The Austin Music Hall played host to a ten hour show recently in an effort to raise money for the relief effort going on in Haiti.  As one might imagine, that is a long freakin time to be standing about watching music and swilling your favorite beverage.  Add to that fact that the show was held on a Sunday, and you have a real possibility of keeping people from their respectable day jobs the next day.  I got to ground zero and was in the door by 1:45 p.m.  The first band was already playing their last song.  I did not leave the Music Hall again until just before midnight.  It was a marathon show to be sure, but it was a wonderful opportunity to see Austin’s best musicians.

The show was put together in less than a week by Joe Ely.  He sent out the call to arms to everyone in the Austin scene.  By Tuesday before the show he had a 3 hour set.  By Thursday that had grown to 10 hours.  He worked hard to get items and services for a silent auction and many people came to aid him in that endeavor. There was everything from fine confectionary tastys to all manner of rare music memorabilia and Austin cool.  Many a dollar was raised in that one little room.  The final tally at the end of the night was unspoken, but nearly 3000 people paid the 33 bucks to get in the door.  There was food as well, all donated by Austin’s coolest and most notorious eateries.  Torchies Tacos, The Salt Lick, and Austin Pizza served Thousands of dollars worth of food.  So after all was said and done, the evening can only be called a success.
The band roster for the night was simply spectacular.  Any one of these artists are worth going to see, but when they are all going to be playing 20 minute sets stacked up on top of one another, well as I said it was spectacular.

Asleep At The Wheel
Patricia Vonne
Guy Forsyth
Paula Nelson
Band of Heathens
Bob Schnider
The Flatlanders
Shawn Colvin
Bruce Robinson
Kelly Willis
Ray Wylie Hubbard
The Gourds
Reckless Kelly
The Joe Ely Band
Marcia Ball
Robert Earl Keen
Charlie Sexton with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon

How could I possibly pick one or two performances to highlight?  I thought that Patricia Vonne was awesome.  The Highlanders was a treat.  Sharing Ribs and eating beans that were made by Ray Wylie Hubbard was definitely a highlight.  I left before midnight so I missed Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton.  Charlie Sexton was so late that we all feared that he might not make it at all.  That is easily forgiven considering the fact that he was in L.A. playing the big Cable benefit for George Clooney only a couple of days before with Justin Timberlake.   There was a nasty rumor that the Arc Angels were going to play, but I had it from good authority that Doyle Bramhall II was in L.A. in the recording studio.  Always a good thing, but that meant that there would be no Angels reunion for the cause.

All in all it was a very special night of music in Austin Texas.  There was something for everyone, and by the end of the night I saw many people that would still be drunk if they ventured into work in the morning.  I, having kept it down to three beers in 10 hours, had no problem with that the next morning.  If you were there or participated in the Auction I thank you.  If you were not there, then I feel sorry for you.  You missed something rare.  I guess what touched me most is that all of these people, with there busy schedules and tours and careers, dropped everything at a moments notice to be there and try to help make a difference.

Get out and see a show.  Support these special people who make up the scene of the Live Music Capitol of the world.

After shooting my first arena show I was still in the mood for music, and alas a little libation as well.  I headed over to the Hole in the wall to look over the nights images and began the buzz with a double Jameson on the rocks.  After several passes through the shots, deleting the out of focus and dark ones, needed another drink and it was then that I ran into Bryce Clifford.  Pleasantries were exchanged and it was agreed that I would stay and see his band.

I must say that I am glad that I did.  I had seen Bryce play only once before and at that time he was doing a solo acoustic show.  I remember the passion that he belted out to a very small audience on a Monday at Hanovers.  I was impressed with him then and I was excited to see him with a full band.

