Arc Angels Interview with Arnold Wells
Gibson Bus Outside of Antone’s
SXSW 2009 March 21st

Arc Angels SXSW showcase at Antones 3.21.2009

After watching the spectacular performance from the upstairs lounge and waiting for the encore, I made my way to the Gibson Guitar Bus Parked just outside the front door of Antone’s.  A few minutes later I was sitting down in the back with Doyle Bramhall II.  Chris Layton and Charlie Sexton arrived a little later to provide their perspective on the new beginnings of Austin’s first Super Group. (more…)

Tuesday 3.17
Hole In The Wall

It was the place to be on the eve of the SXSW music festival.  I have never seen so many people there before.  I was in the middle of eating some home made tacos when I got the call from the venerable Steve Hopson.  “Grab your gear and get down here now!”  I slammed my last bite and kissed the wife and kid goodnight.  I hit the road and traveled as fast as I could legally make the truck go to get down town.  I had been planning to get a good nights sleep and start the madness on Wednesday, but the best laid plans…

I walk inside and the band is cranking out the good stuff.  There were about six bands that played that night, but most were under a pseudonym or were people playing together in super group style.  Looking around the room was like a who’s who of the Austin music scene.  John D graham, David Newbould, Bryce Clifford, and many more.  The stage was on fire, and the booze flowed.  There was this cool band out of Great Britian that really caught my ear.  They were The Blue Aeroplanes.  Apparently these guys have been around in some form or another since the early 80’s.  They were cool both on and off the stage.  I schmoozed and took photos deep into the night.  What a time, thanks for the heads up Steve.  As always you da man!

When it was all over, I headed home and finally hit the hay at 3:00am.  If this was the start what is tomorrow going to be like.  I guess we are about to find out.

3.18
Austin Music Awards
Lubbock Bands at Momo’s
John D Graham and Mother Eagan’s

Driving south I was floored by the lack of traffic.  I hear on the radio that all I need to get into the Austin Music Awards is my wristband.  Hell yes!  Normally at 5:30pm southbound Mopac is a parking lot.  Today I sped right through to the parking garage next to the Austin Music Hall.  Once in the door I scope out a good spot on the second level balcony to shoot from.  Dedicated press pit, I love it.  Now all I had to do was wait till 8:00.  My ear plugs have already been in for an hour as the sound guys worked out their idiosyncrasies.  The hall filled up to the brim and I had one of the best vantage points in the house.

I stayed for two awards and 4 performances.  Dale Watson and Kelly Willis were both inducted into the Austin Music Awards Hall Of Fame.  Congratulations to these fantastic Austin legends!  The performance was a trio of Austin ladies all playing their stuff together for the first time ever.  First Suzanna Choffel did one of her retro pop-soul numbers.  Then she was joined by Ruthie Foster and Carolyn Wonderland.  Ruthie led with her new song “Stone Love”, saying it is about the power to love ones self.  Next, Carolyn chimed in with her “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”.  She literally stole the show with her powerful guitar craft and Joplin-esque vocal phrasings.  Lastly they were joined By Nakia Reynosa and  performed the Ray Charles tune “Yes Indeed”, with each lady taking a verse as Nakia took some lead vocals for himself.  Excellent performances all around.  Top notch really!  I had to run to the next shoot, but Carolyn Wonderland won Best Blues Band and Nakia and His Southern Cousins won Best New Artist.  Congratulations!

Stopping only to wolf down a burger from a street vendor that was showing 80’s new wave videos on the side of his cart, I very quickly found my way up the stairs to Momo’s.  Tonight would be a showcase of local talent from Lubbock, Texas.  Seeing as how this is where yours truly used to grind his axe 6 nights a week, I was immensely curious to see the line up.  The first show I caught was from the band Thrift Store Cowboys.  Their brand of country music mixed with effects and melodic drumming was amazing.  This was not alt-country.  It was firmly rooted in the old school, just with a little bit of new school flair.  Next up was a band that I grew up with.  The Texas Belairs really tore the roof off the place.  I had three people come up to me afterward and ask who they were.  Next was Colin Gilmore.  His smooth voice new country style were a pleasure to listen to.  Finally Joe Ely and Joel Guzman hit the stage after what seemed like a very long break in the action.  Joe’s signature storytelling and Lubbock twang were on full display.  Joel Guzman is hands down the absolute best accordion player I have ever heard.  What a treat.

Well by  this time its nearly 1:00am, so I abandon my spot in front of the stage and head down the street to Mother Eagan’s Irish Pub.  John D Graham is playing loud and proud.  He has a decidedly unpolished appeal to his style, both musically and fasion-wise.  At one point introducing a song as “the song you never heard”, because “We aint professional”.  Disheveled and unpolished, there is certainly something very appealing to his raw energetic sound.  After a Guinness and the end of the set I head to the car and home.  It all begins again tonight at Antones with the Doug Sahm Tribute.  Stay tuned.

Thursday 3.19
Antones
Driskill
Stubbs

I started out at the Doug Sahm Tribute.  The show featured Shawn Sahm, Gourds, Dave Alvin, Jimmie Vaughan, and Cindy Cashdollar.  First up was Jimmy Vaughan.  With a full horn section playing Texas Tornados covers, he seemed completely in his element.  Next up The Gourds rocked out with guests Cindy Cashdollar on the slide steel, and Dave Alvin singing.  Lastly Shawn Sahm and the Tex Mex Experience took to the stage playing a medley of Doug’s songs and having a thoroughly good time.  All of the artists exepmlified that San Antonio sound.

Walking down Congress toward 6th street, I was able to get a sense of just how huge this festival really is.  There were thousands of people milling about.  Most us seemed to have a very certain destination.  Mine was the Driskill.  The Victorian Room was hosting The Red House Records Showcase.  Carrie Elkin sang a sweet folk blend with slide guitar and cello accompaniment.  Next Guy Davis hit the stage for his brand of happy Blues.  Alternating between his 6 and 12 string guitars, playing slide and harmonica simultaneously, this bear of a man tickled that picker blues.  He reminded me of Keb Mo a lot.  Very talented man from Houston Texas.

I hit the street again.  This time I was headed for the line at Stubbs BBQ.  It took me over an hour to get in, but I was finally fighting to get to the front for some good shots.  I mean after an hour and fifteen minutes in line a man deserves a beer and a shot right?  Anyway, Andrew Bird was a real treat.  He had this kind of avant-pop-singer-songwriter thing going for him.  He would play a melody on his fiddle, putting it into a recorded loop and then add many more harmonizing melodies to the loop.  Then he would put down his violin and sing and play guitar while whistling and playing xylophone as well.  It was heady stuff to be sure, but its intellectual qualities were not lost on my picky ears.  I loved it.  Looking around I could see quite a few celebrities.  Hell even Wavy Gravy was up in the VIP blowing bubbles.  Austin, it seems, is being kept wierd.  The last show I saw was Ben Harper and Relentless 7.  This is Ben’s latest iteration of his soulful and hard rocking career.  Focusing more on the rocking and less on the world of soul, Bens songs seemed very urgent, and not just a little political in their content.  Shooting from a riser in the photo pit, I was able to get some great photographs of this man.  He is one of my all time favorite musicians.  My daughter was born to the music of Diamonds On The Inside, and I have completely worn out my copy of Both Sides Of The Gun.  I will be getting a copy of this Relentless 7 CD as well.

As I walked back to the Music Hall parking garage from Stubbs through the milieu of people that packed 6th street, I was shocked by the all the trash.  Paper plates were strewn about with paper cups and water bottles so thick that you could not take three steps without getting trash under you.  The reveler moved in and out of each other like some giant organic weaving of humanity.  I know its time to party people, but come on.  Pick it up and put it in the trash can.

Today I start out at Antones again for the Little Steven garage party.  Should be fun folks.  I will be posting again tomorrow.  See you then.

Friday 3.20
Stubbs
Austin Music Hall
Smokin Lounge

Well I had plans to get to Antones early for Little Steven’s Garage Showcase, but I ended up taking it easy in the afternoon.  I would need all my strength for what lay ahead.  I ended up parking around 6:15 and I headed straight to Treasure Island.  I had promised the Kanude that I would shoot them there.  Well that place was like a black hole, Even with flash the photos looked dark.  I shot a couple snaps in front of the club before wishing them well.

