Music

Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > Music category

July 2, 2008

Your A-List: Best Local Song from the Past Year

We knew this would be a battle royale when we asked the A-List readers to vote the Best Local Song from the Past Year. Several write-ins did extremely well and total voting swelled beyond A-List averages.

The winner? “Power to Change” from those retoolers of 1970s cool, the Black and White Years. Only 2 years old, the band caught the attention of Jerry Harrison, producer and former Talking Head, at the 2007 installment of South by Southwest. They earned a fantastic manager in Virgin Records vet Randy Miller, who we met at the group’s recent show at The Parish. The band’s got the local industry whirring and their song won 37 percent of the vote.

Coming in second with 25 percent was “How Will You Shine” from longtimers The Gourds. Ascendant Bettysoo’s “How Will You Shine” took the third spot with 15 percent. Clustered in the 3 to 5 percent range were “Nosebleed” recorded by Spin Alley, “Blue to Me” by Woode Wood, “You’ve Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” by Spoon (arguably not an Austin band), “Heavy Heart” by Ghostland Observatory and “Always a Friend” by Alejandro Escovedo.

One percent or less: Iron and Wine’s “Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car,” Carolyn Wonderland’s “Misunderstood,” Grupo Fantasma’s “Gimme Some,” Mother Truckers’ “Dynamite,” James McMurty’s “Cheney’s Toys,” Big Frank Gomez Band’s “Hey Sarita,” South Austin Jug Band’s “Come to Me,” White Denim’s “Let Talk About It,” Nelo’s “All Gone to Nothing,” Jimmy LaFave’s “Car Outside,” Hayes Carll’s “It’s a Shame,” Pataphysics’ “Jesus Grow Me a Handlebar Mustache,” Shearwater’s “Rooks,” Zookeeper’s “Snow in Berlin,” K.J. Hines’ “The Beach Bunny Hop” and Bavu Blakes’ “Extra Plair.”

Photo: Xavier Mascarenas

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Your A-List

June 21, 2008

DJs Chris Fortier ad Jesse Brede at Sky

Let me revise my outdated impressions of Sky, the vertical dance club on Congress Avenue. Its atrium-style space, with its rectangular configuration and celestial decor, is perhaps the best dance floor in town, at least for soaking up the sounds of DJs like Chris Fortier and warm-up Jesse Brede. Friday, their underground strands had a multivaried crowd locked into movement, facing the turntable as if theirs were live acts. Once again, I am astounded by the cosmopolitan look and sound of New Austin and look forward to another Sky run.

Lori, Paul, Gabriel

Jean Kim, Craig Hargis

Loria Frigillana, Jerome Frigillana, Denise Robinson, Ron Wetzel

DJ Jesse Brede

Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Out

Meridianwest at Lucky Lounge

Their first CD had me right away. Then I met Meridianwest, the three-piece Austin epic rock band. Next I heard them live at Stubb’s. Friday, I followed up with a listen at Lucky Lounge. A few observations: Perhaps I was wrong about vocalist/guitarist Mark Gibson’s lack of eye contact with the audience. Cap brim firmly pulled over his eyes, Gibson still fueled slow-burn volcanics on Friday. Bassist Ryan Magnani makes up for the front man’s hooded persona with elastic, open-faced theatrics, while drummer David Kittredge blisses out in the back. Also, I had underestimated Magnani and Kittredge’s contributions the first time out — they provide a lot of the superstructure and the crackle for Meridianwest, which, from the sound of front-row screams, is attracting a sizeable female following. Following the “Sex and the City” line about cool magnets — “first the gays, then the girls.” Now, if only the traditional music critics would take them more seriously. Or is that required for success these days? Everybody I talked to at the Lounge has already signed on.

Elijah Rosenfeld, Lizza Coffey

Titha Oden, David Guzik

Allison Freeman, Amada Olsen

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Out

June 19, 2008

Fino and Momo's with Dan Dyer

I don’t know why I’ve ignored Fino lately. Actually, yes, I do. It’s not directly on my regular routes, hidden back on San Gabriel off Lamar Boulevard and 29th Street, so it doesn’t show up on my mental Google map. It wasn’t always so. At one point, when I lived in West Campus, that location was home to my favorite restaurant: Granite Cafe. That and Reed Clemons’ other early outings, Mezzaluna and Bitter End, transformed Austin dining with cool eats and atmosphere.

