Flanfire

Kole was having a rough day – flat tire (second time), dead battery (so it seemed), and locked out of her apartment for the second time in three days … but these perfect strangers (new neighbors) volunteered to help, and soon the dogs were being walked and fed and we hit up Whip In for some awesome Indian victuals. We brought back champagne (well, the champagne of bottled beers, except these were in a can!) and sat around listening to Breathe Owl Breathe (from Michigan) and a bunch of music I brought and talking about life and coffee shops in Detroit and travels to Japan and other far away places and Zach and Mariam’s vision for opening up a gallery in Austin and maybe starting off with a show by Henny Garfunkel and such .. and doing live music with awesome visuals (Zach showed me some skulls he had painted on cloth in bright colors and more of his art). Lucy (the dog) made some new friends … and we did too. Closed out our visit by playing our audio (from SX620) of Jackie Bristow with Mark Punch on electric guitar at the Iguana Grill on Sunday, March 20th. Four songs too new to be on her brand-new CD “Freedom,” and three rockers from that recording. After saying good night to Kole, Zach, and Mariam (and Lucy the dog) I drove up to the Hole in the Wall because I had not seen Leo Rondeau in far too long. Boy what a bunch of bonuses came my way for that little gesture.
I walked in the door to see Suzanne Hall (whom I had not seen in months!), as Doug Kent was on stage with his fine baritone. The usual suspects (Mike Harmeier and his bandmates, Rich and Landry of the Lonesome Heroes, Andrew Austin-Peterson and Jenny Parrott from Shotgun Party, and many others who regularly gather to two-step to Leo’s hot band).

Vaughn Walters (Jenny’s beau and musical partner in Loves It!) took time before jumping on stage to sing with Leo (his regular gig) to hand me a copy of “YAY!”, the Loves It! CD I have been hearing so much about. Thirteen songs (including Dinosaurs, which is really jazzed up on the record) with that gentle touch (even on the murder and suicide ballads) — plus a tribute to “Bobby Kennedy,” whom the duo sings was “better looking than his brother” and a true inspirational leader until Sirhan Sirhan shot him down. WOW — hearing that song for the first time on the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I COULD digress here with a diatribe about the lack of inspirational leaders like RFK and MLK … or even about the sense that today so few “have a dream,” but why be boring when the very next moment I run into Katherine Edmonson (Kat to most folks), who was out with two girlfriends to hear Leo and have some fun while in Austin for a few days. Kat made her Kickstarter goal and is well on her way to finishing up her new recording, which will include two songs she debuted at my house concert last April.
As the week rolls on, I will be listening to more of the 30-plus bands we recorded live at the Iguana at SX620 — and looking at some of the video as well. We’ll soon know what we really have and whether and how to make it available to others.
One more thing of note — I fear that Slowtrain’s long-awaited CD release is on the same date that Dave Madden brings his OMG orchestra (this time with John Pointer and Sara Hickman and others on vocals here and there – DO NOT MISS THIS!) back to Momo’s. Even sooner, he is about to unleash some video of the OMG’s that will make you want to wear sandals (uh, with your socks knocked off, that is!(. Caught a wee bit of the big shew over at Romeo’s on Sunday night, most notably Sara with her now-13 year old daughter Lily singing a duet. Good thing Romeo’s extended its stage — that was one large band that Dave brought == even without his string section!

I remember the first time I met Grace Pettis — at Journey Imperfect Faith Community for a Wendy Colonna music show.  Only much later did I learn she is the daughter of songwriter Pierce Pettis, but even on that first encounter I knew this was a woman of considerable substance.  Sitting out at Cafe Mundi this past Thursday night, my bud Nathan Hubble added his “amen” — as Grace was singing “What You Didn’t Want to Know,” a song from her debut CD, “Grace Pettis,” which Grace will be showcasing at Journey IFC’s warehouse meeting place in North Austin on November 21st.

But before I review the CD, let me tell you how I GOT to Cafe Mundi for Naked Folk, a songwriter showcase hosted by Chase Gassaway and Lamar Stockton (who leads the Resonate worship band at River Bend Church).  And before I do that, I need to note that Lamar and Nathan go way back to grade school, and that all of these guys sing harmony vocals on Grace’s new record.  I also need to note that the third guest on this night was the lovely (above, right) Jordan Whitmire, whose songs were so good I thought they were by Carole King or maybe fellow Dallas girl Norah Jones. 

