TCB

Bullet the Blue Sky

It's not too late to vote in the 2003-04 Austin Chronicle Music Poll -- look for the ballot on p.2 of the print edition, or vote online.

Well on her way to becoming better known locally as Lance Armstrong's main squeeze than the voice behind "Soak Up the Sun," Sheryl Crow hopped onstage last week at the Lucky Lounge to join locals WideAwake on her 1996 hit "If It Makes You Happy." Smart money says she just may be around for the Armstrong Foundation's "Unplugged at the Paramount 2" benefit Jan. 30, with Shawn Colvin, Kelly Willis, Billy Joe Shaver, and David Halley. Tickets through Star.

"TCB" spies report that locals Hot Club of Cowtown rang in 2004 with a rousing version of "Orange Blossom Special" on the BBC's Top of the Pops. Cor blimey!

That George Strait has yet another country smash is hardly news, but the speed at which stations are jumping on "Desperately" is. The Honkytonkville track wasn't supposed to even go to radio until Jan. 25, but is already at No. 56 on Billboard's Country chart and No. 44 on Radio & Records. "That's great even by George Strait standards," marvels Monte Warden, who co-authored the song with Bruce Robison and is looking forward to accompanying his son to Strait's March 3 RodeoHouston performance at Reliant Stadium.

While painting his house not long ago, former Do It Now Foundation singer/guitarist Tom Cuddy found "a box or two" of the brainy indie rockers' 1994 LP Dig Deep. He was so tickled he set up one show Jan. 22 at Beerland with Ethan Azarian and the Pretty Please (no longer the Via Satellites) and another Jan. 29 at Room 710 with Jackie Ono. Best of all, at both shows, one damn dollar takes Dig Deep off his hands and into yours.

Rockstars booker Matt Meshbane is offering a spot on the club's guest list for every show until SXSW to anyone who Friendsters him or joins his BookMyBand.com e-mail list before midnight Sunday. He came by the nickname "Insane in the Meshbane" honestly, folks.