another SundayFunday

I hold firm to the belief music soothes the soul. If you are feeling down or just not yourself, bummed out and depressed, or just simply tired. The difficult thing about dealing with these things is just the simple fact to get up and do something.

Not feeling a 100% didn't stop me. My beautiful wife caught me just sitting on the sofa late on a Sunday morning. All I heard was simply "...and The Nightowls?" I looked up at her as she was smiling. "Oh! They are on the road." I responded.

"No. They are at Icenhauers today. You wanna do a Sunday Funday?"

...And off we went.






















The parking downtown, near the lake and Rainey St. is pretty ridiculous. Especially at 3 in the afternoon. We circled twice and then snuck into a spot that was open. Took a stroll down Rainey St. It was a nice afternoon. Not to hot. The sun wasn't out cooking us, it was simply nice.  Strolling up to the line in front of Icenhauers (http://www.icenhauers.com/) was not really a surprise. The Sunday Funday here has been epic for about as long as they have been open. I can think of four different bands that have set crowds dancing shoes on fire since their beginning.

From Eagle Pritchard Murray Band, The GoodNites, The Jack Burton Trio, and now...                                                 The Nightowls (http://wearethenightowls.com/). Icenhauers on a Sunday afternoon is pretty much the definition of SundayFunday. I believe if you look it up in the Urban dictionary there is a picture of this place. OH! It is crowded. Ridiculous! Jam packed - body to body - bumping - jumping - hands up in the air - don't go anywhere because you cant move - kind of crowded. It is great! The music from The Nightowls are out of this world, Motown reincarnated in Austin, Texas good!

With all the great music, with the energy of the crowd, and the fresh air. It was simply the best way to feel good (and the Allisons didn't hurt either). Even for the short length of time we were out, it was all good. Another Sunday Funday in the books. Maybe you should try it too.


Laters

A Sunday cocktail (or two)

A little Sunday evening cocktail at Icenhauers ( http://www.icenhauers.com/ ). Located on Rainey St., in the ever expanding down town entertainment district, sits a row of quiet little bars. A newly revitalized area that stands in stark contrast to itself. The east side of Rainey is predominantly occupied by renovated homes turned into drinking establishments, some with nice little backyards designed to accommodate a stage. The west side of Rainey has a few newly renovated homes but the stark contrast is the homes that still exist and are occupied by the home owners (I think there is a story in that as well and might just explore that in the near future.) Icenhauers has a nifty story on their website and some really great before and after pictures. It does make me smile and feel good that even though life, progress, and developers have encroached upon this little corner of Austin, they are doing well in preserving it also!

The bar has been described previously as a simply gorgeous, small little house. A very nice seating area out front. The entry has two modest sized rooms to the left and right with seating and televisions for watching what sport is on at the moment. A little farther in and you hit the main area with a well stocked bar to the left and access to the back yard. Floor to ceiling windows let you observe the festivities from inside.

The musical flavor for this late afternoon was provided by The Nightowls (http://www.facebook.com/ryan.harkrider?fref=ts ) with Ryan Harkrider sharing the vocal leads with his attractive co-vocalist Autumn ( http://www.facebook.com/autumnsmusic ) The music has that Motown sound with that black tie appeal. No doubt about labeling this band, as they will admit the sound they are going for is in fact Motown. The alternating vocals from male to female are fun and great, and the sound from the band was distinctly better than the last time I saw them at another venue (I will leave unnamed.) This switching keeps it entertaining and allows them a wide variety of tunes they can pull off with great respect.

It was a beautiful evening with perfect weather and a friendly crowd. Everybody definitively had a great time socializing. The Nightowls do it perfectly! With the ability to be great background music to any good conversation as well as performing those favorite tunes that do make you stop talking and listen, they are a great dinner/happy hour/out-for-a-few-cocktails type of band. They do play frequently around Austin so look them up and go.

Laters

Sunday is a Funday

Icenhauers (http://www.icenhauers.com/) is finally getting some well needed company down on Rainey street. It is as simple as this, the more places there are to visit, the more people. The more people means more visitors to your bar, and visit this one you should. Everyone is pretty much keeping the houses they renovate very similar to its original residence, however it's the extras that make Icenhauers a true gem to visit.

Outside is pretty unassuming as you walk up, and the owners have taken great pride to maintain that. When you walk in , you would be damned if it didn't remind you of some family members house where you visited when you were little (except for the giant bar in the back room.) Step outside and this is every body's dream that likes to socialize and have friends and neighbors over. A big covered patio with a TV, ample seating, a fire pit, and a really nice nook to have a band perform.

And perform they do. The Good Nights ( http://www.facebook.com/TheGoodNights?ref=ts&fref=ts ) were doing the Sunday Funday. With free chicken and waffles and some great music, you can never go wrong. NOW although I generally don't care for cover bands, this was really fun. These guys turn it up and turn on the crowd. With plenty of crowd pleasing favorites on the play list, every person there had to sing along to at least one song. The band is fun, they have a great time, they socialize with the crowd, and they play a nice long set split in two. I really like this fact because you can settle into your seat, get comfortable and the show will still be moving along. Do yourself the favor, grab your favorite person and take them to a Sunday Funday and more importantly take them to see The Good Nights!


To give you an idea of their sound here is a video I shot of them doing a cover of another Austin band. http://youtu.be/2vzBj2f9C14

a Father's Day Sunday Funday

HOLY SHIT! I love to continually be surprised by this city. The "Keep Austin Weird" tag line somehow always manages to make itself true. With the Austin Revitalization Project and the spreading out and growth of the music and entertainment district you are bound to find new and exciting places anytime!

Icenhauers ( http://www.icenhauers.com/index.html ) is one of those places. Tucked away on Rainey St. and completely unassuming. Even as you stroll down the street or drive past it and know it's there, you can miss it. We did the first time. Check out their web site for amazing photos on the renovation of this old house to a fantastic bar.

EPMB ( http://www.facebook.com/epmbmusic#!/epmbmusic?sk=info ). Once again I prove to be a fanboy. Whatever. These guys are great great fun to listen to, watch, dance to, sing along with, and just hang out with. Been a short while since I have seen them perform a full set, so this was a treat...ESPECIALLY on Fathers Day. A two part set at about 50 minutes each and when it ended, it still felt like they would've performed more and the crowd would not have been tired. What I liked about this particular performance was hearing the lead guitar shine through at all the right times finally (Jason Eagle is great). The second half of the performance was absolutely a knock down, drag out, leav'em breathless event. The mixture of covers and the up tempo originals had people dancing for pretty much the whole 50 minute set.

Yes I was very sad that I couldn't spend the day with my kids, and am still not happy about those turn of events. But the day was filled with good times, good friends, and good music. I will take that and appreciate it immensely. A big thank you to all who were there (My mamacita y mis compadres) and made the day special anyway!!
Laters