All are gone. Bitter End burned. Mezzaluna become Imperia after a brief history as Capital Brasserie. The Granite mutated several times before Emmett and Lisa Fox opened it as Fino, giving the upstairs eatery a cosmopolitan look and taste, introducing small and large plates, served hot and cold. I met Texas Book Festival’s Clay Smith there for signature drinks during their happy hour, mine an herbal concoction called a Garden Party.

Later, I lingered behind the sun-battling screens to dine with my sister, Kathleen Klingshirn, in town for her daughter’s UT orientation. Our waiter, also the wine steward, was extraordinarily helpful and steered us to a magnificent Spanish white, and my risotto, layered with crisp discs of veggies, was equally satisfying.

Later Kathy and I shuttled down to Momo’s to hear Dan Dyer, the voice of the moment, whose soulful singing (post-Breedlove) is making critics prick up their ears. My sister, a lifelong musician, critiqued the sound mix, but even some mushiness from the board couldn’t detract from Dyer’s soaring sound. He’s been added to my local favorites.

Photo courtesy of dandyer.com

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Food, Music, Out

June 17, 2008

Band of Heathens, Guy Forsyth, Alejandro Escovedo

Pop is about boys. Country about men. Rock about those stuck in between.

Smooth-faced pop deals in the thrill of first sentience — often romantic — without the danger of permanent failure. Scraggly rock is eternal late adolescence, a revolution of the Id more permanent that Trotsky’s or Mao’s. Craggy country, by and large, trades in adult responsibilities, disappointments, temptations, tellingly the only one that acknowledges the artists have children and jobs.

You can hear it in their voices. Pop is often sung in prepubescent falsetto; rock in lower tenor, rarely baritone. Some of the greatest male country artists were basses — Johnny Cash, George Jones, for instance — but not multi-registered slider Hank Williams or the agelessly reedy Willie Nelson.

Which brings us to three potent, recent albums by male Austin artists. The Band of Heathens’ self-titled studio debut is smoother, thicker version of their live recordings, but the fivesome’s songs range over the same Southern territory of their roots rock foundation, with its blues and country antecedents. These guys are insightful, almost poetic, but in their hearts and voices, they are still boys, not yet kicked in the butt by life. Which doesn’t make them any less admirable, in fact, their infectious performances at Momo’s are among my best memories of live music in Austin during past few years.

Guy Forsyth, singing with an almost scary growl, simmers with adult self-reflection, artfully transformed into locomotive songs (all except the awful novelty number, “Where’d You Get the Music?” which almost caused me to eject “Calico Girl” immediately). Alejandro Escovedo’s “Real Animal” is the best-reviewed Austin CD of the year so far, but it’s hard to place. Escovedo mines his own topsy-turvy life for material, but there’s also a lightness here, almost a pop sensibility in some cases. I suppose that tension attracted the music critics, but it takes persistent listening to unpack. It somewhat surprises me that Forsyth’s equally searching album has not been given the same attention as Escovedo’s, but personal taste is always a (self-acknowledged) factor in criticism.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music

June 16, 2008

Black and White Years plus fashion at The Parish

You never know when a fashion show will just pop up in Austin. Late Saturday, I ducked into the Parish an hour before the Black and White Years were scheduled to play. Really, I just wanted to soak up the AC after hours at the Austin Pride Parade, Republic of Texas Biker Rally and a peek at Sally Jacques’ “Constellation” over at the federal complex. (One must commit entirely to her meditative dances on architecture, otherwise one is easily distracted on the sidewalk.)

Almost instantly, I ran into Randy and Diane Miller. The former New Yorkers — he was with Virgin Records — now live in Tarrytown and manage the very up-and-coming Years. Randy mistook me for Michael Corcoran, not an uncommon occurrence, but once we got past that, we were launching into New York real estate gossip, just as I had earlier in the evening with Austin techster Steven Phenix and his out-of-town guest.

