The Echoe was loud and Dillard Roared

First trip to Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar ( http://www.lucysretiredsurfers.com/austin ) in down town Austin. A really good location away from the heart of the 6th St hustle and the 4th and 5th St warehouse shuffle, if you go here you are doing so on purpose. This isn't a bar or location you just happen upon or wander into, you do it to meet friends, enjoy the people watching out front, or watch a game on TV inside. If you are lucky and check out their schedule, you can even catch some great music.

I didn't wander around the bar much. Walked in with the stage to the immediate right, bathrooms to the left, and the bar on the left of the main area running the length of the resturant/bar. 

Stopped dead in my tracks by Baloo the bear in the corner of the bar, MC Overlord. *Interesting analogy by the company I was keeping that night, "He's like the Godfather. Everyone sees him, says hi to him, touches him, and pay tributes to him (shots)." NICE! 

With Jess and the Echoes ( http://www.jechomusic.com/ ) on stage already there was not a lot of socializing. Just enjoyment of some great music and an amazing front woman. This was pretty fuckin cool. I have seen Jess one time previously opening for Big Don, but this was wayyyyy different.

With a full band (and a rockstar bass player) there was a ton of action and excitement with this band. With energetic originals, moving ballads, sweet acoustic tracks, and a couple of bad ass covers the arrangement of this set was definitely designed to keep your attention the whole time they were on stage. I can't vocally peg Jess and really hate to anyway. As an example, I told my friend that she had some Carrie Underwood qualities to which he responded "Really, I kinda thought she sounds like Alanis Morisette." This is why I don't like to tell you what the band sounded like or who they remind me of. Make your own damn decision. 

Just listen to me when it comes to the show, the fun of it, and the joy of being part of the crowd. In the case of Jess and the Echoes, you would have fun, a great time to be had by all, and be caught smiling by the end of their set. For me the second time around was great!







and now for other jungle man of the evening...sporting a beard and longer hair was Michael Dillard ( http://michaeldillardmusic.com/ ). WOW! and Holy Shit! Would be the descriptors to use here. I have seen Dillard more than a few damn times, and probably a few damn times more than I have written about. This absolutely fuckin deserves big props. I don't know what he did, maybe it was the new, infused blood of the powerful and kick ass rhythm section or was it just time on stage and behind the mic. This was an unbelievable performance. The energy that was delivered by Dillard and the ensemble on stage was MIND BLOWING! There was no doubt these guys wanted to be up there and fed off of every piece of energy from the small, hot crowd in Lucy's, but hell yeah that shit worked. Everyone was just making noise and cheering, singing along, and yelling for more throughout the gig. Just non stop! If there was a slower tempo song, you didn't know it and wouldn't have cared. 


I will tell you what I happily told Mike and his band mates after the show. "You did it! You stopped playing the music on stage and as of tonight... you PERFORMED!"

Congratulations to you Michael Dillard and your band, keep that incarnation the way it is and roll on!

For all of you that weren't there, you will have another chance to catch Michael with MC Overlord on their 3rd of July celebration. Check out their FB pages for details.

Laters

It's all for the children...sure it is!

Beso Cantina ( http://www.besocantina.com/ ) is a very cool little place. A little street side lounge area out front. Once you enter the club the stage is immediately to your right. A long bar runs quite a way along the left wall, giving Beso somewhat of a shotgun house feel. There is also an upstairs lounge.

What a great place to chill and have a great evening!

Another Lordship Entertainment ( http://www.lordshipentertainment.com/ ) production is the center of this musical journey on a Saturday at noon (really...noon). The young, beautiful and coming up through the ranks Jess and The Echoes opened for the CD release of another Big Don CD. AWESOME!

Jess and The Echoes ( http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1337325373&sk=info )  is originally from the Dallas area, but lucky for us, they have relocated to Austin to make a go at it here. and GO you should. A band with the soulful, full range vocals front woman and the musical sound vaguely reminiscent of bands like 10,000 Maniacs or R.E.M. Albeit, this was an abbreviated set, it was very enjoyable and fun. Jess definitely held the attention of the crowd with her vocals and her acoustic guitar abilities. They definitely have plenty of shows ahead so make sure you check out the link, friend them, and enjoy.

Big Don ( http://bigdonproductions.com/ ) has done it again. A new CD released for the young ones and shows that can, AND SHOULD, be enjoyed by ALL! This is the second time I have had the absolute pleasure to be at Big Don performance and the first time to have kids in tow, a youngsta @ 5 and 2 teenagers. Fun for all!

 

Really if you haven't gone, just stop making lame excuses and do it. With so many others in the club for the performance that were sans kids (lots of other members of bands that looked like there were nursing....Hangovers!) DJ Abe does an amazing job with the rhythm and beats, keeping the constant supply of energy to Big Don who then delivers it to the crowd. The EPIC finale of the show is the unbelievable co-ordination and team work from Don and Abe and their perfomance of "The A,B,C's"(http://youtu.be/ObPU12zJgi0) ! LEGIT!


Laters

They bum rushed the stage!!!!

Threadgills south ( http://www.threadgills.com/index.cfm ) is such an amazing location, not really downtown and not really NOT downtown. The outdoor stage area that hugs Riverside is pretty fuckin cool. Nice stage set up, a couple of little bars, absolutely perfect for a nice intimate performance from/for ANY artist! I didn't get to visit the inside or eat lunch this day (yup! my loss) as I was on a super tight schedule.

The focus of my attention was at 11 a.m., really, 11 a.m! So for a Saturday morning this early I could hear the crowd from the parking lot. With the featured artist on stage and completely flowing with the rhymes and his A M A Z I N G   DJ (Abe), it was an early morning party that was just to die for. Stepping into the lot I could see the crowd was on their feet. Everybody was moving and having a great time. I saw some buddies from another band that were out as well, enjoy the sounds.

There is absolute joy in hearing these rhymes with the music flowing underneath. It is like that comfort food that takes you back to your childhood...whether it be a PB&J, watermelon on a hot summers day, or hot dog with all the fixins...this is comfort food for your ears and your soul!

UNFORTUNATELY two songs in and the crowd bum rushed the stage. DUDE, I am tellin you, they were all over the stage, on the stairs, and even trying to snag the mic! It was chaos and pandemonium. BUT as the professional he is, with a call for everyone to sing a along, he took complete control again. So with a dozen extra bodies on stage, the show raged on.

Now with this happening on the stage you would have been surprised to see that the overwhelming majority of the crowd was just hanging out in their chairs or by the bar and just having a good time. You even had some folks laughing and applauding at the activity on the stage...oh well, all in a days work for the life a beloved musician.

This show, unfortunately, does not make regular stops here in Austin. It is Imperative that you make a point to visit the web site, check the dates, and attend...kids in tow or not, it will be a very joyous occasion and celebration!

Yes I said 'kids in tow'. This is a performance by Big Don ( http://www.bigdonproductions.com/ ). Look it up, find a show, and relive your youth!

Laters