Saturday, 18.3.2000
A beautiful day, and South Congress Street was buzzing with
parties
all afternoon at the San Jose Motel, Mojo Nixon's annual pancake
cook-off
at the Continental Club, and the Rykodisc / Slow River Party at the Yard Dog Art
Gallery.
Peter Bruntnell @ Yard Dog (Rykodisc / Slow River Records Party)
"One of the new breed of alt.country performers hailing from
England, Peter Bruntnell's latest release is Normal for Bridgwater. It
was recorded with the assistance of Dave Boquist (Son Volt) and Erik
Heywood (Son Volt, Freakwater, Richard Buckner) and has drawn
comparisons to the work of Jimmy Webb and Glen Campbell." -- Jim
Caligiuri (Austin Chronicle)
A pleasant surprise. Jimmy Webb? Glen Campbell? Not the comparisons I
would come up with (think Jayhawks, but influenced by the Stones rather
than the Beatles), but I sure liked what I heard. Everything was there:
Strong songs, nice melodies + harmony vocals, with just enough
guitar-power (courtesy of the young whizz-kid on guitar). Cool.
Josh Rouse @ Yard Dog (Ryko / Slow River Records Party)
"Roots-pop singer/songwriter Josh Rouse was born in Nebraska,
living variously in California, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota,
Georgia
and Arizona during the years to follow; obsessed as a teen with British
cult favorites like the Smiths and the Cure, he learned to play guitar
from his uncle, and wrote his first song at 18.Iin 1998 Rouse issued
his debut album Dressed Up like Nebraska to widespread critical
acclaim; upon settling in Nashville, he was befriended by Kurt Wagner,
frontman of the endlessly brilliant chamber-country group Lambchop, and
in the fall of 1999 the two singers/songwriters issued a collaborative
EP, Chester. Rouse's second solo LP, Home, appeared the following
spring." -- Jason Ankeny (All Music Guide)
"On his second Slow River/Rykodisc album, Home, Josh Rouse offers
up a striking set of bittersweet, insightful songcraft that maintains
the affecting intimacy of his much-acclaimed 1998 debut Dressed Up Like
Nebraska. Like the
first album, Home sidesteps transient stylistic affectations in favor
of
more timeless virtues. Emotionally forthright, effortlessly catchy
numbers demonstrate the artist's uncanny knack for addressing complex
emotional issues with eloquent simplicity, while adding a more
pronounced pop sensibility
that lends melodic uplift to the songs often melancholy lyrics." (SXSW
Bandinfo)
Josh fit in perfectly between Peter Bruntnell's Roots-Rock and the
folky soundscapes of the Willard Grant Conspiracy. Josh had just opened
a few shows for the Cowboy Junkies, and like them he has mastered the
art of mixing calm, relaxed melodies with subtle lyrical elements. He
was supported by a superb band, including stand-up bass and trumpet,
plus Will Kimbrough on guitar.
Willard Grant Conspiracy @ Yard Dog (Ryko / Slow River Records Party)
"Willard Grant Conspiracy takes a group approach to the
slow-paced acoustic melancholy that has been the a product of the U.S.
Midwest. Like the Golden Palominos, WGC boasts rotating membership, the
result being injections of new instruments and styles, as on their
third album Mojave, released by Ryko imprint Slow River. Like a cross
between the Waco Brothers and Wilco." -- David Lynch (Austin Chronicle)
Again, I would disagree. While the Willard Grant Conspiracy draws on
some of the same influences as Waco Brothers and Wilco, they have
developed a very
individual and distinctive style. While not easily accessible at first
listen,
they captivate frequent listeners with their Folk-Noir. An inspired set
featuring
The Silos' Drew Glacklin and Walter Salas-Humara, ending with the
brilliant
sing-a-long "Work Song". Btw, you can find this song in the
"Audio-section"...
Dan Israel (of The Cultivators) @ ABCD's
"Minneapolis wordsmith/singer/guitarist Dan Israel and his Cultivators deliver a moving, catchy batch of ditties on this, their second full-length release. The songs are world-weary, yet hardly jaded, with nuggets of hope buried in their centers. Israel ruminates on heartbreak, loneliness, and detachment with a distinct Midwestern flair, and the band itself is tightly focused and right in time with the melancholy mood of the lyrics. Lead guitarist Tom Sampson throws out sublime, country-pop inflected licks with an understated grace, while the rhythm section easily juggles the fragile combo of Israel's dramatic vocals and jangly strumming. Lending their admirable talents are ex-Gear Daddy Randy Broughten on pedal steel, Jayhawk sideman Mike "Razz" Russell on fiddle, and honey-voiced Kristin Mooney on backing vocals. With a collection of material this strong and friends like that on board, this record promises to be The Cultivators' long-awaited breakthrough- straight from mama's kitchen to you." -- Tom Hallett (All Music Guide)
Unfortunately, Dan had to cancel his appearance at the last minute. I had been really looking forward to catching him live, as the excellent Cultivators CD "Mama's Kitchen" is making the wait for the next Wallflowers CD a lot more enjoyable...
The Silos @ Waterloo Park
"Walter Salas-Humara, the driving force behind the Silos, has
long been overlooked as one of the best producer/performers in rock.
His slightly off-kilter vocals and great songwriting have brought the
Silos a devoted
following for years, and "Heater" should win a few more devotees. The
disc
is filled with the ragged but right tunes that make this band an
overlooked
gem." -- Tim Sheridan (All Music Guide)
With Waterloo Park not too far away from ABCD's, it was a good
opportunity to see the Silos playing the BIG outdoor stage. The shows
there are free
and quite popular with those Austinites who are not willing to shell
out
$75 for a wristband. And as always, Walter + the band rose to the
occasion,
treating the crowd to a selection of songs from the last 10 years and
closing
with two of their best songs: the brand new "I Believe", and the
ten-year-old
crowd-pleaser "I'm Over You".
The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers @ Cheapo's
"The Joshua Tree project featuring (last time through town at
least) Victoria Williams, husband Mark Olson, and fiddler friend Razz,
strings
together sunshiney, old-timey American roots music with a lyrical bent
of
which only Ms. Williams is capable. Truly unique and refreshingly
honest,
the Creek Dippers are as much a state of mind as a musical group." --
Christopher
Hess (Austin Chronicle)
Pure and simple homemade music. You either like Victoria's voice or you
don't. Vic, Marc and their (musical) family performed in front of an
enthusiastic audience. I have rarely seen that many other artists at an
in-store, showing the status she enjoys not only with her fans, but
also other musicians.
Dumptruck @ Buffalo Club
"With three critically acclaimed records, it seemed Dumptruck were poised for mass commercial success in the late 1980s. When their contract with Big Time expired, however, a label vs. artist vs. label episode effectively flattened the tire of Seth Tiven and his Dumptruck. Now residing in Austin, Tex., Tiven is back with a new album of songs crafted with the collaborative help of a sharp new band. This spirited offering should satisfy both die-hard fans and potential converts who happened to miss out on the brilliance of Dumptruck's creepy, country-infected ballads and noisy, Crazy Horse-style barnburners. Still prominent in the mix is Tiven's unique, endearing voice and characteristically dark, self-observational lyrics." -- Mike C. (listen.com)
Not a bad showcase, solid work, but nothing striking about it. And I have seen much better gigs by ex-Dumptruck members Kirk Swan and Kevin Salem...
Dead Hot Workshop @ Lucy's
"Drawing inspiration from late '70s chartbusters, soulful
country ballad, jangly alterna-rock standards and bar band rave ups,
DHW mine a
very catchy musical groove." -- Josh Fraimow (No Depression)
Sometimes it just doesn't happen. I really like "River Otis" and
"1001",
the first releases by Dead Hot Workshop, so I looked forward to this
showcases quite a bit. Lucy's stage layout is very similar to that of
the Blind Pig Pub (although Lucy's stage is a little bigger and the
sound system a little better), making it difficult to really enjoy a
show here, especially when it is as crowded as it was for this show. So
maybe the bad sound is to blame, but DHW appeared to be playing the
same song over and over again. Nothing wrong with that if it's a good
one, but it wasn't. Combined with annoying in-between-song banter, it
was one big disappointment. So what has happened to this band? A visit
to their web-site reveals some personnel changes. Also, it seems that
the band just cancelled their current tour and called it quits. Oh,
well...
