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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Texas legends celebrate the 80th birthday of Rod Kennedy
The Paramount will be hosting an all-star birthday tribute to singer, Kerrville Folk Festival founder, radio and television pioneer and all-around trailblazer Rod Kennedy Feb. 2. The tribute will feature Robert Earl Keen, Ray Benson, Marcia Ball, The Flatlanders, Ruthie Foster, Eliza Gilkyson, Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines, Jimmy LaFave and others. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University.
Kennedy is a colorful figure who’s had one of those storied, larger-than-life careers. His life as an entertainer began in 1946 when he lent his pipes to the Bill Creighton Orchestra in Buffalo, New York. Since then, he’s founded the career-launching Kerrville Folk Festival, led multiple TV and radio stations and served as director for the Austin Symphony Orchestra, among other arts organizations. He’s even been a sports car racer. A more complete biography appears on Kennedy’s Web site and is worth glancing over, if only to shatter your ideas about how much one human being can accomplish in a lifetime.
Further details and tickets are available at the Paramount’s Web site.
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The Fray to headline show at the Austin Music Hall
Speaking of radio holiday bashes and the extremely popular artists they bring to town, Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum piano rock quartet the Fray will pop into the Austin Music Hall on Dec. 16 to headline the annual Christmas party for the Bobby Bones Show. Owl City, Jason DeRulo and Lyaz will open.
Tickets are $32 and available from Front Gate Tickets.
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Phoenix returns to Austin for holiday show
Take note, fans of hopelessly addictive French pop band Phoenix: your day has come. Again.
The much beloved indie rockers, who played the first day of the Austin City Limits Music Festival this year, will be returning to Austin Dec. 17 for the annual 101X holiday concert at La Zona Rosa. Thanks to local music blog ultra8201 for the tip.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m., and you can grab them here. Hockey and hometown heroes White Denim will open. The show benefits Austin Habitat for Humanity.
In the meantime, check out our interview with guitarist Laurent Brancowitz from last month.
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White Denim debuts new video for “I Start to Run”
Along with the United States release of their sophomore album “Fits,” Austin’s spastic Lou Barlow-approved fuzz rock kings and certified international sensations White Denim have just debuted the stateside video for lead single “I Start To Run” on mtvU. Eagle-eyed viewers may notice that the video was shot at the (re-dressed) Austin City Limits studio. White Denim had an open call for extras for the shoot just last month.
Although the video, with its freakish costumes and faux-QVC shopping network interludes, is a charmer, it doesn’t quite reach the zany heights of the United Kingdom video for “I Start To Run.” That video, released back in June when “Fits” came out in the U.K., took a rather more literal approach, with bassist Steve Terebecki madly scrambling and a visual style recalling Terry Gilliam’s cult film “Time Bandits.” Peep the new video below, followed by June’s version right underneath, and if you feel so compelled drop into the comments and let us know which you prefer.
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Guy Clark, Ray Benson, Carolyn Wonderland and Lucinda Williams part of Janis Joplin tribute
Guy Clark, who plays the Cactus Cafe on Nov. 20, will play Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “Kozmic Blues: The Life and Music of Janis Joplin,” part of the hall’s American Music Masters series. Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson, Carolyn Wonderland and Lucinda Williams are also scheduled to perform. Here, Clark talks about his involvement with the show:
“I met Janis a couple times in Texas and San Francisco, and we had a lot of mutual friends. In later years, I met her sister Laura Joplin, who lives in California. She’s involved in this thing, I think. Laura and I had gotten to be friends, and we were talking about how when Janis was just starting she was more of a folk singer, traditional blues and ballads.
“I’m going to do the old blues song “Trouble in Mind” (on Saturday). I’d bet anything we both learned that from Lightnin’ Hopkins. Janis’ version and mine are pretty much the same, aside from the vocals. I’m not scared, you know, but I’m not really sure why I’m doing this. I wasn’t a bosom buddy, but I guess there was some connection they wanted to make. They asked me to do an original, too, and I chose ‘She Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.’ It kind of reminds me of what Janis was going through when she left Texas.”
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Weekend picks: Frenetic punk, lovelorn dreamers and Monsters of Folk
Pictured: Monsters of Folk
FRIDAY
Monsters of Folk at Stubb’s. This combo of Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), raspy-voiced indie rocker M. Ward and producer/musician Mike Mogis released a self-titled debut in October, a low-key affair pulling from the diverse backgrounds of each member. Expect a marathon performance that includes material from the album as well as songs from past solo efforts. $36. 801 Red River St. stubbsaustin.com —Peter Mongillo
Also recommended:
- Mastodon, High on Fire, Dethklok, Converge at the Austin Music Hall
- Elvis Perkins in Dearland, AA Bondy at the Parish
- Bishop Allen, Darwin Deez at the Mohawk
- Bruce Robison at Broken Spoke
SATURDAY
This Moment in Black History at Red 7. This frenetic punk band from Cleveland mixes explosive blues punk and garage rock. It’s tight and loose in ways that only rock can be — precise, yet flailing with rhythmic guitar chug that slams against chased-by-wolves howl. With locals Fingaar Bangaar, the Gospel Truth and more. 10 p.m. $10. 611 E. Seventh St. 476-8100. www.myspace.com/redsevenaustin — Joe Gross
Also recommended:
- Mercy Me at Austin Music Hall
- Son Volt at Antones
- Pong at the Continental Club
- Ensiferum at Emo’s
- My Education at the Parish
SUNDAY
The Swell Season at the Paramount Theatre. Folk duo Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s work in 2007 sleeper hit musical drama ‘Once’ — including the lilting, intimate ‘Falling Slowly’ — won the pair an Oscar and the hearts of lovelorn dreamers everywhere. They’ve fallen into and out of love, a development that colors sophomore album ‘Strict Joy,’ and should make for an interesting on-stage dynamic. Will Hansard’s notoriously charming stage banter survive the breakup intact? All signs point to yes. 7:30 p.m. $40-$45. 713 Congress Ave. 472-5470.austintheatre.org — Patrick Caldwell
Also recommended:
