TCB
Austin mayoral candidates give new meaning to "Rock the Vote"
By Christopher Gray, Fri., May 2, 2003
Help the Aged
Texas has any number of things to be proud of, but its treatment of the elderly has never been one of them. And although it's not quite as critical as the high cost of prescription drugs, most senior citizens have little or no access to live music. Enter "A Song for ...," a new organization spearheaded by J.T. Van Zandt, son of the late, great songwriting legend Townes Van Zandt. Accompanying Austin City Limits creator Bill Arhos to visit Arhos' mother at a local care facility recently, J.T. happened to have his guitar in the car, and when that came to light, Van Zandt wound up performing four songs, marveling at the way his audience's faces "lit up." An idea was born and quickly turned into "something big" after Van Zandt, 34, asked a number of local musicians if they might be interested in playing eldercare facilities both in Austin and elsewhere in Texas. They were, and Kimmie Rhodes, Santiago Jimenez Jr., and Will Sexton will join Van Zandt Sunday afternoon at the Southern Hospitality Home, 5000 Shoalwood, with local cinematographer Lee Daniel on hand to film the proceedings. Toni Price, Beaver Nelson, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, the Gulf Coast Playboys, Ruben Ramos, and the Bells of Joy have all expressed interest in future excursions, says Van Zandt. "I'm not on a pulpit as much as I'm trying to get people to see what it's about," he adds. "Eventually I'd like for it to get as big as Farm Aid."
Testing the Limits
This year's Austin City Limits Music Festival could bring in the largest crowd Zilker Park has ever seen -- and that's just the musicians and stage crews. Spread out over eight stages, a whopping 130 bands are on the bill for the Sept. 19-21 gathering, upping last year's total by 50. The full lineup won't be announced until June 12, but here's a taste of what to expect: R.E.M., the Rev. Al Green, Liz Phair, Ben Harper, Rosanne Cash, Jack Johnson, String Cheese Incident, Lucinda Williams, Patty Griffin, Los Lobos, Mavis Staples, Alejandro Escovedo, Ween, G. Love & Special Sauce, Robert Randolph, Pat Green, Spoon, Yo La Tengo, Old 97's, Galactic, O.A.R., Gomez, and pretty much every local band you ever heard of. A limited number of tickets go on sale Saturday, 9am, exclusively at www.aclfestival.com; cost is $65 for all three days, plus the inevitable processing fees. The ticket sale just happens to coincide with the PBS mainstay's 29th season gearing up next week with tapings by Steve Winwood and the aforementioned Rosanne Cash.
Mixed Notes
The only indie rocker ever nominated for an Academy Award, Elliott Smith, will play an acoustic set Saturday at Steamboat as part of a benefit for local teacher and musician Glenn Owens, who succumbed to pneumococcal meningitis April 2 at age 29. Tickets are $15 at the door only; also on the bill are Noisetet Obscure, Evergreen, the Bill Jerram Band, and Jetsuns... 2003 Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee Steven Fromholz is recovering from a mild stroke he suffered while visiting his sister April 19. Fromholz was treated at Waco's Providence Hospital, and friend Craig Hillis reports, "Steven was both upbeat and completely cognizant." Those wishing to help should contact Hillis at 708-0267 or cdhillis@austin.rr.com
... Emo's hosts a benefit for the family of late Red River icon "Handsome Joel" Svatek next Thursday with the Old 97's, Deathray Davies, and Masonic... Houston heavyweights ZZ Top had their new album, Mescalero, pulled at the last minute, reportedly due to label head Clive Davis' desire to "Santana-ize" it with numerous guest stars, but that won't stop the trio from bringing their tube snake boogie to the Frank Erwin Center June 13... Southern literary journal the Oxford American's 2003 music issue is out now, with features on Willie Nelson, whose Wednesday and Thursday Stubb's shows have plenty of tickets left, and the Gourds... Dynamite Boy, Rubberhed, Failsafe, the Real Heroes, and HeKill Three play the release party for 101X's Homegrown Live Vol. 1 CD, Saturday, 3pm, at the Red Eyed Fly. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Austin Music Foundation, and the first 101 people to buy a CD get in free... For everyone who didn't think it would actually happen, think again: the Hole in the Wall reopens May 16 with Shoulders and Li'l Cap'n Travis. Much, much more to come...