Anyway, a few minutes later, a runway show began with sassy styles from Model Citizen, Knoxy and Loves, Mariessa (designers go by such creative names). Although clearly imagined for very different occasions from the least to the most formal, the women’s and men’s wear could work for any club night.

Then, the band played on. The Years have updated and honed a distinctive 1970s sound, and they even wear moustaches. They’ve earned a devout following and I now count myself among them. I look forward to their progress under Miller’s wise hand.

Heather Walton, Jen Sutor

Jordan Dudley, Lindsey Case, Joshua Clark

Shannon Rodgers, Shaun Avants, Knoxy

Tammy Harden, Sheryl Jones

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Out, Style

June 11, 2008

William Finn and 'La Boheme'

Why make CDs? They must cost money. Not the dime or so it takes to manufacture the disc, but all those musicians and technicians, all that organization to get a show squeezed onto a musical medallion.

Two recent double-disc releases offer arguments for the dying practice. The off-Broadway cast album of “Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn” makes available the music of a composer virtually unknown to the general public, but cherished by musical queens for “Falsettos” and his free-floating, conversational songwriting. As a writer, Finn is all knees and elbows, which makes his work all the more endearing, especially performed by a micro-cast and single piano.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Puccini’s “La Boheme,” on the other hand, provides nothing new or different. Conductor Robert Spano delivers a light, clean version of the world’s most popular opera, but it feels more like a contract completion effort than the kind of artistic adventure Spano formerly explored with the Brooklyn Philharmonic. But here’s the rationale: It’s priced as if a single disc ($17.98 on Amazon), making it accessible for those who still need their first recording of “Boheme.” At some point, the price for CDs will collapse altogether. I still prefer them, overall, to MP3s, though the day will come …

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, Music

June 10, 2008

Jets Under Fire, The Alice Rose, Alpha Rev at Antone's

One detects remnants of U2 and Radiohead in Alpha Rev’s daedalian mesh of sound, but honestly, I haven’t enjoyed an Austin club concert more than the Rev’s set at Antone’s on Saturday. Employing a capacious touring mix, the fivesome could not be more charismatic and their combination of voltaic guitar, undergirding rhythms and electronicized strings had a full house pulsating with social connection. (It helps that the Rev’s lyrics often deal with the way that people cohere, socially.) Warm-up sets by Jets Under Fire and The Alice Rose further kindled my interest in these promising popsters. Antone’s really is becoming an anchor for the New Austin Sound, and a young, beaming crowd is there to witness it.

Allie Chapman, Ellen Daly, Dillon Lewis, Breck Lewis, Chris Copeland

Samantha Hatcher, Wesley Smith

Brian Batch, Kate Douglas

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Out

June 3, 2008

Weekend: More parties, no 'Sex'

Even attending 18 events over a long, hot weekend, I missed a few giant social affairs, such as the Pachanga Festival (cool in the Waterloo Park shade?) and the Cattle Baron’s Ball for the American Cancer Society (we dawdled during a Pedernales River day trip).

Two publications threw lavish issue parties: Brilliant at Pangaea and Rare at the Monarch. The first included a birthday salute to publisher Lance Avery Morgan featuring a cavalcade of cupcakes. Cover lady Diana Ross was not in attendance, but the magazine landed a juicy interview with the superstar.

Pangaea owner Michael Ault and baby-bump wife, model Sabrina Randall

Suzie Wright, Suzanna Albright at Pangaea

Ben Ross, Ana Knevevic, Jake Roeschley at Pangaea

Greg Boyd, Susan Platt, Parker Elliott at Pangaea
The Rare party shook the top of the Monarch’s garage. As the sun set behind the wing-topped apartment tower, guests streamed between the ready-to-rent lower floors and the parking structure. Alpha Rev, a band helping to redefine the New Austin sound, headlined, competing with jugglers, belly dancers, personal beautifiers and purveyors of food and drink.

Felice Partita, Amy Bonneau, Linda Matthews, Kristin Larsen, Rachel Mann, Linda Husjord from Frenchy’s salon on Mary Street

Rochelle Miller, Christopher Anderson at the Monarch
We took a tour of Paul Oveisi’s corner unit. The Momo’s owner, who is now managing Dan Dyer’s post-Breedlove act, reserved early, copping splendid views of lower downtown and the Shoal Creek greenery.

Paul Oveisi, Jessie Corrine at the Monarch

Oveisi’s pad at the Monarch, looking northeast

Mayor Will Wynn, looking tan and fit in season-appropriate shorts, joked that he was just checking if anyone could peek into his window across the way at the Austin Lofts.

Rare’s Matt Swinney, Carrie Crowe at the Monarch

Recent UT grads Cliff Waters, Liz Richmond at the Monarch

Tammy Harding, Mindy Cordell at the Monarch
Earlier, we stopped by Breakaway Records, nestled next to Cafe Mundi on East Fifth Street. Serious DJs flipped through LPs and 45s while blissed-out music lovers sipped beer from cans and listened to Monty McCarter’s reggae rippling through the un-air-conditioned shop.

Nadia Shea, Tim Murphy at Breakaway Records

John Hall, Scott Landfried at Breakaway Records

OwnersGabe Vaughn, Mike Hooker with Chelsea Wine at Breakaway Records
Later, at Antone’s, we checked in with another band forging that New Austin sound, Pompeii, which has not played in a while (working on a new album). Then bopped back and forth between there and Red Fez, where nimble DJ Kurupt was celebrating his Sunday successes with friends and a blindingly attractive crowd.

Erik Johnson, Julie Booker, Rob Davidson at Antone’s

Connor Kiel, Glory Ancheta at Antone’s

Michael Swimelar, Thao Doan at Antone’s

DD, CK at the Red Fez. (Sometime we’ll have that talk about why some people are shy about giving their name to journalists

Andre Breton, Shy Salinas, Jamaal Skeete, Cornelius Sirls at the Red Fez

Monday brought the Austin Critics Table Awards at Cap City Comedy Club. Always an irreverent event, with artists, patrons and journalists trading sweetened jabs. But way too long: Revelers staked out tables at 6:30 p.m. and some didn’t leave until 10:30 p.m. The informal critics group — I’m still a member — is already discussing a tighter program for next year.

Buzz Moran, winner for Sound Design, and the funniest speaker of the evening

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, City, Media, Music, Out

May 30, 2008

Weekend: Hidden Music 3 at UT Alum Center

Like pilgrims on a spiritual journey, music lovers swarm any location where Craig Hella Johnson performs. The director of Conspirare, the immaculate Austin choral group, is tuned to all sorts of sounds, so his “Hidden Music 3: I’m Just Getting Started” drew a summery flock to the UT Alum Center, glowing a late afternoon green above Waller Creek, for a program of eclectica.

I caught up with Dan Bullock on various civic matters, Tom Staley on Ransom Center news and New England idylls and a contingent from Victoria about the juicy scandals erupting in their Southeast Texas city. This is the type of Gothic crime story Texas Monthly tells well — I’m sure they already have a reporter on the scene. Couldn’t stick around for the music, but on a packed weekend, I didn’t really have the option.

Muffy Staley, Tom Staley, Nancy Scanlan

Justice Bea Ann Smith, Frank Calhoun

Jim Templeton, Jen Templeton, Brooks Holder, Jenna Salwen

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, Music, Out

May 28, 2008

Your A-List: Best Rapper

Austin is known far and wide for singer-songwriters, progressive country, indie rock and even punk, but hip hop has never been our town’s forte, especially competing with urban meccas like Houston, Dallas or Atlanta. Still, we’ve earned some stars, including the rappers and rap groups chosen in the A-List vote this week.

Two — Terp 2 It and KJ Hines — overwhelmed the others, taking 40 percent and 38 percent of the vote, respectively. Chris Trew speaks for Terp 2 It: “Winning awards feels nice because they always translate into more album sales and more people at your shows,” he writes, and not to miss a chance to spread the word: “PS my album is available on iTunes and ColdTowne Theater, and my next big show is 10 p.m. June 20 at the United States Art Authority.” (Disclosure: Chris took some photos for Austin360.com in early 2007.)

