Tearing the roof off the rooftop

The Iron Cactus (http://ironcactus.com/) played host for #tripcase (http://travel.tripcase.com/) with a very special full performance from Austin's very own, Bob Schneider.

Not only does the Iron Cactus have great food and GREAT margaritas, but is the home to a beautiful roof top deck and lounge. Couldn't have happened into a better 1st wedding anniversary setting than this. With RSVP+1 in hand, this was well worth the hour and a half in line.

Sampling some of the great food and appetizers, washing it down with a brilliant margarita, and then stepping out to the sunset on the roof. It was not quite romantic with 200 or so other people, but it was fantastic.

Bob Schneider   (http://www.bobschneider.com/home) is definitely the king of sexy and fun in Austin. With the musical catalogue spanning roughly two decades, it is not hard to see why he is loved, admired, and drives the women crazy, and they all were crazy about him. Old, young, single, or married singing along and cooing about hour lovely his beard is. Yes, I heard that shit in the crowd.

Bob Schneider will always be best enjoyed in a club or small venue setting. No doubt he can pack a venue like ACL or Stubbs, but to get the full Bob Schneider experience, it has to be a small intimate setting. He thrives on the energy and delivers it back 10 fold!

It's NOT just the music, which is fun, memorable, and sometimes naughty, it IS the performance of that music. Bob is onstage, in the spotlight, and he is commanding the attention. Looking many of the crowd straight in the eyes while singing lyrics, he owns the personal performance trick.

Giving the audience lessons in lyrics, sing along catch phrases, and having everyone mambo, it is live music at it's greatest. The members of the band work amazingly as part of the excitement. Having people in the crowd pointing and saying, "look at that guy. Look what he's doing" is absolutely part of the fun of a Bob Schneider performance.

Good job Tripcase!

Thanks Iron Cactus.

Laters

Ain't no sunshine

when she's gone.

The first SXSW in many many years without Pat Tompkins at the helm. Organizing, mapping, and planning. Pat made an art out of going to see the best and biggest local bands and stars. Getting into events I could only dream of as a music lover in this great city that was her home for decades. Pat, herself, had many fans in the music community as well, her family and all of friends new this. During SXSW it was best to get in and drift along behind her or get the hell out of the way. My daughter, Angelina, had the pleasure of joining her on occasion. I was lucky enough to run into Pat, once, during her many adventures during this amazing week of music in Austin, Texas.

Although this isn't about Pat, this particular event seemed to be her crown jewel and she so dearly loved to go to it, have a blast, and tell everyone all about it...until the next year. When the opportunity arose for me to finally experience this event, courtesy of Sean Claes from INSiteAustin  (http://insiteaustin.blogspot.com/), I dove at it headlong. With only a small twinge of sadness, but a massive smile in my heart and on my face, I finally was able to experience Rachael Ray's Feedback. It may have been dreary, wet, and muddy, but it was fitting...like I said, Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.

So here's how the event was set up. Rachael Ray's Feedback  (http://www.rachaelray.com/tag/feedback2015)  is held at Stubbs BBQ right there on the corner of Red River and 8th. There is the inside stage, the permanent large outside amphitheater stage, and opposite of that was a large outside stage. The food service was on one side of the Amphitheater yard, in between both outside stages. With doors at 10 A.M. and music starting almost immediately inside, the challenge was on.

Music from Australian performer Cody Simpson (http://www.codysimpson.com/) started the morning off right at the inside stage. His style was decidedly more pop/country than anything else, but labeling good music other than saying it was 'good music' is crazy. He was good to watch on stage. No electric personality and flashy show, but he was just the perfect start for the day. ESPECIALLY with a cold Blue Moon beer in hand.

After shooting some photos of Cody Simpson, it was the mad dash to get outside for the introduction of the main stage kick off. The return of the one and only Bob Schneider   (http://www.bobschneider.com/home) Rachael Ray loves Bob and so does Austin. With the introduction by Rachael herself, Bob Schneider took that stage. The thoughts of the wet weather and muddy ground simply vanished with the music from Bob. Just great rock and roll. Fun, smart, and slightly irreverent with his sometimes naughty lyrics or subject matter, Bob Schneider once again proved day or night he can pack the house, turn your head, and make your body groove. I am thrilled that Rachael Ray has the courage and willful knowledge to have Bob kick this event off every year!

So while I went to shoot photos of the band Reptar (https://www.facebook.com/reptarmusic) on the back, outside stage, Sean managed to stand in line and grab two plates of the wonderful food from the bad ass menu RR had created. A chicken slider, a chicken taco, a hot dog wrap, and some corn in a cup. I am so downplaying the amazing plate of food RR, herself, should be insulted at my lack of descriptive gratitude. Look up the food and the recipes on the RR Feedback website I linked above. Hey...I am not a food critic, I am a music performance blogger, but that food, my friends, was THE BOMB!!!