His band was well rounded with keyboards (Adoniram Lipton), drums (Daniel Jones), base (Zachary Firnhaber), and a baritone sax player (Thomas Vanderbrook).  From the first song I was enticed by what I heard.  I heard an accomplished song writer whose passion for the song was self evident in the voice and poise of the singer who sang it.  The lyrics were intelligent and delivered with a kind of subdued bravado that was only eclipsed by the molten undercurrent of  angst.  It was a powerful cocktail and took me completely off guard.  The whole thing reminded me of early Bruce Springsteen, and Elvis Costello.  Its always good to see someone after a time and witness the fullness of their talent after only a brief introduction long before.  If these guys keep playing like this they will be riding from show to show on a big bus and staying in nice hotels like the band I shot before heading thirstily over to the Hole In The Wall. 

Get out this holiday season.  Go see a show and support the people who make this The Live Music Capital of the World!

I went to Antone’s last night to catch a living legend.  At 96 years of age Pinetop Perkins may not be exactly spry, but he still got that mojo workin.  Wearing an orange suite and a pimpin hat he took the stage with a local hodge podge of musicians that included Chris Layton on drums.  Pinetops distinctive  old Mississippi swinging piano blues was wonderful to hear from the only master still alive.  I considered it an utter privileged to have been able to meet him and watch as he played.  Yes I am a lucky man.

After Pinetops early set Dirty Bird took the stage.  I had seen these guys before, but man they sure have been working hard.  They sounded completely tight and singular in vision.  Clayton Colvin sings and plays guitar in a way that demands attention.  JT Holt on lead guitar is extremely well rounded, switching between hard rock blues and lap steel with great proficiency.  With a style that blends the best aspects of  hard rock, blues and that Central Texas voodoo county vibe, I expect big things from this band as they continue to work the wall on their way to the big time.

Speaking of big time…  Next up was the effervescent Carolyn Wonderland.  She seemed completely at ease at Antone’s this night, like it was a home coming.  She has been touring the world with back breaking scheduling, but she always delivers the goods.  It was very nice to see her back in Austin again.  I was particularly touched by her rendering of Jimi Hendrix’s Castles Made Of Sand solo on the mandolin.  Awesome!

All in all it was a great night at Antone’s.  I was reminded that I still have to work very hard at times to get my photography done.  I was also reminded that I love Bullet Bourbon as I drank perhaps a little to much. 

It was a rainy Saturday in April when Larry Seiler’s Los Senderos Ranch inaugurated its opening concert season with Walt Wilkins , Tina Mitchell Wilkins, and John Greenberg.

Fans gather with Walt (third from left) and Tina (second from right) after the opening night.

It was a cool and clear weekend in November when the season drew to a close with a rollicking concert provided by Last Call from Mission.

The end of show picture with Last Call, Nov 15, 2009

With only one month off for the wedding of Larry’s niece, it was a full season of wonderful music. Along the way we learned some valuable lessons and relearned some that were long forgotten. The first thing we learned was that in the hills between Johnson City and Blanco the wind blows and keeps the air in perpetual motion. We rediscovered that a Texas sunset in July is hot because the good Lord apparently thinks we need to see the sun up close to appreciate its grandeur.

We learned that the weather at noon is no predictor of the weather at dusk, and then found once again that musicians are fun to be around. On the day Pauline Reese visited the ranch, the weather in the morning was brilliant. By show time at 7 p.m. the drought broke with a vengeance. Without exception all of the musicians who visited the ranch were gracious and thankful. Even if they felt something else, then never let on.

We learned that if you build your stage out of two by twelves and ½-inch plywood decking that it will be heavy even if you build it in sections and that two relatively old men are no match on occasion for that much weight. We repeatedly witnessed how much people like live music and the artists who perform for them. They believe, as Eric Burdon sang, “If you wanna find the truth in life don’t pass music by…”

It was a good season of music at Los Senderos and with a winter of rest the shows will pick up again in March. Larry is already talking about improvements he wants to make. I suspect none of them will be earth-shaking, but should contribute to the continuing development of Los Senderos ranch as a venue where the local gentry will feel comfortable bringing their friends and family for a night us music under the setting sun.