Always fun at One2One

Located on S Lamar just minutes from down town, sits a small strip center in a rapidly developing corner of Austin. Housed right smack in the middle this area is the One2One (http://www.one2onebar.com/). This hot little place houses one of the best small stages in Austin. The sound in the room is amazing, the stage lighting is fantastic, and the bar staff is on point. The room is a rectangle shape room, as you walk in the bar runs about halfway down the right wall with the stage at the end of the room opposite the door. The bathrooms are on either side of the stage...and yes...the men and women restrooms are on OPPOSITE sides of the stage.

Another night at the One2One brought several different sounds from 3 different acts.

Joe George (http://www.joegeorgemusic.net/) from Chicago was a solo acoustic set. Spinning his tales between him, his guitar, and the crowd. Joe George entertained us and kept the mood warm in the room. I don't have a problem admitting a whole lot of attention was not provided by myself to his set. It was enough and smile inducing enough to give you this description. Joe George did however, provide a surprise just a little later in the evening that wowed us all.

The Reverent Few   (https://thereverentfew.com/) was a smashing combo. The glorious lead singer showered us with her powerful voice from her small frame. The lead guitarist regaled us with his fine work on the fret board as well as his vocals. I was mesmerized by the bassist.  To my surprise, soloist Joe George,  joined them on stage to bring it all to glorious peak -what a musician and entertainer! As a whole ensemble, The Reverent Few surprised the damned many that stood before them this evening. It really was grande performance with vocals in quite a fashion. Hearing one of my peers and long time fixtures in the Austin music scene exclaim 'My God! How are these kids from Austin and I am just now hearing about this!?' Just like the music of The Reverent Few and their performance...just damn fine!

Jelly Ellington (http://www.jellyellington.com/) was whom I came to enjoy. Although the other performances before Jelly were crowd pleasing, it was this man's night and he was fresh from touring for his new release "All In". It takes the causal person in the crowd no time at all to realize it is not just the album title, but his approach to music and performing. With a great line up of musicians behind him, Jonathan Ellington, known to all as 'Jelly' not only can he play guitar at a level that makes you want to burn your guitar (even if you don't own one or play) but can sing with a smooth powerful voice. It is definitely a performance with catching anywhere, anytime, day show, evening show, or late night. During the week or on a weekend you should go "All In!"

I do want to take another moment to talk about the new CD - so let me enlighten you:

"All In" is an amazing piece of work. The opening hand claps of 'Set Me Free' proves to be a roof raising rocking anthem which promises to drive everyone into a frenzy of good times. The strumming guitar work and keys with the vocals and rhythm just makes you keep turning it up - and wait until you hear it live. You are able to drift away with track two 'Sunset'. But then the slow fade in of the keys and that haunting sound on the guitar roll in on track three's 'Let Go'. This is a track that uttelry mesmerizes you as it continues to build. Track four 'Crosstown' comes right back with that funky groove and Jelly's voice that is passion laden and smoldering - vaguely giving you that feel of Jimi taking over. Oh..and then 'Hard Times Coming Down', wraps you up in its warmth. The organ sounds and the keys back fills this track to make the story Jelly tells so much more interesting.

Showing his skill at song writing and musical genius, Jelly give us the track 'Getaway'. A back seat riding song with the windows down, and having that cool country feel, it is whiskey sipping track. We finally roll into a point where it feels as if Jelly is just sitting on the stool singing to you. Just him and the beautiful sound of his guitar playing. As you you wrap yourself in this track you realize and feel the warmth of the strings filling in. All of this culminates in the explosion horns with the funk filled end tack 'New Day'.

An album well worth having, enjoying, and spreading the work about. Grab this from his website here - http://smarturl.it/jellyellington_allin - turn it up load, and find a show to see an album performed better than it sounds!


I am out.



Laters

Goodbye Nick

I am pretty sure this is my top place to sneak up to and see local music. One of 3 places in Austin you could catch me at whenever.


One 2 One (http://www.one2onebar.com/) remains my top pick for small venue in Austin. For the sound, stage, and bar service.

Quick rundown of the bar...you walk in to the large rectangle shaped room. Bar to your right running half the length of the club. Stage directly in front of you and impressively large and gorgeous for the small venue. Bathrooms are to the left and right of the stage for men and women....and let me tell you, it is ALWAYS a hoot to watch women constantly trying to go to the mens room cause the cant find the women's room!