Coming in at No. 3 was Dirty Wormz, with 8 percent of the vote. Overlord, write-in Ratarue and critics’ darling Bavu Blakes wriggled in next with 4 percent, 3 percent and 2 percent. Copping less than 1 percent were Zeale 32, Crew 54, Dred Skott, Gerald G, Basswood Lane, Tee Double, Element 7D and Traygod Shakhem.

Write-ins: Mike and Ike, Mike Wade of Hog Pen Click, Ratarue, Southern Boy Entertainment, SparkDawg

Photo courtesy of christrew.com

Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Your A-List

May 26, 2008

The Eternal Show Tunes Hunt

Sure I could collect them more easily online. But I relish searching for actual CDs the same way I hunted for the LPs they replaced. The hardest ones to recover are, of course, the show tunes, since perhaps 1 percent of any used CD shop is devoted to them, if that. Still, every label recognized that Broadway queens like myself would someday want to include even the floppiest of flops in their collections.

One CD store in Boston’s Harvard Square had squat. Another on Newbury had gone out of business (not uncommon). Yet two doors down was a comic book store with virtually no comics, but almost as many CDs as vast Amoeba in Berkeley or Haight-Ashbury.

Some of the cast albums I purchased — mostly from the Silver Age (roughly 1960-1980) — were huge hits (“1776”) or have been reinterpreted many ways (“Chicago”). Others were loveable disasters (“Saratoga”) or respectable near-misses that have enjoyed deserved revivals (“The Rothchilds”). Some were big, glossy mistakes (stage version of “Gigi”) or horrifying concepts saved by the charm of the music and performances (“Carnival”).

I finally bought into “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which comes to the Long Center soon, as that Austin presenting house goes toe to toe with the UT Bass Concert Hall for Broadway series. I salvaged three of my favorites from Silver Age “black” musicals — “Purlie,” “Raisin” and “Hallelujah, Baby,” although I fear only the second still holds its head high.

One is a bit of fluffy fun (“Dames at Sea”), while another is as serious as musicals get (“Parade”). One has been accepted as a classic (“On the Town”), yet another should be considered so, beyond a tiny cult of followers (“Fiorello”). One, I barely know (“Jennie”) and probably never owned on LP; another is an indulgence, the Japanese touring version of “The Fantasticks,” from the Austin-bred team of Schmidt and Jones.

At least 1,000 productions were recorded in this manner. I probably have collected half that in the CD format. And yes, always transferable to MP3.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, Music

May 21, 2008

Pink Martini inebriates at Paramount

We grow a little jaded in this profession. How many concerts begin with promise, but leave us yawning 20 minutes into the set? Not Pink Martini, the indefinable Portland Ore.-based big band that played the Paramount Theatre last night. I haven’t had so much fun at the Paramount since Kathy Griffin ripped into the latest celebrity scandal, and not so sustained a thrill at an Austin concert since Ghostland Obsveratory at Hogg Auditorium.

The match between venue an artists was made in lounge heaven, and Pink Martini’s sound mixers deserve a special citation for making every instrument and voice sound like spun gold. (I’m so tired of presenters making excuses for distorted amplification, just because a touring act doesn’t have time to prep the hall.) The breadth of the Martini repertoire is astonishing: classical, jazz, world, dance, story pop, performed in 7 or 8 of the 12 languages lead singer China Forbes says she speaks.

Aside from some chilling solos from the likes of violinist Nicholas Corosa and trumpeter Gavin Bondy, everything else flowed through the fingers of band leader Thomas Lauderdale, whose crisp, bright style on the keyboards is more of a musical signature for Martini than its jazz inflections or Latin accents.

(Side note to Lauderdale, who announced a goal to turn Texas into a blue state, more like Oregon on the night of Barak Obamba’s victory there: Austin is already as blue as it gets.)

A music-savvy Austin crowd shook the the Paramount walls with vocal approval, then lined up for a semi-conga during the encore of “Brazil,” which brilliantly showcased Forbes’ lithe vocals. What Forbes brings to the mix of abundantly talented instrumentalists, besides that voice, is star power. Her lean features spangled with glitter, Forbes appeared to tease sounds out of her band-mates’ instruments, while she made (chaste) love to the audience. Martini promises a quick return to Austin. Pay any price. Go.