Okay, so it is Tuesday night, and my old pal Brennen Leigh, along with Noel McKay (below, left), are playing a show at House Wine.  Now, Brennen sometimes sits in with Nathan (on electric mandolin), and so it was not that big a surprise that he showed up at the gig.  So did keyboardist Lacy Quin, who is playing a show with Steven Ray Will at the Saxon later this month.  Nathan told me about this gig, and as soon as he mentioned Grace Pettis, I was down for it (having missed a couple of her recent shows).  Later that evening I stopped by the Blind Pig to see JusTif (Justin and Tiffani, below, bottom center), who had been at my house party two days earlier (and the multi-talented Scott Andrews showed up with his mandolin for a 10-minute version of “A Horse with No Name” and much more).  I even went next door to Maggie Mae’s to feast my eyes upon the saxy glam boy Greg Williams (along with Dave Madden and Glen Rexach, among others) at Live Band Karaoke (bottom, left) — a real hoot for everyone who braves the stage.  Then I met back up with Matt and Lacy at the Hole in the Wall as Brennen and Noel played twin lead guitars with Missy Beth Crisman (below, center) and her Alaskan country twang. 

Then on Wednesday, I devoted myself to my new friend Barbara Nesbitt (below, right), as she played two sets at House Wine and later let me listen to rough cuts from her forthcoming album that features Doug Pettibone and members of her old band from San Diego.  Barbara has upcoming gigs in Austin at Flipnotics (Nov. 21) and the Iguana Grill (Nov. 22) that will be well worth going to.  And after Naked Folk on Thursday, I trekked over to Ruta Maya and caught a couple of songs from Irie Jane, a full set by my friend Beth Richard (with her husband Jason on guitar and Steve Bernal on cello and Gray Parsons on vibes and keyboard), another full set from Cayce Rose and the Mind Games (I have known Cayce (bottom right, with Beth Richard) since she was 13 and now she is married to Mario Matteoli, who plays guitar in her band), and most of a set from Gabriel Siklosi and her band Beautiful Minds) before hitting yet another highlight — THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE NEW LONESOME HEROES MUSIC VIDEO (which features horses and a marisachi band and much more — but will otherwise not be widely available until after the video’s New York City premiere on December 2nd).  Folks, this video, shot by Rich Russell’s boyhood friend, Brookyln-based filmmaker Danny Stolzman of Frameless Films.  [Technically, the actual Austin premiere was earlier in the evening at Jo's Coffees but I got to the afterparty for a special showing).

GRACE PETTIS -- Self Titled

Words cannot express the heritage that Grace Pettis brings to her debut recording -- you just have to be quiet and listen to hear this very modern yet very traditionally spiritual woman who challenges anyone with claims of faith to stand up and face the music.  The self-righteous have to squirm or else be converted to the unconditional love that pours out of Grace's whole being.  Let's start with "Love Is There," about to be covered by Sara Hickman.  Grace lets us know that LOVE is there in the prison cell, in the soldier's private hell, even with the father who left us and with the battered wife, the homeless in the rain, and (believe it!) even with the stillborn and his mother.  As Grace sings, ""In the broken places, in the empty spaces, love is there somehow." 

Billy Crockett as a younger man toured with Dallas Holm, Rich Mullins, and Sandy Patty (some of the most powerful contemporary Christian artists before Nashville made that genre soupy), then he and his wife moved to the Texas Hill Country to build the Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio (and record a new record of his own as well).  Players on this beautiful disc include Colin Brooks (well, everything and vocals too), Rick Richards on drums, Chris Maresh on bass, Dirje Smith on cello, and Dave Madden on piano and vocals -- and a host of backing singers to create the choirs on "Love Is There" and the little gospel ditty, "Let a Little Light."

But this is not exactly a gospel record.  The opening cut, "The Gypsy's Code," opens our eyes to a woman who told me that right after she graduates college and gets married she plans to hit the road and tour until the cows come home:  "I am a wanderer, crossing borders, My home today will be tomorrow just another place I've been."  In "Nine to Five Girl," the hard-working waitress vents her anger at the higher paid office worker who leaves a measly dollar tip (but is this not a larger vent against anyone with wealth who disdains the poor, the servants who make the lives of the richer among us much more comfortable?). 

I was struck by Grace's live performance of "What You Didn't Want to Know," as she sings, "I'm the weatherman, I can't command the falling snow, I'm the one who tells you what you didn't want to know."  And then there's the playful "Italy" (not the town south of Dallas where Bobby Perkins grew up), a vision of a coming honeymoon where she and her man will "walk our feet on holy ground" and of course check out Michelangelo and Da Vinci and drink chianti and (of course) sing for the Italians.

Grace can also be tough: "Heard Enough Now" is a flat out rebuke of a smooth talker whose "silver tongue might wish me well, but you're good for nothing else," someone whose "money is far from your mouth" who says some "pretty things" and who has "some cause that you want me for," but Grace will not "fight your holy war."  [Uh, maybe the hypocritical church?]  And yet she can leave all of her frustrations behind and visualize a soldier and his girl “Dancing” (co-written with Sofia Echegaray) — “Threw your head back and laughed, and the ribbon flew from your hair … and we were dancing, dancing, around and around.”

