Audio (27)
SXSW 09 (19)
Benefits (15)
Video (13)
U18 (13)
teen bands (11)
Cute Band Alert (11)
ACL 2008 (11)
Fun Fun Fun Fest (10)
Misc. (9)
Girls Rock Camp Austin (9)
U21 (9)
Church of the Friendly Ghost (8)
ACL Fest 2009 (8)
ACL Fest 2007 (7)
Cactus Cafe (6)
Jon Dee Graham (5)
Reissues (5)
Beatles (5)
Best of 2009 (So Far)
The economy seems to have thinned the crowds in the clubs a bit, but whether that will have a lasting effect on local music is up in the air. I’m guessing that, with a few minor setbacks, it will just keep evolving and growing, continuing to rival that of much larger cities. An audience ever-thirsty for talent on a nightly basis is a combination that’s difficult to beat.
What follows is a snapshot of where I’ve been, what I’ve been listening to the past six months. Like last year, these 21 tracks fit on an 80-minute disc. I’ve written about most of these artists either in the pages of the Chronicle or here in Geezerville. It’s a mix of local and national acts away from the trends; just my way to turn you on to something you might have missed.
1) Uncle Lucius, "Everybody Got Soul," Pick Your Head Up (BooClap)
2) Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, "Big Booty Woman," Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! (Lost Highway)
3) Uncle Bruno, "Judge a Book," Uncle Bruno
4) BeauSoleil, "Rouler et Tourner," Alligator Purse (Yep Roc)
5) The Greencards, "Chico Calling," Fascination (Sugar Hill)
6) Slaid Cleaves, "Cry," Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away (Music Road)
7) Sarah Jarosz, "Tell Me True," Song Up In Her Head (Sugar Hill)
8) The Fireants, "Deuce Is Loose," Fireants
9) Charlie Robison, "Feelin’ Good," Beautiful Day (Dualtone)
10) Todd Snider, "Bring ‘Em Home," The Excitement Plan (Yep Roc)
11) Gibson Brothers, "Just An Old Rounder," Ring the Bell (Compass)
12) Dale Watson, "I Got to Drive," The Truckin’ Sessions Vol. 2 (Hyena)
13) T Bird & the Breaks, "Blackberry Brandy," Learn About It
14) Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles, "Me and Your Ghost," The Stars Are Out (Sugar Hill)
15) Ben Mallott, "Heartbreaks," Look Good, Feel Good
16) Bob Dylan, "If You Ever Go to Houston," Together Through Life (Columbia)
17) The Flatlanders, "Homeland Refugee," Hills and Valleys (New West)
18) Justin Townes Earle, "Mama’s Eyes," Midnight At the Movies (Bloodshot)
19) The Belleville Outfit, "Sunday Morning," Time to Stand
20) The Del-Lords, "Judas Kiss," Based on a True Story (American Beat)
21) Tommy Keene, "Goodbye Jane," In the Late Bright (Second Motion)
Jim Caligiuri, Fri Nov 20
Dweezil Zappa returns some ‘Bongo Fury’ to Austin, this time at Stubb's.