Photo courtesy of pinkmartini.com.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music

May 20, 2008

Austin Gives: Tina Marsh at Laguna Gloria

Tina Marsh’s subdued fundraising function, staged in arboreal serenity at the Laguna Gloria Amphitheater on Sunday, adopted a spiritual tone, with performances by dancers, musicians and other artists as day slipped into dusk. Master of ceremonies Robert Faires spoke of the absence of a government safety net for artists. “We make our own safety net in Austin,” he said. “We turn out in numbers to help.” Fans, old and young, trickled down the sylvan hillside to prove his point.

Sally Jacques, Tina Marsh (looking glorious despite the return of cancer)

Volunteers Mary Katherine Vigness, Corey Fields

Mahalene, the Kabbalah Queen

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, Music, Out

May 19, 2008

Austin Gives: Paramount & State Gala

Saturday, a casually clad crowd cheered a earthy, generous performance by Kris Kristofferson at the gala for the Paramount and State theaters. Before he sang, a live auction brought in an astounding $183,000 to preserve the theatrical gems, Kristofferson’s signed guitar going for $25,000.

Kristofferson: “For a guitar? This is crazy.”

Wife Lisa Kristofferson: “There will be no living with that man now.”

Theater director Ken Stein projected a $575,000 net, or twice previous records for the event. And oh, did I mention the party tent on Congress Avenue was more than 600 feet long, stretching over two full blocks? Austin loves a party, if to give, give, give.

Shawna Hills, Eric Hills

Jett Winders, Ben McCain, Nick Saenz, Brooklyn Barbieri

Lauren Smith Ford, Bennett Ford

Megan Jackson, Curtis Jackson

Van Wisse, Linda Miller, Tom Schoonover, Monty Calderoni

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, Music, Out

May 13, 2008

Weekend heat wave at Victory Grill

Did the short, brutal weekend heat wave affect Austin socializing? Not at the Stax Night at the Victory Grill on Friday. Although the venerable venue’s air-conditioning system could barely keep up with the capacity crowd, everyone remained in high party mode for T-Bird and the Breaks, which played to benefit the Stax Music Academy in Memphis. Couldn’t stay for the band, but cheered the fringe-skirted Funk Peepshow dancers, who shimmied to the DJ’s tunes.

Funk Peepshow Dancers: Aryn Sullivan, Kim Domanet, Christina Mason, Gloria Fuentes

Ben Frederick, Theresa Herbst

Dr. D.D. Faye; Evelyn J. Faye

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Out

May 12, 2008

Austin's Pat McCann solos at Bush-Hager rehearsal dinner

We heard from a peerless source that Austin guitarist Pat McCann played the rehearsal dinner for the Bush-Hager party Friday in Salado. We don’t know much about McCann, who appears to play ambient and jazz music. He may be the only Austin musician without a prominent MySpace page. And we can’t confirm a reliable image for him. But we’ll keep trying.

Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Out

May 9, 2008

Old Antone's on Guadalupe to become blues club

Spiderhouse Cafe co-owner Conrad Bejarano — also teamed with John Dorgan operating the nearby I Luv Video and the United States Art Authority — confirmed their planned re-opening the old Antone’s venue on Guadalupe Street as a blues club. Bejarano said he is in discussions with Susan Antone about making sure it doesn’t interfere with the downtown club that bears her late brother’s name. Bejarano even suggested a name for the Guadalupe location: Clifford’s.

