.  

Now here (left) is a major reason (other than the fine music from Jimi Lee and friends) to go to Hyde Park at Westgate on Tuesdays (Tony and his fried chicken are also there on Mondays).  The restaurant also has Sunday night swing (often with the Marshall Ford Swing Band — but look out — the texas Swing Kings will be coming soon!) — and may opt for another night of music here and there (how about late-night weekend jazz or whatever after the movies to nosh on HP’s famed snack foods)?

Wednesday nights are fast becoming Soul Track Mind parties at TC’s Lounge.  These events are not yet as crowded as Mondays with Little Elmore Reed, but rowdier for sure.  That’s mainly because of lead singer/lover Donovan Keith, who writhes on the floor, prances and dances, and falls into the loving arms of his womenfolk (see top right above).  And I have to mention George DeVore’s new project, the Twalls — who are playing late night Mondays in May at the Saxon but whom I saw at One 2 One (a really cool venue on 5th and Brazos with a great rooftop).

Finally here we have BettySoo playing accordian and singing harmonies with Charlie Faye after her own acoustic set at Momos on Tuesday night.  And, yes, I did see that little bit of Mingo Fishtrap after Stonehoney’s set at Antone’s last Monday (well, they ARE using Mingo’s drummer a lot).  Those California refugees will be on the road most of the summer — unlike Flanfire.

Now just for the record, I DID get out of the house a little bit this week too — Jimi Lee with Kevin Hollingsworth on Tuesday at Hyde Park, and Thursday was wild — but my camera battery was totally dead — so I may as well tell what I know about that night.  OK — I parked at House Wine, walked to Flipnotics for the Troy Campbell showcase that featured Will Cope and Lincoln Durham (out solo these days and sounding manly!) and a full set from Troy (do people here even realize just how good this guy is?) — and a surprise visit from Ray Wylie Hubbard, who is producing Lincoln’s new CD and has been the Itasca native’s mentor for years.  Ray Wylie (that old snake farmer) is playing Shady Grove next Thursday with Lincoln opening, by the way.

Then it was back to House Wine for a little bit of Kelley Mickwee (just back from Italy with Kevin Welch) and Andrew Hardin — and then over to Floramay Holliday’s CD release.  It was like old home week, with Kris Brown on guitar, Chip Dolan on keyboards, Arte Passes on pedal steel, Shelley King on harmony vocals along with Gabor Racz (Floramay’s hubbie who also plays harmonica), Greg Baumgardner on bass, and Vinnie Ambrosone on drums.  And later I got a private, one song concert from Austin newcomer Jessie Torrisi and her cellist, Alissa Schram at the Irie Bean right at closing time (I had missed the duo’s actual set, you see!).  Heck, they had me singing along!

Will Taylor’s genius is not limited to his great arrangements or to his excellent viola (or violin) work.  Will (in the spiffy shirt) has this knack of getting great musicians to play with him — and great singers to perform at his shows (for example, Lisa Tingle blew the doors off the Led Zeppelin review, I am told).  Will is also a genius in finding new ways to present himself and his friends — the newest being the Will Taylor Jazz Strings Quartet, which last week began a Sunday night series (starting at 6 pm) at Opal Divine’s Penn Field.  Backed by longtime confederate Shawn Sanders on cello and Jason Allen on viola, Taylor scores again with the fabulous Leah Zeger on violin — and even though we do not (yet, at least) get to hear her glorious jazz vocals in this ensemble, her skills on the violin (she was the youngest ever to be a regular with the Austin Symphony, I seem to recall) are just what the doctor ordered.  [Indeed, scroll down a bit and you will find Leah singing (and playing violin) at Ming's Cafe along with regulars Brad Houser and El Goins and guitarist Trevor Labonte, another of those lads who seems to prefer Austin summers to Wisconsin winters.