Twelve cuts in all, including “Speak Tenderly” and “A Bird May Love,” and “Turning Now,” which speaks of “bicycle ribbons on the handles, you flew me over sidewalk mountains, childhood wilderness; you taught me moving grace, though it took a few scrapes; Now I ride my life like my old bike, it’s a balancing act.”  A song about growing up and dealing with what life brings — and letting go of childhood for the adventures that adulthood brings. 

The record closes with an honest lullaby, “Long Sleep,” with Grace admitting (as even Mother Teresa did many times) that “God is a long lost friend and lover, I believe once we were happy together, but faith is a fading dream, a song I sometimes sing just to remember.”  And yet this song is truly a prayer that we all awaken from our “long sleep” to breathe again as the dawn breaks over us.

Thanks to a “chance” encounter at Flipnotics,  Flanfire has become friends with Scottish Western Swing  King Stretch MacFayden and the lovely Gemma Donald from the band Stretch Dawrson and the Mending Hearts who just performed with the Texas Swing Kings at the Old Settlers Festival (among a number of gigs in the Lone Star State).  Stretch had a couple of days off in Austin, so I took him out on the town for some major fun and music.

Last Monday, for example, was the second anniversary of Ming’s Cafe in Austin  – yes, the same Ming’s that graced Houston’s Montrose district for over a decade — and owner (and good buddy — see photo) Fai Jow provided his friends and patrons with an amazing gumbo on top of his tasty Chinese dishes.  Ming’s is one of Austin’s hottest Monday night music venues, thanks to the Mingtones and special guests, and this night was no exception.  Pedal steel genius Gary Newcomb showed ow the instrument works in the jazz idiom, performing with Brad Houser, Eldridge Goins, and an all-star cast that included Jane Bond, Matt Hubbard, and Cole El-Saleh – and later it was Laura Scarborough showing she too can entertain on a drum kit (or just with her hands in the air).  In the house for the annual photo were such luminaries as Shelley King (new CD on the way that is awesome, baby!), Carolyn Wonderland, and others too numerous to mention.

 Later that evening, Stretch and I stopped by the Hole in the Wall to catch a preview of the big Tuesday night bash at the Continental Club at which sets by the Lonesome Heroes and Shotgun Party were wrapped around the big CD release party for Leo Rondeau (see our review, archived at this site).  Mind you, this show came right after the historic Hippie Hour and founder and sequined songbird Toni Price stuck around for the whole shebang (as did earth mother/barn dance queen Leeann Atherton and many of the Hippie Hour regulars).  Now Stretch, being an old friend of Greg Garing, is also an old friend of Shotgun Party’s Katy Rose Cox, who has also been doing shows this week in Austin with the Maybelles (including Happy Hour at the Contintental the very next night).

But let’s get down to basics here — top left below is Shotgun Party with Leo, Missy Beth, and Vaughn Walters of the Shake ‘Em Ups celebrating the debut of fellow Shake-Em-Up Andrew Thomas Austin-Petersen as Shotgun Party bassist and sometime vocalist.  Top right – same group dancing and singing along with the dancing and singing crazy audience.  Bottom left – Leeann and Toni having a ball; bottom middle -Katy Rose with the Maybelles; bottom right – Leo Rondeau and Jenny Parrott.

 Okay — Stretch was already in Bandera on Wednesday evening when Flanfire kicked off a stellar evening that began with the bluegrass trio the Maybelles (Katy Rose with Jan Bell on guitar, harmonica, and British accent, and Eureka Springs, Arkansas, native Melissa Carper on upright bass — and all three on vocals (see photo at top right below with Landry McMeans of the Lonesome Heroes with Melissa and Jan and a handsome devil in the middle). 

Then it was over to Antone’s for a powerful set from The Tiny Tin Hearts (top left below) who OWN that room with their wall of sound, followed by Chris Brecht (bottom left) with ALL of his Dead Flowers Band, and the wonderful Jess Klein (with Scrappy Jud Newcomb, no kin to Gary, apparently) who showcased songs from her forthcoming CD done at Aerie Studios here in town.  Later, a bunch of us went over to Momo’s Club for a late-night set from Deadman, featuring bassist John Michael Schoepf along with frontman Steven Collins, Scott Davis on lead guitar, Kevin McCullough on harmony vocals, Todd Pertll on pedal steel, and with special guest (from the Dead Flowers Band) Matt Mollica on Hammond B-3 (which he lugged up the stairs at Momos after a hot set with Brecht at Antone’s).