This performance review is gonna be really off as it was pretty much a one time performance. Although I hope not, and would expect and believe from the packed house and reaction of the crowd, Jonathan Ellington (http://www.jellyellington.com/) would make this happen again. It was a Led Zeppelin tribute show! And what a tribute it was.

The place was sold out. The players onstage, could not have been any better if Plant and Paige had walked in themselves. The core group was J. Ellington on guitar - paying much respect to Jimmy Paige, by being flawless. Vocals was Josh Ross (https://www.facebook.com/JoshRossLeBlanc)- Robert plant had to be turning over in his grave - and I know the dude ain't dead. Aric Garcia (https://www.facebook.com/TheWarplanes/) just blistered on the drums all night. My friend Nick Casillo was epic with his bass lines and smile all night long.

With special guest Cole Gramling on on the keys to bring in that full Zeppelin sound was superb. Guest vocalist Michael Dillard (https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDillardMusic/) and Curtis Lee (https://www.facebook.com/CurtisLeeMusiq/) both respectively shocked the audience with the renditions of the songs they performed. Michael Dillard being expectedly bad ass for his song and performance and Curtis Lee choking up some in the crowd with his performance. Let me stop and take a moment to say that even though Curtis Lee knew of Led Zeppelin, this is not his bag. TO be on stage at a rock show, outside of his normal, soulful, R&B self and do the job he did, damn!

In all, With everyones participation, it was an event I am super excited to have gone to and proud to have these guys here in Austin and part of the music scene. Please, look ALL of them up. Go see them on any of their respective projects as they are all amazing performers, entertainers, and have great band.

EXCEPT FOR NICK!!!

Goodbye Nick. Congratulations on the Family. I love you sir, will miss your smiling face onstage, your handshakes and the respect you have always given me as a fan of the Austin music scene!

Laters

You ain't Know?

WELL NOW YA DO!

MC Overlord (http://www.overlordmusic.com/) has been wrecking the live music scene in Austin for a hot minute. The players he has walked with are stellar. The list of musicians he has influenced, worked with, performed on their stage, our shared his with, is mind blowing. He is humble about what he does and how he does it and he defends his friends, musical compadres, and the music scene with an  attitude and vigor that gives people a reason to be scared. A decades worth of music awards and a lifetime achievement award under his massive arms gives you a reason to pause and listen when he speaks, musically or literally.

The new, WAY over due disc by MC Overlord - 'You Ain't Know' (available on all platforms) is a thing to behold. Better than the rest and a definitive departure from his previous 2 efforts. You Ain't Know may prove to be his crowning jewel. With VMG behind this and a funky attitude and approach to the new music from the Legendary DJ Crash Da Scratcha (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009971946550), it should be a great source of enjoyment for anyone who touches it and listens to it. There is an intensity in this disc that out weighs the previous efforts. I can't put a specific finger on it, but it's there. Now, let me take the approach that you are unfamiliar with MC Overlords prior music, never been to a live performance, and don't know the accolades.

This is a hip-hop CD in it's purest, greatest form. It is head bobbing, in the car, turned up to 11, slipped down low in the seat, hip-hop music! The first time through provides some of those smile inducing moments as you listen. A chuckle for some of the song outros and some of the skits in between tracks. Then you listen to it, again. You play it again, and you listen to it, and again.

The production and the little samples and loops of some OLD O L D School funk reek of DJ Crash. It adds to the comfortable sound, wraps your ears around something that you think you have heard before, and makes you play it again. Then you hear it again, and realize the lyrical content, the storytelling, fun, funky, challenging, and ballsy is pure Overlord. Still and always clean, but a little on the edge of scandalous.

Then you realize the overall polish on the disc is only a finishing touch which is a VMG stamp. The players, guitars, and co conspirators on this disc is ONLY topped by a live performance.

I purposefully and willfully am staying away from talking about the individual tracks. I have some definite favorites and a couple that make me scratch my head. I can appreciate the talent that pours out of the speakers from everyone involved in making this one finally drop. I hope you enjoy and put it in your rotation.

If you haven't seen him live, and don't have a previous disc, the last line is simple to write..















