Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear - Washington, DC

I was lucky enough to be planning a trip to DC (for Online News Association - which was fantastic) when Jon Stewart announced the Rally for Sanity (or Colbert's March for Fear), which means I already had travel plans, hotel booked, etc. So, it was pretty perfect. You can see pics from the insane event. So many people in one place. I've never seen anything like it. I got lucky when the rally started and found my spot on the side that allowed me to take some great pics of Stewart/Colbert.

Didn't really get to see Jeff Tweedy, but he was there, performing with Mavis Staples. And, I'd already left my spot before Ozzy and Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) took the stage. But it was super exciting to be part of this event. Jon's closing speech was spot on. I think he reflects how most American's feel. I love that the day was mostly full of fun, but he pulled it together, in only the way he can, with sincerity, humor and intelligence. We are lucky to have Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to help us make sense out of the insanity of political discourse.

 

Old 97's at Cuervo Games, Austin, Oct. 23, 2010

You'd think a free show would bring out the masses for an Old 97's show, right in downtown Austin on a lovely night. But it ended up being a nice intimate group of fans, since Cuervo didn't really get the word out about their event. Regardless, the guys put on a great show and everyone there was a hardcore fan, singing along with every word, some even knowing the new songs from the CD that came out just last week.

Rumor has it, they'll be back in December. So, catch them when they come to town again.

The Gourds, another great band, opened.

The Gourds

Big Brown Eyes


Dance Class


Gourds doing El Paso

Back at It at the Treefort

They just released The Grand Theatre: Vol. 1 last week, so you'd think the 97's would be taking some time off from recording. Not hardly. They're back in the studio this week, hard at work on Volume II, which should be out in May, just in time for some breezy, summer listening. They're working with some of the songs from the original sessions, and adding a few more. Catch them live this weekend in Carrollton on Friday and at the Cuervo Games in Austin on Saturday.

By the way, if you do the Gowalla thing, look for Old 97's events at those shows and check in and share photos. If you don't do Gowalla, you should. Download it on your smartphone today.

Old 97s Day in Austin, Oct. 13, 2010

The Old 97s visited Austin a day after the release of their newest, The Grand Theatre Vol. 1 to play not one, but two shows, making this a "best-day-ever" scenario for me. The first was an instore at Waterloo Records, where they played new and a few old to a big crowd. Then later, they hit the Ghost Room for a special KGSR Listeners Private Party. The room was full of fans who loved the new material and screamed the lyrics of the old. It was a lovely day!

So with ACL Fest and last minute access to The National taping on Monday, along with this fantastic day, I'm a little beat, but exceedingly happy :-)

























Let the Whiskey Take the Reins


A State of Texas


Every Night is Friday Night


Dance Class

ACL Festival, Day 3, Oct. 10, 2010

It's hard to believe, after all the anticipation, that another ACL Festival is in the bag. This was probably the best weather weekend we've had, even though temps on Sat and Sun were a little higher midday than most of us would like. I saw some favorite bands on Sunday, including Shearwater, White Rabbits, SPEAK, Midlake, Band of Horses, Flaming Lips, The National... I mean, really... what a hipster fest. These are some of the hottest indie acts around. Of course, the was the big headliner, the legendary Eagles, who basically played hits non-stop for two hours while 50,000 people sang along.

Aside from the lack of wireless throughout the weekend, it was basically a perfect event. Given that most people wanted to share their pics, comments and general enthusiasm for the event, you'd think they'd work this problem out by now. But that's a minor complaint, with such great music all around. I guess I'll be buying my tickets for 2011 soon :-)

Shearwater

White Rabbits

SPEAK

Midlake

Band of Horses

Hippest kids at the festival!

Flaming Lips

The National

The Eagles

Band of Horses - Laredo. I really love this song.