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Cactus supporters turn out for Austin Music Commission meeting
Supporters of the Cactus Cafe turned out at Monday night’s monthly meeting of the Austin Music Commission, which advises the city on music development and kicks off its meetings with an open forum for citizens to discuss Austin music issues. Supporters included “Save the Cactus Cafe” administrator Reid Nelson, official 2010 Texas State Musician and regular Cactus performer Sara Hickman and her 13-year-old daughter Lily, who has also played the famous stage.
“What’s really special about the Cactus is the relationship between the artist and the audience. It helps us to develop that rapport,” said Sara Hickman. “It’s a place to listen, it’s a place to love, and I’ve seen people break down and cry there.”
“If Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, then why take away the little things that give it that title?” asked Lily Hickman, addressing the commission after her mother. “If you take away the Cactus, you break so many hearts.”
The Cactus Cafe supporters found a sympathetic ear with the music commission’s seven members. Member Marcia Zwilling referred to Cactus Cafe manager Griff Luneberg as “iconic,” while member and live music task force chair Paul Oveisi expressed confidence that saving the renowned listening room was possible.
Attorney and political consultant Reid Nelson — administrator of the now 13,000-strong Facebook group and one of the leaders of the burgeoning movement — compared the Cactus Cafe’s importance to the Austin community to that of Barton Springs. He also expressed a desire to see the numbers behind the University of Texas’ decision broken down further.
Just as impassioned was paint salesman and photojournalist Jeff Newman, who said he doesn’t generally attend music commission meetings but felt the need to speak up in defense of the venue.
“If the Cactus Cafe was a car it would be a one-of-a-kind custom-made classic Cadillac in near-mint condition,” said Newman, reading from a letter he wrote to UT President William Powers Jr. “When a car like that breaks down do you leave it by the side of the road or do you repair it? Any one with a lick of sense repairs it.”
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By Jan Florence Garven
February 2, 2010 1:51 PM | Link to this
Where else can Jane Siberry and Iris Dement serenade us but at the Cactus? The quiet intimacy of it’s living room ambiance makes me feel like the world’s a good place and that maybe I could live ‘unplugged’ as well. We gotta save the Cactus!