Pulling back the curtain

Looking back on the past year for Live Music In Austin always seems to be an eye opener.

Once again it seems like most main genres of music were heard and seen by Live Music In Austin and Live Music In Texas. We almost made it a full year as well. Starting from Jan.5th all the way to Dec.20th. It was a 349 day journey.

There was, and will always be, my local favorites - which interestingly enough, seem to be everything in the VMG and Lordship Ent. stables! Thanks guys for doing your part in trying to keep the live music scene in Austin 'Live' and full of music. I also fostered a bigger relationship with The Dirty Wormz founder and brain child, Thomas Chapman - a.k.a Smackola. There is a large video project that we are working on. It is not only deep in the mind of Smackola, but a take on the music scene from then, to now, to the future.  Look for it later in 2016.

As for the blog, the reviews, and the photos. As a year in review it went something like this...

There were 11 new venues I went to. Not necessarily new to Austin, but definitely new to me. First time setting foot in places like Threadgills Saloon, Uncle Garys, and The Rusty Mule. From Pflugerville to Gruene Hall, from Dallas to San Antonio, I covered a little ground.

There were 23 local bands that I saw, listened to, took pictures of, and wrote about, for the very first time. From Call Me King to Scorpio Rising, it was pop, rock, country music nirvana proving that Austin really should keep the title Live Music Capital of the World. All politics aside, still proud to be part of this city and do what I do to try and spread the word to the world - and you locals also.

I was also lucky enough to photo and review 20 touring acts, many of which I never thought I would see, much less get up close to shoot. From the ultra amazing stage performance of Mushroomhead, to the cool Americana sounds of Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes. My 2015 also included seeing and hearing Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts. I was honored to have been apart of that due to the kindness of Sean Claes from INsite Austin.

With 28 blog posts written in 2015 it boils down to this -

Just under 1 new venue per month, almost 2 new bands per month, and more than 2 blog posts per month, I may not be on the level of Dave Prewitt from Dave TeeVee, but DAMMITT!! I love Austin, I love the Austin music scene, and I will keep on doing this.

Live Music in Austin has 4 blog posts cooking for January alone. Within that are 3 bands I have never seen before. I still have a week to go! If you see me out and about, tap me on the shoulder and say "Hi!", let me know you have seen the blog, read a post, and saw a band I talked about.

Laters

They wish

I'll get to that in a minute

Threadgills (http://www.threadgills.com) South is both wonderful outside (weather permitting) and interesting inside. The food is fantastic, and the ambiance is pure Austin,Texas...y'all. It is home to the remnants of the famous Armadillo World Headquarters (look it up) an establishment that helped establish Austin with the title of 'live music capital of the world'.

I will withhold my normal description of the venue as you really have to see it to understand. BUT...the inside stage is in the 'Threadgills Saloon'. You have to walk through the restaurant and smell the good food to get to it. Oh yes, you can order food in the Saloon as well. It seats about 90. Tonight was beyond standing room and it was glorious! The crowd was great and the music...well that's what I want to talk about.

The Cuckoos (https://www.facebook.com/thecuckoosaustin/) are a 3 piece. Vocals do the keys, there is a guitarist, and a drummer. With a packed house, these 3 young men made their way onto the stage and with little warning laid into their first track. It seemed to get oddly quite from the crowd once they started playing. Yes, there was the normal murmur, but it was mostly people saying "WHOA!", "Wait! Who is this again?" and of course the overwhelming tone I heard was "Oh my God!". Yes they weren't just that good. They were stunning. 

Once again I have designs on going to see one particular band and am blown away by something completely unexpected and sensational. The Cuckoos were just that. Everybody loved them. Though the house was packed for the headliner, I saw and heard no one exclaim anything other than joy at the sound of The Cuckoos. I even had a friend task me with hunting them down so that we could go to their next gig with less distraction than this evenings headliner.

