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Geezerville
on ChronCast: free audio news and streams from the Chronicle
Good Night Austin, Texas, Wherever You Are
Jim Caligiuri
Fri Nov 20, 5:27pm
First a little personal history to put Thursday night’s Zappa Plays Zappa performance at Stubb’s into perspective. The first rock show I attended was Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention at the Fillmore East in New York City, June 1971.
Funk No. IV
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Nov 18, 11:34am
Saturday night a decidedly slimmed down FunkFest, the fourth, hits the Parish with the Stanton Moore Trio, led by the drummer of New Orleans jammers Galactic and the rarely seen supergroup Garage a Trois, featuring Marco Benevento on keyboards, Skerik on saxophone, Mike Dillon on vibes, and Moore on drums.
Dust In the Air
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Nov 11, 4:03pm
I’ve referred to Son Volt as the premier American roots-rock band of our day and in my mind, its latest, American Central Dust (Rounder), confirms that notion.
Fun Fun Fun Too
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Nov 4, 2:10pm
There's the official Fun Fun Fun Fest aftershows this weekend, and the totally unofficial fare for geezers like me, beginning with three shows dedicated to beloved musical icons no longer with us.
A Case for Case
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Oct 28, 11:47am
Many people know Peter Case from his days with Eighties L.A. power-poppers the Plimsouls and their hit “A Million Miles Away.” Remember their appearance in Valley Girl with a young Nicholas Cage? After the Plimsouls, Case pursued a successful solo career, appearing often here in Austin.
Anyway
Jim Caligiuri
Thu Oct 22, 12:35pm
Walking into last night’s Amy Farris memorial/tribute at the beyond capacity Continental Club, grief hung like the dark clouds over South Congress. A native of Austin, Farris passed away late last month in L.A., at the age of 40.
After the Deluge...
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Oct 14, 3:33pm
Now that the Austin City Limits Music Festival is over, it’s time to jump into a pile of new releases. With the holiday season fast approaching – and it’s coming faster than ever considering the Christmas decorations I saw at Lowe’s this week – lots of Geezerville favorites have hit the racks.
Cedar Fever
Jim Caligiuri
Fri Oct 9, 12:05pm
Tags: Wilco
It was 35 minutes into last night’s set at the new Cedar Park Center before Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy addressed the audience: “This is a new experience for us, a hockey area in Austin, Texas."
Kickin’ the Mud Off My Sneakers
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Oct 7, 12:22pm
I’m not like most of the folks who attended the Austin City Limits Music Festival. A t-shirt I saw last weekend pretty much sums it up: “I’m here for the opening band.” I get in early, get my fill, and leave before the headliners hit the stage.
Beyond Austin City Limits
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Sep 30, 1:48pm
If you’ve decided not to participate in the Austin City Limits Music Festival this weekend, you’ve still got plenty of options. Here are some recommendations, or where I’d be, if I wasn’t standing in the middle of Zilker Park with 70,000 of my closest friends for three days.
Saturday Night's Alright
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Sep 16, 2:21pm
Tags: Bloodshot Records
This Saturday shapes up to be one of the best days of music in Geezerville since South by Southwest, Saturday, 2001. That was the day I caught full sets from 15 bands, ended up doing tequila shots at the bar of the Continental Club with two women from Australia, and lived to tell about it.
On the Baby Bus
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Sep 9, 12:54pm
Elizabeth McQueen is a trooper. After two weeks on the road and dearly in need of sleep, the Asleep at the Wheel vocalist spent some time on the phone with me last night just catching up.
Radney's Revival
Jim Caligiuri
Thu Sep 3, 2:10pm
I last interviewed Radney Foster in May of 1999. It hardly seems that long ago.
Secret, Profane and Sugarcane
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Sep 2, 11:43am
Tags: Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello’s affection for American music was in full bloom Tuesday at Bass Concert Hall. On record it’s been on display with an album of country covers, 1981’s Almost Blue, his watershed acoustic opus King of America from 1986 and latest Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, an amalgam of country styles performed with some of Nashville’s best musicians.
This and That
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Aug 26, 11:58am
Tags: Elvis Costello
Tomorrow night, upstairs at Lamberts, the FunkyBatz crew begins its Hot Funk in the City series, which brings two local up-and-coming funk/soul bands to the stage for the next three Thrusdays. I’ve heard the ready-to-explode guitar and sax histrionics of Uncle Bruno, who appear Sept. 10, and if they're any indicator of the talent the Batz are wild about, it will be a golden opportunity to shake your moneymaker and check out some new bands. $5.
