Ancient History

I was recently reminiscing to my girlfriend about the 'good ole days'...OH Please! Whatever!...and stumbled across my first music review/write up. I was astounded and dumbfounded. To say the least I was extremely happy. To me this validates what I do. To think that I have been doing this IN AUSTIN, for 25 years!!!

It warms me and chokes me up at the same time. To all of you reading this, to all of you that take the time, to all of you whom I call my friends. To MC Overlord and EVERY stinkin musician that he has introduced me to. To the families of those artists, their friends, my kids, my girlfriend, TO EVERYBODY...thanks. 

I was really taken aback when I saw this article and re read it. So here it is for you...re printed 25 years later. Check out the photos as well.

THANKS...and yes there is still more to come. I ain't going down until the big man says it's time!

as it appeared in "The Spur" 1987

ON STAGE

It's concert season year round in Austin, "the Rock-n-Roll capital of the world," as many artists, including David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, have said.  These are just a few of the bands which hit the Austin music scene which Reagan students enjoyed.

The season began on September 10 when Swedish guitar hero Yngwie Malmsteen (pronounced Ing-vay) stopped at the Austin Opry House. "He's a technical (guitar) wizard and his misc is quality work."  That is how senior Greg Allen described the guitarist. Greg also said, "his show was pretty good, but I've seen better."

In October, Austin shook with the sound of the long awaited new Van Halen, Queensryche and Huey Lewis. It started on the fourth with Van Halen playing to a capacity crowd. "It was awesome, " senior Chris Miller said. "I went to see them so I could compare Sammy Hagar to David Lee Roth."  Senior Roger Harvey said, "The thing I remember the most about it was the bass going through my body, and me pants were shakin'."

Queensryche played the Austin Opry House on October 6.  "They have good music and their concerts are great, " said senior Angie Anderson. Allen said, "They have such a beautiful style of music, yet a slight unrefined edge that makes it (their music)stand above the rest. Another thing is that their lead singer has an incredible four octave voice."

Huey Lewis played October 27 at the Erwin Center, and junior Thelma Ortiz was there.  "It was my first concert, and I thought it was great. He's one of my favorite rock singers, " Ortiz said.

The fall months came and went. Then winter hit, and with it the really hot concerts slammed into Austin. On November 15, Triumph played at the Erwin Center with one o fthe most high powered shows that Austin has seen in  a long time.  Paul Kelley, a senior, said. "It was fantastic. Their sound was really great, and their laser light show was the best that I have ever seen, even better than their last tour show." On October 28 David Lee Roth played to a rally hot audience in the Erwin Center. Some of the hits he played were "Yankee Rose," That's Life," California Girls," and Going Crazy."  "I never cared much for Van Halen," said senior Steve Bork, "but I like DLR a lot. The band was really good. They put on more of a show than a concert."

On December 2 Lionel Richie played to a full house, including sophomore Sandy Rodriguez.  She said "It was jammin'. It was a blast, you know. the best part of the whole concert was when they (Lionel and Sheila)sang a duet and she was in her skimpy outfit, and Lionel was all sharp lookin' with his stage set up. It was totally awesome."  December 12 revealed a new tour band for Journey, along with a very hot show. "It was vogue, alive, and very moving," said Ortiz.