Now I have some great Jackie Bristow news to report -- first, her lifelong guitarist, Mark Punch, one of Australia's top session players (for example, all but the latest Kasey Chambers record and both of Jackie's) and an excellent singer, flew into Austin to stay a month or so and do some live shows (like this one with drummer Mark Hays at Flipnotics -- which by the way has a brand-new owner, a new porch floor, a new A/C system as of Monday, and maybe some more surprises as well).  Second, Jackie is opening for Bob Schneider at the Cactus Cafe on April 30 and has her own debut at the Saxon Pub the very next night.  Third (and maybe best of all), a chance (??) encounter with composer-arranger Stephen Barber led to a surprise reunion with David Boyle, an Aussie whom Jackie had met years before he came to Austin to play with the Scabs and after numerous adventures purchased the old Providence Primitive Baptist Church facilities and built the Church House studio in East Austin.  Word is our favorite Kiwi songbird is already in the studio with David, Mark, and who knows who else -- to lay down a couple of tracks right now and maybe more later.  [For double the please, check out the photo of Jackie Bristow and Jackie Daum -- whose own new record will be out before long.]

 We also got out last Sunday to see Heybale — and my favorite former Burrito Brother Earl Poole Ball (who also played with Johnny Cash) along with Redd Voelkart and half the town’s musicians in the audience.  Monday night early it was the McKay Brothers (Noel and Hollin) doing their acoustic duo set at the Hole in the Wall (just more proof that Bandera is a songwriters’ town), and later (after an amazing set from Bukka Allen with Brian Standefer, Mike Meadows, and Will Sexton – shown below) out to TC’s Lounge for the Little Elmore Reed Blues Band [Mark Hays on drums, Willie Pipkin and Mike Keller on guitars, and Dale Spalding and his big grin on vocals and harmonica -- and, yes, that's Sarah Brown of the Guilty Women on bass!]

 Tuesday night was ladies’ night — the evening began with the wonderful Greencards (whose new 18-year-old guitarist they swiped from the Lovell Sisters) at a CD release throwdown at Waterloo Records.  Kym and Carol were in fine form, and Eamon had enough energy left after the set to show a young fiddle player a few of the tricks up his sleeve.  Then it was over to Momo’s Club for a set from the Reliques (they grow on me) followed by two rounds with Joe Humel on drums — first for BettySoo (her first show with a new band that includes Jeff Plankenhorn on guitar, then with Charlie Faye (whose brand-new CD produced by Mark Hallman at Congress House was in her hands)!  BettySoo had last Saturday wowed us at Old Settlers (and she and Ben Mallott reprised their rendition of “Grievous Angel” at Momos), wowed the crowd at the Evangeline Cafe Saturday night along with Gurf Morlix — producer of her own brand-new CD soon to be released, and wowed us again last Tuesday.  But so did the equally diminuitive dynamite package from New Jersey/New York and her hot band.  Best of all — both ladies sang harmonies on each other’s songs.  Even better — they’ll be at it again next Tuesday.

 Wednesday started out with T-Bird and the Breaks at Scholz’s Biergarten — thanks to a late ttext from Sammy P!  [Sorry, guys -- no camera!]  This made it easy to float over to the Cactus for sets from the Maybelles (and that lovely Katy Rose Cox) and a CD release party featuring Greezy Wheels’ Lissa Hattersley and an all-star band — nine people on that little stage!  Paul Pearcy on drums, Andrew Bjorkland on bass, David Roach on keyboards, Chris Gage on guitar (and keyboard), John Mills on  sax, Michael Austin on clarinet and vocals, Cara Cooke on harmonica and vocals, and of course  sister-in-great-joy Sweet Mary Hattersley on that magnificent fiddle that has fed the soul of this town for decades.  And then it was back to TC’s for a stirring set from Soul Track Mind (Sarah Lincoln sitting in) and some of that delicious goulash!  And a LOT of dancing! 

