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.

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.

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.