We were chatting with Bejarano (pictured) at the USAA, which opened for regular business (6 nights a week) recently. The combination bar, performance space and art gallery, formerly a plasma collection center — has worked well for special events, but now is destined to become an campus-area hang-out. (Seriously, there are so few. And with the Showdown heading out the door…)

We’ll profile USAA for Out & About: Cafe Society, the periodic XL feature that premiered this week with a look at Kick Butt Coffee. Other fresh spots on our list to dig into include Buzios Room, a neat, laid-back ultra-lounge managed by Silvio Ramos that just opened above the Copa, and Orchid, which takes the place of the Black and Tan on Seventh Street. Last night, while snacking at Imperia with managing partner C.K. Chin, we heard of two more new clubs, one on West Sixth Street and another on San Jacinto Boulevard. Looks like Cafe Society will be busy through June on new social gathering places.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Out

Tina Marsh, Austin Arts Hall of Fame inductee

There is something quintessentially Austin about Tina Marsh’s music. It’s informed by the environment and is often performed either out of doors — Laguna Gloria is a favored spot — or in site-specific buildings, all bathed in local color. Although often labeled avant-garde jazz, her music genre-busting, yoking influences and instruments from electronica to world roots. Marsh is the ultimate collaborator, another Austin trait, working closely with longtimers and newcomers in the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, or with visual and performing artists on some city’s most memorable projects. And in a city that values originality, CO2 has premiered more than 100 completely fresh compositions, many by Marsh herself.
Marsh’s induction into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame, made formal June 2 at Cap City Comedy Club, reflects not only these attributes, but her several decades of cultural leadership. Many will know her best from contributions to Hall of Famer Sally Jacques’ epic and ethereal dances in warehouses, empty pools, shells of partially completed buildings and other visually distinctive locations. Her haunted soprano has graced many recordings and concerts, including Alex Coke’s jazz suite “Iraqnophobia.”
Marsh contributes regularly to the Austin social scene, appearing at benefits and lending her artistry to worthy causes. Already inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame, Marsh founded the New Jazz Series and sometimes broke away from her big-band work to produce minimalist albums such as “Inside The Breaking: Volume I.” She has performed with such greats as Carla Bley, Hamiett Bluiett, Vinny Golia, Dennis Gonzalez, Billy Hart, Roscoe Mitchell, Steve Swallow and Kenny Wheeler.
If Austin had an official soundtrack, Marsh’s voice could be heard in the harmony.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, Music

May 8, 2008

Madonna chooses Houston

Now that the hubbub about a possible Madonna drive-by has settled down, we’ve got the official word: The Indefatigable One is finally returning to Texas after a 15-year absence. She’s set to play Houston’s Minute Maid Park Nov. 16. Tix for Sticky & Sweet go on sale May 31. She’ll also play Mexico, although cities have not been named, and that might be even more interesting.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Fame, Music

May 7, 2008

Your A-List: Best Punk Group

Austin is one of the few places in the country where punk never really went away. Maybe it has something to do with the visceral attractions of the music, movement and lifestyle for those in full youthful revolt. But why along Red River Street? An untested theory: Red River, with its nearby homeless shelters, broken sidewalks and half-neglected club facades actually looks punky, although anyone who has spent even an hour down there knows better. It’s just as open-hearted as the rest of Austin.
Plenty of band won votes in the A-List contest, but the high-flying Riverboat Gamblers took the first slot with 23 percent of the tally. The perennially popular — and theatrical — Flametrick Subs came in second with 14 percent and Naw Dude thrummed out 13 percent. Taking less than 10 percent, in descending order of votes: The Teeners, the Lost Controls, Krum Bums, the Midgetmen, Spin Alley (a write-in), Camp X-Ray, Total Abuse, the Hex Dispensers, Deskonocidos, Sacred Shock, Me vs. Everybody, World Burns to Death and Finally Punk. Can’t help but love the names.

Write-ins: Manikin, Sex Advice

Photo by Jay Janner.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Music, Your A-List

April 29, 2008

11 Austin bands I adore right now

Back during my first Austin club phase in the 1980s, I dickered with late psycho-punk (Butthole Surfers), more disciplined rock (Zeitgeist/Rievers), novelty pop (Poi Dog Pondering), singer-songwriters (David Garza), blues guitar (yes, devoutly, Stevie Ray Vaughan) and even country crossover (Ricky Trevino, but just to flirt). Notice any threads among these local acts?

For 15 years, occupied as arts critics for the American Statesman, I missed almost a generation of Austin club music. It was not until 2005, when I toured 100 Central Texas music venues in a single month for a pair of XL cover stories that I d