Thursday was very special — my first show to see Aimee Bobruk and Erin Bobruk sharing the sage (at the Amsterdam) — Erin taking time from her Conspirare schedule to sing harmonies with little sis, whose songs are just so very good!  Shawn Davis of Stonehoney had asked me to stop by Headhunters (out back!) for their set, but I got there just late enough to hang out with the boys and listen to an old favorite of mine, Eric Hisaw, and his band — Vicente Rodriguez on drums, Matt Hudson (whom I had seen at TC’s the night before) on bass, and the lovely Chrissy Flatt (who is working on her own C right now) on rhythm guitar and vocals.  I have been listening a LOT to Eric’s 2008 CD, “Nature of the Blues,” which is a worthwhile addition to anyone’s collection.  The guy can SING!  Later that night I stopped by the Mohawk to catch a set from Bryce Clifford … fighting a cold that left me sleepy.  But the work is never done — CD’s to review are again stacking up, and then there were this weekend’s shows, which will be covered in a forthcoming report.  I WILL note here that I ran into Brian Keane and Rachel Loy (sporting a lovely rock!) at a secret show that doubled as a going away party for Michael Lahrman, impresario and dear friend whom we shall just have to visit in a land far away.

The Whisky Priest and the Arc Angels – three nights in a row at Austin’s famed Continental Club!  April 22-24, 2009 — right before Doyle Bramhall II, Charlie Sexton, and Chris Layton leave town to play New York’s Fillmore Auditorium and then a dozen shows in London (11 at Royal Albert Hall) with the even more legendary Eric Clapton!  And all of that after Dustin Welch (whose brand-new CD is entitled, “Whiskey Priest”) celebrates the Resurrection as Easter Sunday begins at that same Continental Club after midnight on April 11th.

Okay — maybe that’s a little too heavy for the twenty-something son of longtime Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kevin Welch (with whom Dustin will be playing a BUNCH of shows next month at Gruene Hall).  But Dustin has never said that HE is the whisky priest (in fact, my pal Seth Woods, who doubles as worship leader at Mosaic, and his band Whiskey Priest are playing at the Carousel on April 13th).  Truth be told, Dustin is more of a prophet — and a storyteller of the highest order.

Witness his wonderful song, “Sparrows,” written to commemorate the lives of so many who came back less than whole from Vietnam (but equally applicable to returning Iraq war veterans).  “.. I’m stumbling down this back street of another town, upset every silo but I have yet to drown, and everywhere I turn expecting slander and scorn, for the life of me I beg to be reborn.  Gotta find somewhere to get out of the rain, this coat don’t keep the cold out anymore, and my heart don’t beat the same as it did before.” 

Maybe it his Native American heritage, maybe it is the mantle laid on five-year-old Dustin by the wonderful songwriter Harlan Howard — or maybe just the natural progression of a skinny little kid who developed his own style of banjo picking as he just naturally absorbed knowledge and energy from the belly of that Nashville songwriting culture.  What we all know about Dustin is that his songs just jump into your gut — with melodies and harmonies and, yes, layers of poetry and prose that most likely Dustin himself has to ponder over and over again as he and we search for the mysteries his music searches out and unveils.

Now, picking just ten of Dustin’s captivating songs for his first collection had to be the hardest job producer Mark Addison has done in quite a while (admittedly, with help from Dustin).  There are just so many good ones.  But here we open with “One False Move” (co-written with Willie Braun of Reckless Kelly), which just drives the ball out of the park — “At first glance, we’re still in the game, ah but there’s the desperate chance that hope just may remain … [but] until we come to see the error of our ways, we’re just one false move away.”  And that wailing guitar from Kyle Ellison and the House Band that also includes Joe Beckham on bass, Trisha Keefer on fiddle, and my favorite bagel maker Joe Humel on drums — plus Drew Smith on rhythm guitar and vocals and the glorious Savannah Welch keeping her brother happy with her positive energy and lovely voice. 

And that’s just the core of Dustin’s ever-expanding band of brothers (and sisters) who jump on stage now and then to join the chorus (that’s Drew who has the “choir”).  Other players on this CD include Mr. Addison himself, Bukka Allen (also the son of a famous songwriter), Brian Standefer, Suzanna Choffel, Jeremy Nail, Dan Dyer, Kacy Crowley, Mick Braun, Carrie Elkin and Susan Howe. 

