Will Sexton and Charlie Faye at Almost Austin House Concerts
Robert Earl Keene has this song on his CD Walking Distance called Feeling Good Again. It pretty much epitomizes how it felt to show up last night at Kenny Pipes’ Almost Austin House Concerts. I’d been gone from the comfortable confines of Kenny’s venue for the better part of a year as we’d built and moved into our house in Johnson City.
“Stepped into the hall and saw all my friends were there.” When circumstances found me in Houston this weekend I knew I had to go to Kenny’s. When I got there it was 30 minutes of hugs, how-are-you’s, and catching up. Lots of smiles in the room. There was Wes, Edge, Rose, Kenny, Mary, John, Theresa, Yvonne, CJ, Piper, and Kenny’s mom to name just a few. I can’t think of anything better than having someone smile when you walk up. It pretty much makes your day.
“A neon light was flashin’ Welcome come on in.” Well, actually it just said Almost Austin, but it was neon and I liked it and it felt like it was telling me to come on in. Wes, who has been battling bureaucrats in LaPorte and the government trying to get his Ike damaged house fixed, and has every reason to be pissed off and surly, still managed to find the time to do something for a friend and remains a guy who seems genuinely happy.
“My favorite band was playing.” Anyone who plays at Kenny’s is my favorite band. This time it was Will Sexton and Charlie Faye. I first saw Will at Kenny’s with Randy Weeks and Idgy Vaughn then trooped on over to see him at the Mucky Duck with Idgy and Charlie a couple of weeks later. Both were good shows, but I wanted more Will, and this time, I got it.
Will has this wonderful, distinctive voice that is especially memorable for the relaxed way it handles lyrics and melody. He never seems to strain to deliver the note and his pronunciation is impeccable. He is also an accomplished guitarist and his fills were exceptional for their simple elegance. To paraphrase one of Will’s own songs he’s got that certain kind of something, that someone can’t explain. You just need to go hear him and trust me.
Charlie is a terrific songstress who does something when she sings that I really appreciate. She smiles. It just makes you feel really good. When she closed the show with Crying Time Again it was simply magical. She is a great balladeer.
“The boys from Silver City were standing by the fire singin’ like they thought they were the tabernacle choir.” At one point Charlie asked everyone if they’d be willing to sing along with her song Runaround, and I don’t think she understood what she was getting herself into. The folks at Almost Austin will gladly sing as though they think they are the tabernacle choir. They did a terrific job on Runaround, and I think Charlie may invite them along to all of her gigs. These people follow instructions, and they are not shy.
During the course of the evening Will and Charlie ran through most of the songs on Will’s new CD, Move the Balance, and Charlie’s CD, Wilson Street. She has a new one in the works based on her adventures in 2010 when she went to ten cities, stayed there a month, got to know the town, and then played gigs. I can hardly wait to hear the results of this musical odyssey. Maybe when she gets its done she’ll preview it at Almost Austin. Now that would be nice.