Leon's Clinic
Jim Caligiuri
Fri Aug 21, 12:06pm
Rock legend Leon Russell rolled into Threadgill’s last night for his annual Austin stopover and gave a clinic on how to entertain an audience. Of course, the freaks were out in force, some with beards to rival Russell’s, others more than proud of their stylish, immense beer guts. But for nearly 90 minutes the old-time Okie and close personal friend to Willie hit nearly all the high points in his career, smashed his way through some classic rock standards, and seemed genuinely pleased to be in South Austin.
His Year
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Aug 12, 12:53pm
It’s been more than five years since Colin Gilmore released his last full length disc, The Day the World Stopped and Spun the Other Way (Squirm), but 2009 is shaping up to be his year. It began with the Flatlanders – Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, and his father, Jimmie Dale – deciding to include one of his songs on their latest, Hills & Valleys (New West).
Willie Bob Cougar
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Aug 5, 12:15pm
If there was ever a lineup made for Geezerville, this was it. Songwriting icons from three generations – Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp – each with an indelible imprint on American music, came to Round Rock last evening and delivered a sturdy version of where they stand today.
Lonesome Whistle
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Jul 29, 11:12am
The premise for last night's third annual tribute at the Cactus was toasting Hank Williams and Lucinda Williams. Although not related, these two artists have influenced a horde of Austin musicians with their words and deeds, and as the show wore on, the coupling made more and more sense. Everyone who got on stage was allowed one song by Hank, one by Lucinda, and one of their own.
Playing Catch Up
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Jul 22, 12:32pm
Tags: Drive-by Truckers
Before we slip into August, I wanted to point out three multidisc sets that came out this month. I’ve got hazy memories of the Drive-by Truckers/Slobberbone shows that happened ten or so years ago at the Hole in the Wall. One thing’s for sure: the Truckers never sounded as good as they do on Live From Austin TX (New West).
Happy Scrappy
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Jul 15, 11:54am
“I love to play,” Scrappy Jud Newcomb says matter-of-factly and I laugh. To anyone who’s seen him wield his ax with Matt the Electrician, Beaver Nelson, Walter Tragert, the Resentments, Loose Diamonds, Planet Casper, Ian McLagan, or Jenny Reynolds (and that’s just the short list), it’s obvious that if he could play guitar 24 hours a day, he would.
Best of 2009 (So Far)
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Jul 8, 1:36pm
Tags: Best ofs
Like the Energizer Bunny, the Austin music scene just keeps on going. I’m continually amazed that after nearly 15 years of experiencing it up close, it never seems to slow down. There’s always something new to hear (Uncle Lucius, Uncle Bruno), someone surprising who’s moved to town (T Bird & the Breaks), or youngsters causing a ruckus (Sarah Jarosz, the Fireants). Old friends like Charlie Robison, Slaid Cleaves, Dale Watson, and Todd Snider continue to make strides in their artistry, a couple with possibly the best work of their careers.
Hot Night in the Lounge Room
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Jun 24, 1:11pm
Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson were supposed to perform at the Cactus Café last September. Then Hurricane Ike happened, flights were canceled, and they were unable to make it to Texas. Monday evening the Australian couple made up for it with two sets and although I only caught the late show, it was surely worth the wait. Joined for most of the performance by Kasey’s father Bill on a variety of stringed things, they turned the already intimate Cactus into their "lounge room." That’s Australian for living room.
Snider/Riders
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Jun 17, 1:12pm
Tags: Todd Snider
Reading the rave reviews of Todd Snider’s latest, The Excitement Plan (Yep Roc), is sure to bring a smile to those who have followed the wise-ass singer-songwriter since his early days in Central Texas. We’ve known all along that he’s the equal to John Prine, Tom Waits, or Robert Earl Keen, yet it seems like a few are just discovering Snider’s ability to pen tunes both incisive and wry.
Forty Years Later
Jim Caligiuri
Wed Jun 10, 12:11pm
Tags: Woodstock
When I wrote about the 40th anniversary of Woodstock during this year’s South by Southwest, little did I know it was the beginning of a media blitz. The panel centered on the reissue of the Academy Award-winning film, finally released this week in three different configurations.