I Turned and headed for Stubbs BBQ.  Metallica was rumored to play, and I felt that they would be the target of opportunity for the night.  I stood in line for only 45 minutes before getting into the gate.  I headed straight for the stage and found my fellow photogs already standing there waiting to get into the pit.  It turns out that this show required an extra special photo pass to get into the pit.  No matter we will just wait right here for the start.  With out getting into too much detail, I have never witnessed such horrible photographer etiquette in my life.

The Silversun Pickups were up first and they did a wonderful rock set.  Their L.A. sound was full of keyboard and buzzing guitar.  Their singer, Brian Aubert, gave good guitar, and was very grateful to the 3000 anxious fans that had gathered to see the metal gods land on earth.  Next up there were these three guys that had won a contest to play Guitar Hero in front of the fans.  Reeshi, Daniel, and Will, stood absolutely still staring at the giant monitor on stage while the action was projected on the amphitheatre roof.  The announcer asked if there were any girls in the audience that would give them a kiss and make their dreams come true, saying that they were “available”.  Yeah like that was going to happen.

Finally Metallica hit the stage!  They played all their usual songs.  “One”, “Harvestor Of Sorrows”, “Creeping Death”, and on and on.  I must say it was more than just a little surreal to see such a huge act playing at Stubbs.  At on point Hetfield got a in dig at the SXSW fest, “We are band from Norway.  We want get signed”. Everyone laughed. These guys gave such an awesome performance that I could have gone home happy at that point.  No such luck, I was off to shoot another show.

Back at the Austin Music Hall, I qued up with the rest of the photogs to get into the pit.  Devo was about to go on.  They had this great L.E.D. screen behind them that was flashing all kinds of cool retro video clips with the typical Devo weirdness that makes me think of the early days of MTV.  They cranked out their first three songs and did their synchronized aimless walking and stopping and pointing and folding their arms.  All the stuff that they used to do, except the notably absent bull whip.

As soon as I was out of the pit, I was in the back of the rickshaw heading a half mile away to the Smokin Lounge.  Five minutes later and my feet no worse for the ware, I was pushing through the crowd to get a shot of The New York Dolls.  David Johansen looked like a million bucks, and the band cranked out what now sounds so familiar that its hard to remember that they were among the pioneers of this rock sound back in the day at CBGB.  I left after the set satisfied that I had come, seen, and kicked ass this day at SXSW.  Although the bands I chose to see were decidedly on the well known non-struggling artist side of the equation, I find it an incredible testament to the festival that a person can see them all in one night.

Now I am off to Interview the Arc Angles.  Wish me luck!

Saturday 3.21
City Hall
Antones

I parked downtown at 1:30pm.  Micheal Lefkowitz had called to let me know that Carolyn Wonderland (of whom he is the drummer) would be playing the Peace Rally at city hall.  I got there before the marchers arrived and was able to snap some photos.  The line up included Guy Forsyth, Carolyns band, and Shelly King.  Once the marchers arrived Wavy Gravy got up onstage to give a speech about the war.  The tie-died crowd screamed and yealled on que as the aging hog farmer whipped them into a fury.  “Bring the troops home now!” was the mantra of this event.  After the short speech, the music cranked up and the crowd did what Austinites do best, jam out to great live music.

I walked the short distance over to Antones.  I would be covering the Arc Angels show and giving an interview after their performance.  I have been a huge fan of this band since the early ninties, and am very pleased to see them getting back together.  After checking in with their publicist, I go inside to enjoy the music of Gary Clark Junior.  He is playing some hard core blues as the air conditioning refreshes me.  I always enjoy seeing Gary do his thing.  It seems like only a short time ago that I heard about him making waves on the scene.  It is most excellent to see him become a part of the Austin lexicon.  His mix of soul, blues, reagea, and rock is undeniably at home at Antones night club.