“What Heartbreak Will Make You Do” (written with Kevin Welch and Claudia Scott) is another rocker but again with depths not noticed by the casual listener — “You keep telling yourself you’ve got it all under control but to me you’re just a long lost child … one of these days the time will come, you will find out that love is real …”  But earlier, the little slip “I’ve got all of the answers if you want ‘em but nobody ever listened to me.”  Gotta love that fiddle!  [Claudia's own version is smokier!  And you should definitely check it out -- both have that Kevin Welch tom-tom beat down at the bottom.]

Then there’s “Don’t Tell ‘Em Nothin’,” written with childhood friend Cary Ann Hearst  (see the pattern — Dustin says he likes to work with others so that his songs have different voices but what seems to be the case is that his friends and mentors act as mirrors to better help him see the vision he has had for his songs).  “Dirty Mind” has help from Sean Locke, while “Whisky Priest,” “Green Badge,” and “Two Horses” all were guided in part by Mark Germino, who will be joining Dustin on May 8th and 9th for two Austin shows.  And “Lower East Side” had help from another childhood pal, Justin Townes Earle, with whom Dustin played in The Swindlers band for years.  The all-out rocker “Empty Parking Lots” was a collaboration with Nail, Choffel, and dad (and who knows who all else?) — duly noted that Dustin gets everyone involved with his music and his life itself, and everyone who works with him gets a blessing.

I ran into Dustin on Tuesday night at the Saxon Pub, and he mentioned in passing that he was playing a set at House Wine with Kelley Mickwee and so after taking in a rare movie Thursday afternoon I headed over for a glass and some music — and found Kevin Welch also sitting in the living room.  Outside folks were prepping the “stage” (that is, the front porch) for an evening with nominees for the Texas Music Awards, so what transpired was an informal work session for Kelley and Kevin’s upcoming tour of Italy.  Afterward I stuck around for a while, stopped by Botticelli’s to check in on Jackie Bristow, and then went over to Lovejoy’s for more of Stretch Dawrson and fellow Mending Heart Gemma Donald (here from Scotland for Old Settler’s).  Then I ran into Dustin again that evening at the Hole in the Wall as we all reveled in the music of Sideshow Tragedy and celebrated Nathan Singleton’s birthday. 

But back to the review.  “Dirty Mind” is another hard-driving song that requires a jug and a jig, while “Whisky Priest” is a stomper that punches you right in the mouth:  “I am a man of faith, I am a child of the crow, and all my bed of angels, well they touch and they go, I get no self-satisfaction from salvation when it’s sold with a 10-digit digital magnetic  bar code ….” 

“Two Horses” I have written about — Dustin has placed their skulls on the back cover of the record — just to let you know that this song tells a lot more about what it is to be in his shoes than you might otherwise realize.  It is tough being able to see so much — how do you handle what you see, how to translate it into something that gets to the person(s) who need to hear but without scaring them off from that truth that might just save them from themselves.  Especially when that someone is you!

Maybe that’s a clue to the mysterious “whisky priest” on the album’s front cover — the layers of jewels and trinkets that keep you from seeing what the eyes of the priest are looking at.  But who knows?  It’s just cool.  And just listen to ”Lower East Side” – a song Lou Reed might endorse though written by two kids from Nashville who ought not know so much about his territory.  Trisha’s fiddle here is a thing of beauty — and the song is a classic.

But Dustin is, first off, a rocker — and we are back to “Empty Parking Lots,” a collaboration of the highest order and always a favorite at Dustin’s old Monday night shows at Momos.  Jeremy Nail (whose own brand-new record is nearly done – I can hardly wait!) lends his energy, and Suzanna Choffel her innate sultriness to a song that is to me like a rock and roll “The Road Goes on Forever” in that you just want to hear it over and over again.

“Green Badge” must come from Dustin’s Scotch Greens daze — the San Diego based band that opened for Flogging Molly and lived and died on the Warped tour.  The CD, as with many Dustin Welch live sets, closes with “Poorhouse,” which thankfully drains listeners (play this record L-O-U-D!) of all remaining energy and leaves them willing to wait for the next set of Dustin songs on disc.