Two guys and a guitar

It's been a while, but I feel like I have some performance reviews to share with you.

On the request of a friend, I went to a local sports bar called Doc's Backyard (http://www.docsrestaurantsunsetvalleytx.com). It is a nice sports bar with seating inside and out, and of course plenty of televisions. The food is good and the prices are to be expected for a sports bar, but the food is very good! Outside, the seating is mainly near the bar. However there are some tables farther away from the bar, near the very large playground. That's right! Bring your pets AND your kids. Watch the game, have some good eats, and let the kids run, play, and wear themselves out.

In a small area, just between the table seating in the bar area and the table seating by the playground, is stage. Quite unassuming, if no one is up there using it, but perfectly placed if there is entertainment.

This particular early evening was Aric Garcia and Issac Routh. Two of the four members of a local band the Warplanes (http://www.thewarplanes.net). Doing a little set with Isaac on guitar and lead vocals and Aric on percussion, harmony vocals, and working the board. These two guys filled the air with fun and great sounds.

Even though a large part of the crowd dancing and having a great time were under 4ft tall, there was no doubt the great tunes and harmonies from these two guys and a guitar were resonating through everyone listening. Aric and Isaac rolled through many familar songs with their own slight twist and flavor. and the originals were as electric as you can get without the full band experience.

Aside from all of the love the kids gave Aric and Isaac, this was not a kids show. It was just the perfect music for a beautiful Friday evening during Happy Hour! No questions about it. Look these guys up on Facebook or under the whole bands name, The Warplanes. Seek them out and find them around the town. GO see some GREAT, inspiring, live and local music. Without a doubt I will make a point of finding them doing this type of set up again and I hope to enjoy it with you. I plan on sharing it with my wife and my dad next chance I get.

For a small taste check out this small clip of Aric and Isaac doing a mind, blowing and stunning acoustic version of Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd.





Laters

No better jams

Than Jelly...at the Moontower in way south Austin, Texas, also known as Awesome, Texas.

A quick note about Moontower (http://www.moontowersaloon.com/).

Located just a block south of Slaughter Ln, on Manchaca Rd. The Moontower Saloon is a small little house with restrooms, a pool table, and a bar. Out back (or front as you come in off the road) is a huge covered deck with another bar. Next to the deck, and attached to the back of the house, is a modest little stage. We will talk about this momentarily. The yard area is ridiculous. Tons of seating, fire pits, horseshoes, corn hole, volleyball courts, and parking for days.

Now the stage...and the performers ... Jelly (http://www.jellyellington.com/). 

What is a conglomerate of amazing talent is stunning. With front man Johnathan Ellington doing things on guitar that is aurally electric and a voice that some how floats threw the air but cuts sweetly into your heart. Be damned if this bunch doesn't have some blistering talent.

The crowd stayed in some sort of daze during the first set. With just Johnathan "Jelly" on stage  doing it as an acoustic set with his percussionist/drummer.  It was subtle, but sweet. The crowd enjoyed it with applause and cheers...but the second set.

Full band, fiesty crowd, and some Sunday Funday rock-n-roll. With the crowd on their feet the mixture of covers done originally (Stone Temple Pilots) and originals done creatively was exactly what the thirsty, hot crowd needed and wanted. 

Listen to me... Go get Jelly and enjoy the jams!

Laters

Soul Giants

Battling it out with friends in Austin, Texas on any night, trying to figure out where to go listen to live music, is the greatest thing. I took my preferred route and Dave TV () took his. Nothing but love in watching, listening, writing about, and supporting live and local!

So off to my happy home away from home which never lets me down, The One2One Bar (). Tonight was a double feature for me. Two great local bands with whom I know the players, I know the game, but have never seen perform. BAM! Doing it right tonight.

But first quick nod of respect to The One2One. This is a GREAT venue for music located in South Austin. It is a brilliant design of a club. 4 walls, a great stage, and a bar. How about that? The thing is you don't get it unless you go experience it. This place was built for the performance! NO apologies here for short words on a great venue, I have written about this location before and will again. Look back at some of my previous posts if you really want to see the great things I have said about The One2One...otherwise read on.

The Jack Burton Trio () is fronted by Jack Burton and his beautiful wife. Jack plays the guitar and his wife does the co vocals duties, but his voice is the "WHOA". For that funky, soul, rock, type of music, Jack's James Brown-esque voice is right on the spot. His lively personality throughout the entire performance only begged for people to be dancing and having a great time. The interactions that Jack Burton has with the rest of the band and the high amount of respect he has for his bandmates just pours out into the crowd. It is a performance which overflows with excitement and enthusiasm.











Oh! "Bandmates?", you ask. There is Jack Burton and his wife...one more would be a trio. NO! This is Texas math and all you have to know is that it sounds great, it feels good, and it is fun! Quit counting members and count on a great time with The Jack Burton Trio. With residencies around town, there seems to be no reason or opportunity for you not to take of piece of this soul mans giant voice and personality home with you, weekday or weekend.

Following up to a performance like was the properly placed Curtis Lee (). The man with the silky smooth voice and the bluesy sounding soul music which just pulls at your heart, your tears, and then makes you smile. His lead guitarist, here, is the talented and every moving Ady Hernandez. This duo is pretty damn potent. Curtis Lee probably doesn't need a PA for his voice as it carries and carries and carries. Curtis Lee music is a little more on the soulful side, but it is bursting with life and pulls your feet ahead of you onto the floor.



This was another performance where the crowd couldn't stand it and danced the night away. As the music of Curtis Lee and his band ebbed and flowed, the crowed moved on his vocal directions and his interpretation of life...through music. This was a seriously powerful and moving performance. Curtis Lee, like Jack Burton, knows his band and knew the crowd. Letting the power of his performers lead the crowd through the solos only left everyone breathless enough for Curtis Lee to wrap up his performance in stellar fashion. An uptempo tune about a girl, love, and the crowd singing along.

For the city of Austin and the music scene as it stands, it is diverse and attractive. It is fun, it is multi cultural, and it is always happening. And these guys are Soul Giants for what they do, how they do it, and what you feel like when they are done.

Laters


p.s. - Thanks Cari Hutson St. Marie for supplying me with the title on this one.