There are a handful of people that I will absolutely drop everything to go out and see every single time they are in town. There are the usuals, like Wilco and Spoon, and most of you know I love me some Rhett Miller/Old 97s. And, of course, I can't miss a Barenaked Ladies show on the rare chance they come to town. Another touring act that has always been a must-see for me is Mr. Evan Dando, sometimes of the Lemonheads. I can't resist his simple pop tunes and amazing voice. This show at Emo's was quite special. Short of him playing for me in my living room, I can't imagine a better showcase of his talent, just Dando and guitar. There were about 80 people in the audience and I was literally three feet away. It was mesmerizing. I could have listened to him play all night, so it's good that he's coming back for SXSW!
One of my new favorite local bands, Quiet Company, opened. So, it was a fantastic way to spend a Wednesday!
Great Big No
Confetti
No Backbone
Outdoor Type
Rudderless
Quiet Company - this is their new song. It's great!
It was just like old times last Sunday, when Paul Minor and friends got together at Hole in the Wall to play some fun tunes. Joining Paul was Landis Armstrong, Andrew Duplantis, Tony Scalzo, and Wayne Duncan, and a few other pop-ins including Craig Marshall. I miss the weekly free-for-all gig, but it was great to see everyone making music together.
Here it is, my long overdue, first interview of 2010. Jason Garcia of Household Names was kind enough to drop in to talk about his music career and the band's new CD Stories, No Names. They're a great band that I've been following since I moved to Austin. And, just as we were about to tape the performance, his bandmate Chris Peters (who just happens to live on my street) stopped by with a few toys. It was lots of fun!
Part I
Jason talks about learning to play music and music licensing Part II
More on licensing and the new CD Stories, No Names
It's been a while since I've had a chance to see my neighbor, Brent Adair, play. So, I was glad to have some time to get out to catch his monthly Tuesday gig at Thunderbird. Playing by himself, he's perfect for the coffee shop vibe: great songs and comfortable banter. And some friends joined him, including Neal Mehta - as you can see in clip below. The Upper Echelon, a pair of great singer-songwriters, opened.
I had already purchased tickets to see Joseph Arthur at the Cactus Cafe, before all the news came out about its impending demise. Seems that UT has better plans for a legendary iconic listening space that has launched countless careers and brings an international reputation to the university. Efforts are underway to preserve the room, and you can learn more about it at www.savethecactus.org. Personally, I have seen numerous acts there since I moved to Austin, including Fastball, Carrie Rodriguez, Terri Hendrix, Kelly Willis and one really special performance by Marshall Crenshaw. These are shows that I will never forget. So, I hope UT will do the right thing and recognize the special place they have.
I saw Joseph Arthur a few weeks ago in San Francisco and really enjoyed him. This show was similar, with a combination of music and painting. It's funny how Arthur warms up during the show. The first part of the show, he's quiet, with little crowd banter. Then, he gets warmed up just in time to finish. He really is a rare talent, with beautiful vocals and poetic lyrics.
I was asked not to video in the room, as the show was being recorded for DVD. I did try to sneak a couple times, but the large head in front of me caused those attempts to fail. Sorry about that. I really wanted you to see AND HEAR the special experience of a Cactus show. Hopefully, the pictures will do that justice. I will see if I can ask for permission the next time I attend, probably for Mike Doughty, formerly of Soul Coughing, on the 16th.
Afterward, I stopped by Hole in the Wall on my way home. It's one of my favorite places and another legendary venue in close proximity to UT. I bet most of the student population has no idea the amazing talent that is generated in there nightly. It's a shame. We'll all be sorry when the venues are gone and Austin's no longer the live music capital. I hope I never see the day... Anyway, an old favorite Moonlight Towers was just taking the stage as I arrived. They're really solid with a great sound. Then, I stayed for a few songs by Gleeson. They complemented Moonlight Towers with a similar hard-rockin' style. Please check both out when you have a chance.
It was a great lineup at Stubbs on 1/28, getting to see Buttercup again, not just a fave band, but people I absolutely love, on the bill with two bands that I had been planning to see for a very long time. I was overdue on Quiet Company and Whitman. What a great time. All the bands had so much energy and some very enthusiastic fans. Please check out all these talented groups.
Buttercup
Whitman
Quiet Co does Monkey Gone to Heaven by the Pixies. Brought tears to my eyes.
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