Before the Arc Angels go on, a short video is played showing Clifford Antone Introducing the Arc Angels back in the day.  It is a deeply touching moment.  I can think of no other person whos influence was greator on the live music scene in Austin than Clifford Antone.  After the video the band takes the stage joined by Susan Antone and Austin Mayor Will Wynn.  Mayor Wynn delivers a proclamation that March 21st is Arc Angels Day in Austin.  Soon after that the music begins, and everyone goes wild.  The guys are really on fire considering the staggering showcase schedule they have been keeping up for SXSW.  They did all their most memorable songs and then some.  Starting with “Paradise Cafe”, I was transported back in time to when I was learning guitar and playing in Lubbock.  Back then Grunge and rap was all you heard on the radio, except for the Arc Angels.  I would have been somewhat saddly nostalgic if I did not know that this was no reunion show.  This was actually the beginning of a new push for this band that has seen so much over the years.  Their friendships and spirit for the music seemed completely rekindled, and it made me glad for them to see with my own eyes.  Thank you Arc Angels, I look forward to hearing more from you very soon.

This is the end of my coverage for SXSW 2009.  I will be publishing the entire interview I had with the Arc Angels after the performance I just described above.  It was a whirlwind of madness, gladness, and deep satisfaction to be a part of the action this year.  I will be back next year, with some new lenses, and renewed strength to bring it all to you again.  I hope you enjoyed my coverage

Arnold Wells

Hanovers

It was midnight.  I am supposed to be nursing a virus with a little Knob Creek.  Ok, maybe more than a little.  Anyway, my house is dead and if I see one more show on the National Geographic channel about planet killer asteroids I am going to go crazy and start the end of the world myself.  So I decide to head down to Hanover’s and see just what is going on.  I am supposed to be taking it easy in preparation for covering SXSW for this very blog, but do I? I fully expected to see another cover band, all-be-it a good one.  But when I walk in the door this all girl power trio is ripping up the stage man.  I mean tearing shit up like you could not believe.

Adrian and the Sickness was doing some of their original stuff and I was trying to catch the vibe of the crowd when they jumped into “Bark At The Moon”.  I am floored.  Adrian plays it like she wrote it and gave the guitar music to Jake E. Lee as a gift.  All the while singing profoundly rocking vocals.  Meanwhile she is running and ducking and throwing her dreadlocks around like you were really at the Tornado Jam, or what ever the last place in Texas Jake played with Ozzy.  Adrian’s guitar ability is like a savant kind of thing.  Each riff is lovingly played line after line just like you hear it on the radio.  She did the same thing with the Stevie Ray Vaughan version of “Little Wing”.  The sound guy turns to me and says “I did not know Stevie did this song”, I told him he sure did, and it sounds exactly like she is playing it.

The original material was equal parts Heavy Metal and Punk grooves.  She went absolutely crazy on that Gibson SG Guitar.  Her awesome band was rounded out by extremely solid base player Heather Webb.  Rocking that bottom like there aint no tomorrow, and the drummer was Melodie Zapata.  She was driving beats like a freight train on a straight away.  The whole thing came together like a zealous, fanatical revival meeting, only the guys in front wore black t-shirts with various degrees of offensive material on them. And they seemed a little confused about what they were witnessing. Hot Sexy Rock & Roll, like only an all girl band can do it… If they are also the best all girl band around.

Go now and look at their reverb nation website.  Better yet, make plans to see then the next time they play, because, Adrain has another gig with an all girl ACDC cover band.  I am hoping to check that out soon.

Arnold Wells—Digging the scene at Hanover’s so you’ll get your butt off the couch and come to a show.

I wasfortunate enough to find myself at Broncos last night and I was also fortunate enough to have my camera with me. It just so happened that local favorites the Josh Weathers Band was there to play a four hour set. After making some typical bar conversations and  having some free drinks courtesy of some really cool people (you know who you are) I met at the bar I got my camera and headed up to the stage. The band sounded great as usual, but I had never actually seen them perform with some brass in the background. Needless to say, the sound was phenomenal. I managed to snap off a few good shots between sets and by the end of the night…that whole place was rockin.

-Josh Martinez