Tell "TCB" all about it at cgray@austinchronicle.com.
Musical Politics
Even those without a political bone in their body should recognize that Saturday's mayoral election comes at a critical juncture in Austin's history. Regrettably, all the discussion of how to fix the city's ongoing economic slump has overshadowed important issues facing the music community. "TCB" contacted leading mayoral candidates Marc Katz, Brad Meltzer, Max Nofziger, and Will Wynn (via campaign manager Mark Nathan) to find out where they stand.
Smoking Ban
KATZ: I am a restaurant owner, a club owner, a record-label owner -- I am thick into the music business. The smoking ban will kill the music industry in Austin. I saw in The New York Times yesterday or today that business is already down 40% since their ban passed April 1. We are in such an economic bind right now. We can't afford to lose any more business. I guarantee you that 85% of our guests in nightclubs smoke, and the other 15% don't mind. You can't legislate supply and demand. If more people wanted nonsmoking clubs, we'd have 'em.
MELTZER: Small businesses in Austin, as well as families, are facing tough economic times. This is not the time to place additional financial burdens on small businesses nor additional taxes on families. My restaurants, Benihana, are nonsmoking. But that was my choice. Let's leave the choice with the small businesses, especially during our faltering economy.
NOFZIGER: I am not supporting that. I support maintaining the current ordinance. I think it's been working well. It would really be too bad if the council were to overreach on this. I think they should let sleeping dogs lie and let the market work. I'm real concerned about the city intruding into the marketplace.
NATHAN: Will is against the proposed expansion of the smoking ordinance. His primary concern is the potential economic impact, particularly on our live music venues.
Sound Ordinance
KATZ: Also equally insensitive to the industry. If you move near a nightclub, you've got to expect noise. We need to play music and our music needs to be heard. [The ordinance] is changing our complexion; it's risking our brand. It goes right to the core of who we are. It exemplifies how much City Council is out of touch with Austin. They put the capital "V" in vanilla.
MELTZER: Location, location, location. An across-the-board, one-size-fits-all ordinance is wrong. Location matters. The ordinance must be flexible.
NOFZIGER: I've heard a lot of complaints and concerns from the music community. I think we should review it at the six-month mark -- have a public hearing, let the Music Commission get input from the music community. See how it goes. I'm viewing it with a jaundiced eye, because of what I've heard from the music community.
NATHAN: Will believes we should implement the new noise ordinance and see whether or not it's workable from the perspective of both venues and neighbors. If not, he's open to revisiting the ordinance.
Austin Music Network
KATZ: I'm for AMN, but I'm against the format it has now. AMN as a commercial outlet has incredible potential, but to keep dumping in money where people aren't responsible for the bottom line [isn't good]. It's a private-sector type of thing -- the city has as much business in music as a bank does in salami. These three issues are symptoms of a bigger problem. I'm ready to burst here.
MELTZER: If the city wants to spend $600,000 promoting Austin music and musicians, and I think it should, then the money should be given to a medium that has national reach, such as Austin City Limits. Or give the money to the Convention Center or the Chamber of Commerce and designate it for national promotion purposes. The Austin Music Network reaches out to no one. It's like admiring oneself in an expensive mirror, alone.
NOFZIGER: I'm not giving up on it. My ultimate goal would be for it to be self-sustaining. In my first term, we would wean it from the city and get money from the hotel/motel bed tax. I don't think we've really had a mayor who cared about it. It's been a political punching bag. The council has not been decisive and has handled it poorly. The Music Network will be gone unless I'm elected mayor. All the other candidates want to kill it.
NATHAN: Will does not support continued city funding for the Austin Music Network. At a time when the city is expecting a $75 million budget deficit for next year, basic city services must be prioritized. Will is hopeful that the city can find a private-sector entity to keep AMN on the air.