After shooting Reptar on the back stage... which drew some of the crowd towards them, it appeared most were waiting by the main stage. Here RR introduced husband, John and his band The Cringe  (http://thecringe.com/). And perform they did. IT was pure radio rock n roll gold. Exactly what you hear on rock radio now was what they offered up. They did it well, they did it in an entertaining fashion, and they did it with all the ballsy pride you would need to stand in front of the thousand or so in attendance, and make the crowd smile. It was really good rock-n-roll!

We dashed inside for another band which was along that Hony Tonk/Rock sound. Banditos (https://www.facebook.com/BANDITOSBAND) were belting out their songs to the joy of the crowd that was dry and inside, it was a stellar perfomance. Seeming to enjoy being there on that stage in front of the crowd, Banditos performed and bounced back and forth with the vocals and the multiple folks on stage, all seeming to really enjoy what they were doing. There was no way you could be in the crowd for this performance and NOT have the desire to sing along. What? You don't know the songs? It doesn't matter, have another beer, raise your glass up, and cheers to a good time band.

After a short break we took for ourselves, we caught the last two performances before our time was up.

The surprise performance for me was seeing Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts (http://www.scottweiland.com/). Oh man it was awesome! Even after seeing the line up for the day, it didn't click that I would have the opportunity to see and hear him perform. In fact, it was probably two or three songs in when I snapped and realized I was in the presence of, and enjoying a performance from Scott Weiland. Man that shit was awesome for me! Any and all of his addictions and issues aside, nothing bad for me to say about this performance. It just simply KICKED ASS.

Before we left, the last performance seemed to be one that Rachael herself was the most thrilled about. Barely even able to contain herself to the point of forgetting to introduce the starring act (she left that up to special guest MC and the Blue Moon brewmaster himself).

 Raekwon (http://www.raekwonchronicles.com/) took the stage. Just thrilling to see a live performance where the crowd is so deftly into it. Pushing up to the stage, singing/rapping along. It was like the crowd got turned up to level HYPE in an instant. Here again, was a smashing performance that set the crowd in motion and had every one completely forgetting the weather.

We were all there for the good time. One was had...and one was missed.

Laters  

Upcoming

Trampia ( http://www.trampia.com/Home_Page.html ) - 06/22-24 Texas Heat Wave

Dirty Wormz ( http://www.dirtywormz.com/ ) 06/02 8:30 - 10pm Weirdos ( http://www.weirdosaustin.com/ )

Reckless Kelly ( http://recklesskelly.com/ ) 06/30 Nutty Brown CAFE ( http://nuttybrown.com/ ) KVET Free Music Series

Dierks Bentley ( http://dierks.com/ ) 06/15 Whitewater Amphitheater ( http://www.whitewaterrocks.com/ )

The Scabs ( http://www.myspace.com/thescabs1 ) 08/25 Whitewater Amphitheater ( http://www.whitewaterrocks.com/ )

I am sure it is NOT Lonely in his land!

An adventurous return to The Saxon Pub ( http://www.thesaxonpub.com/ ) on a weekday evening is so much fun. Yes, I have said this several times recently and screw you if you are to much of a pu swa to make it happen for yourself because ya have to work tomorrow. We live here in one of the greatest cities in the world (believe me, after College Station) OMG we have it good when it comes to live music. Go out and support it. Do something new, do something old and tired, but most of all DON'T take it for granted because those other places out there suck!

Aimless Gun ( http://www.aimlessgun.com/main.php ) are definitely taking advantage of the opportunities that come before them. I applaud them for making the best of everything they are getting! This evening at The Saxon Pub opening for Bob Schneider and Lonelyland is another one of those times. There are people you should meet and befriend. In the music industry in Austin these young men are meeting those people and Bob is one of them. Another good time onstage with a great sized crowd. Now all we need to do is start working that merch and passing that tip jar.

Bob Schneider and Lonelyland ( http://bobschneider.ning.com/ ). I have seen Bob perform previously in a few of his other incarnations and it is ALWAYS fun and entertaining.

Now I know Bob does not need my BS little opinion and blog because he is as there as you can get in Austin music. But HAHA, the joke is that I don't write this for anybody but me. Although I am glad you are here and reading this and hope that something I say has you deciding to go out one night and catch something fun in Austin. catching something fun does not mean crabs.

Back to the Bob though. This was such and awesome performance. With Mr Schneiders mix of music and fun you will always feel like it was money well spent and time worthwhile. He is exciting and energetic. Funny yet deep. He will always drag the audience around and show them a tour of his mind. No doubt this is why the few times I have seen him as other personalities I have never forgotten about it and neither will you. It seems to be a somewhat regular gig so take advantage and have a really good time. Sit down in front, order a beer and be a part of this all.

Laters