YOU AIN'T KNOW!!!
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/mcoverlord3
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/you-aint-know/id1218637312




Laters

in the garden of good music

The Oak Garden at Guero's Taco Bar (http://gueros.com/) on South Congress is a must do on any one's list. On a nice Saturday in downtown Austin, Texas you will always find some great local music starting at around noon. The Oak Garden is located right next door to the restaurant. With plenty of parking street side or in the parking garage behind the garden, there are only good times to be had. Under the beautiful oaks with plenty of seating, people watching with a nice cold beverage and great music is the back drop to a perfect Austin weekend and life!

On two separate occasions I have had the joy of taking in amazing local music with family and friends. Nothing but love and joy in my heart because this is what it should be like all the time.

At one point in the recent past I caught The Brew (http://www.brewmusic.com/) here at the Oak Garden. Nothing but masters at their craft, The Brew can do nothing but inspire your feet to move with their Latin infused rhythms and sounds. Whether it is acoustic, unplugged, a jazz set, or with guest singers, The Brew never cease to amaze and put smiles on the faces in the crowd. This particular Saturday afternoon was no different as it was again the stellar guitar work of Michael Rodriguez making pulses pound and feet move. Young and old, The Brew will always be a must see. Whether you are an Austin resident or visiting from out of town, with their many residencies around the city your are sure to find The Brew... and have a great time!

Yet on another occasion, I found myself purposefully and willfully at the Oak Garden on a gorgeous Saturday for Jelly (http://www.jellyellington.com/). Fronted by rock guitar virtuoso and vocalist Jonathan Ellington and backed with a stellar crew, Jelly always knocks it out of the park with his brand of bad boy blues and rock! Having seen many Jelly performances, it never gets old. Taking your father to a Jelly performance and watching the excitement grow on his face as Jelly just owns every piece of every song. Covers and originals, watching someone else enjoy this young rockstar is even better than seeing him a dozen times. Here is another faithful and wonderful performer you can gaze upon, evenings in Austin, just about anywhere. Look Jelly up and enjoy the jams!



Laters

no need to start a war

This is part of the thrill I have about the music scene in Austin, sharing it with someone. My wife joined me this evening for a great double bill. After checking out the first band for the evening we took a 45 minute drive and headed BACK into Austin for some super bad ass late night sounds.

The venue is the One2One (http://www.one2onebar.com/). Built for sound, built for the show. The One2One is the premier small venue in Austin. Located just 3 minutes from the electricity of the downtown entertainment district, The One2One is located on S. Lamar in an unassuming little strip mall. But boy is this place anything BUT unassuming. Owners Gregg and Destinee Ware have built what many local musicians praise as the legacy to The Austin music scene of old (think Steamboat - if you don't know you don't get it don't worry about it). Just pick any night and you are sure to be thrilled by a performance and the great sound.

I didn't just randomly pick this night. Oh No! After seeing two of this bands members do a small acoustic set, I knew I had to check out the whole package. And not only am I happy I had the opportunity, but doubly thrilled my wife could join me. The band…ahhh well they are The Warplanes (http://www.thewarplanes.net/).

Walking in the doors of the One2One at midnight and being happy the band hasn’t started might seem like an oddity to you, but you are just going to have to come to Austin and see what this is about.

The Warplanes dove onto the stage minutes after midnight. The music is ridiculously hard to pigeon hole, much like many other bands in town. If you are not straight up country or rock/metal or rap then you have that “Austin Sound”. The Warplanes embodied this with the group of guys on stage. A lead guitar, an acoustic guitar wielding lead singer, a keyboard/rhythm guitarist, bass, and drums. It wasn’t quite country, it had a kind of rock edge to it, sweet harmonies, and a front man with attitude. Yes Sir! The Warplanes are pure Austin.

They were exciting to watch. They were fun to listen to. The crowd was entertained and fixated, and the crowd stayed for the whole show - a super hard thing to do for a band playing that midnight slot. The Warplanes had all of us dancing at one point. On command the lead singer had us clapping along. The lead singer was playing to the crowd and enjoying it like a little kid on Christmas...all smiles. He was climbing on the drum riser, jumping, and singing. It was amazing fun for a late night out.

With my wife, with some friends, with family, or solo, I will attend a Warplanes show any chance I get. Guess you should too. Look them up.

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