Here is the obvious and needed comparison. WHICH I DON'T DO! I have said this before, a lot! I don't compare because what I hear and you hear would not be the same thing. I wouldn't want to jade you from seeing something you think is wonderful. These kids sounded like The Doors. Yes, if Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek had a child it would have been the lead singer and keyboard player of The Cuckoos. The sound, the voice, the keys. It was eerily bad ass! As for the Doors, THEY WISH they had a guitar player like this. I don't care what you say about The Doors guitarist, with The Cuckoos, the guitar was not buried behind they keys and the vocals, he was just as much the star, and damn impressive at that.

Much love, respect, and future/ongoing success to The Cuckoos. Do you part, feel nostalgic for that sound from a by gone time, go see The Cuckoos. Want something that is different from that 'Austin Sound' go see The Cuckoos.

Enough of that! Let me tip my hat in grand respect to the man of the hour. Van Wilks (http://www.vanwilks.com). I can't say I don't like writing about artists over and over again, I love talking about good music. This, though, seems to be different and ever evolving each time I see him. Van Wilks has been doing his thing in Austin for a long time, but just doesn't seem to get the love here as he does in, say,.....FRANCE! 

I am glad Van calls Austin, Texas home and you really should get out and see him if you haven't. On a good night, there may be a stunning list of guests who make it onstage with him or sit with you in the crowd. If not, then you are in for just a bad ass guitarist with some fantastic blues/rock music. 

Not needing to prove himself with a new album, Van Wilks has definitively grabbed a hold of that guitar throne and declared himself King of the "21st Century Blues"(http://www.waterloorecords.com/UPC/678572221743/Van-Wilks_21st-Century-Blues). It is not just the stunning guitar work on the new album, but it's his ability to be more impressive live. Not the familiar sound we know, but the sound we love. It is comforting to know that level of talent and Vans respect for where he came from musically, is for all of us to share on the new album and see in his live performances. 

For the show this evening, it brought special guest guitarist Josh Smith onstage. Beautiful to know Van Wilks, as a guitar man, has no ego about sharing the stage. Oh yes! Legendary vocalist Malford Milligan stepped onstage for two songs. Charming, humble, and still the most notable of blues/rock vocalists and distinctive voices pretty much anywhere.

They wish they had a set list and guest list like this. They wish!

Laters

Happy Birthday to Austin PubCrawl, William Tompkins. Got a photo of him, his daughter, and Malford Milligan.

Teaching the blues...school is in!

Threadgills South ( http://www.threadgills.com/history.cfm ) is a freakin awesome location. On the corner there by down town, Congress/Barton Springs/Riverside, without being DOWN TOWN, this is as good as you wanna get. Next door to the historic and non existent Armadillo World Headquarters (and still retaining some of that charm) you can walk around the restaurant and check out many of the items saved before the tear down. Now this particular write up will focus on the Bier Garten outside and right on the street. With the fencing going almost all the way around the outdoor area, the street noise is almost all but non existent. When the band starts playing...yup! you are transported to that other world with the sounds and performance that take you away.

Mingo Fishtrap ( http://www.mingofishtrap.com/ ) was the soul /sole performance this evening. With a long set and a short break they pretty much stomped on the Texas Thang with that Southern Sound and that Chicago brass all at the same time. Moving, uplifting, soul quenching, bluesy, and rocking all at the same time.

Here are the words of a 15 year old fan...

"They were 'flippin' amazing. They definitely had everyone moving in their seats and had the crowd dancing [to the beats]. There were old faces and new [young] faces [enjoying the music]. The young college kid and the older lady [really dancing up a storm down front]" after the front man demanded for some feet in the dirt or he would play the same lick ALL NIGHT LONG! Hell yeah!

"Playing songs I had never heard of and teaching me a thing or two [about the blues classics]." They did play a huge variety of songs. Not just playing a cover here or there, but explaining the song and telling a story about the cover along the way. "They definitely warmed up the slight chill in the night air with the relaxing vibe that filled the Threadgills area. Having [my] little brother along for the ride, experiencing the music of Mingo Fishtrap, like never before." - Angelina Skye

Don't think I can or will add much more to that. If that doesn't make you wanna go see them or buy a CD then I guess you are dead and didn't read this to begin with!

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