The Eggmen

12/17/12 @ Palmer Events Center
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Boffo week for the institutionalized intersection of Cap City commerce – local music and shopping. Tuesday/Wednesday goes to the songbirds, Sahara Smith (3:30pm) and Marcia Ball with Kimmie Rhodes (8pm), respectively, while Thursday mans up to Sons of Fathers (3:30pm) and Slaid Cleaves (8pm). The not-so-sleeper: Monday dawns Kids Day, starting at 11am with face painting, the Biscuit Brothers (noon), young man blues by Peterson Brothers Band (3:30pm), and mainstay Beatles tribute, the Eggmen (8pm). $5 before 7pm on weekdays, then $8, with children 12 and under free.

02/13/05 @ Hole in the Wall
Fill Your Head With Rock
"Back in the Seventies, I was the drummer with Budgie," fondly recalls Pete Boot of his rock & roll past. "Having survived all that, at the age of 47 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's. And I am now the best tambourine player in the business." Although Parkinson's affected his playing, no harm has come to his sense of humor; recently, Boot's been a tireless champion for the cause, overseeing a series of Fill Your Head With Rock benefits to raise money for and educate the public about the disease in places from Liverpool and Vancouver, B.C., to New Jersey (where Parkinson's survivor Michael J. Fox showed up) to the capital of Texas. But how did Boot the Brit end up gigging in the Lone Star State? "I met Pete in 2003, while playing in Liverpool," explains Austinite Eric Blakely. "And he's such a musician's musician. He's also been a mentor. I struggle myself and then see someone who's seen success and failure and faced Parkinson's with a great outlook. It's such a worthy cause." Parkinson's is a slowly degenerative disorder that affects movement, muscle control, and balance, and is related to multiple sclerosis. The Hole in the Wall benefit features 12-string guitarist James Schrader, who also has Parkinson's, the Eggmen, Ron Flynt & the Bluehearts, the Jolly Garogers, and the Eric Blakely Band, who will feature Boot as a guest. Rock memorabilia collectors note that items such as an autographed 8-by-10 of Paul McCartney, a Metallica drumhead, original Budgie vinyl, and more will be auctioned off.

Origin: 1992

McCallum Fine Arts Academy Orchestra (Arts Story February 20, 2009)
BY ROBERT FAIRES
For the benefit of Mr. Kite (and the orchestra)