Mary Lou Lord @ Corner of 6th and Brazos
"Mary Lou Lord got her start playing music in the subways and
on
the sidewalks of London and Boston. It was first in London where she
developed her repertoire; on her return to Boston, she polished her
sound and songs. Discovered in the subway by a rep from the Indie label
Kill Rock Stars,
Lord's two EPs on that label were critical and cult successes. Her
voice
-- which ranges from a scratchy whisper to a singsong soprano -- and
her
awkward guitar-strumming had developed into a signature sound. Lord
later
signed to Sony, on which she released her full-length Got No Shadow LP,
which
she co-wrote with Nick Salomon of Psychedelic rockers the Bevis Frond."
-
Mike C. (listen.com)
It has become a tradition: Every year Mary Lou Lord can be found at a
6th street corner doing the old street musician thing + selling CDs out
of a bag.
Highlight of today's set was Peter Blackstock (No Depression) joining
her
for duet on "His No Depression World".
Black Kali Ma @ Atomic Café
"Hard-rock comebacks are as common as mud, but it's rare for a
graying firebrand to improve upon youth's pink chaos. Singer Gary Floyd
introduced a bluesy Texas wail to hardcore punk in the early Eighties
via the Dicks, then helped father pre-Nirvana alternative rock in San
Francisco's Sister Double Happiness. His latest band, Black Kali Ma,
betters those underground achievements while answering a higher calling
-- shit-kicking rock like
Daddy used to make, but with a clear-minded twist sure to put a smile
on
Ma. She'd particularly enjoy "Kali," a good-ol'-boy tribute to
matriarchy
that, like the rest of the album, is equal parts hilarious, humanistic
and
hell-raising. While leering at the local hoods who populate "Angel
Face,"
"Shakin' the Nun" and "Remain Awesome," Floyd and friends generate
testosterone-overload anthems that simultaneously worship and demystify
coarse masculinity in a shotgun wedding of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tennessee
Williams. These knowing elders address what it really means to take it
like a man." -- Barry Walters (Rolling Stone)
A genuine Punk-Rock experience: The Atomic Cafe is dark shit-hole,
there was plenty of feedback, broken monitors, slam dancing and even a
fight. Just like the old days! Pure adrenaline, much more fun than I
had expected it to
be. Good to see Gary going back to the less bluesy, more Rock-oriented
sound
of Sister Double Happiness, a band I liked a lot.
Continental Drifters + Friends @ Mercury Entertainment at Jazz Bon Temps
Though they've been around awhile, the Continental Drifters are
just hitting their stride. The New Orleans based group released
Vermillion (Razor & Tie) in late 1999 to considerable acclaim,
including its being named Best Album of 1999 by hometown paper Offbeat
Magazine. Live they're an impressive force, Susan Cowsill, Peter
Holsapple, and Vicki Peterson swapping verses and songs that are
gritty, powerful, and cover a broad range of American music.
-- Jim Caligiuri (Austin Chronicle)
The Drifters are a fun band to watch on any day, but tonight's set was
the perfect way to end the festival. Joined onstage by friends Kim Richey,
Martha Wainwright (doing "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" by The Bee
Gees), Joseph
Parsons (doing his own "200 Miles") and The Bottle Rockets ("$1000
Car", "Gotta Get Up"), the Drifters rocked a full house. They brought
everyone back onstage for "Counting Backwards (From 110)" despite the
Stage Manager's threats to pull the plug because of the late hour. Pure
fun.
Missed:
Amy Rigby, Kimmie Rhodes, Martha Wainwright, Pat DiNizio, Carolyn
Wonderland, Josh Rouse, The BellRays, Betty Blowtorch, Steve Forbert,
Bob Neuwirth,
Sister 7, The Mekons, Keith Secola
Show count: 54
Afterthoughts
Top 10 shows (in alphabetical order)
Ryan Adams Jeff Black Black Kali Ma Peter Bruntnell Richard Buckner Continental Drifters & Friends Jeff Klein & This Beautiful Mess Matthew Ryan The Silos Willard Grant Conspiracy
Top 3 disappointments
The end.Dead Hot Workshop Angie Agapo Lisa Richards
Special thanks to
All pictures by Steffen Paulus.Kate Ryans Cathy Fischer Edgar Heckmann