Al Over the Place
Alejandro Escovedo won’t have to do much to get his debut album for New West Records out this November. Rather than shoving Al into a studio, New West (Kelley Deal‘s Minneapolis-based label), plans to release an album of live tracks from all parts of Escovedo’s post-True Believers career, including a number of tracks with his Orchestra picked from years of Sunday night South by Southwest shows. There’s no title chosen yet, but the artwork will be done by Al’s wife Dana Smith.
Before the album is released, look for a lot of touring from Escovedo — or should that be the Escovedos? Al’s brother Javier has joined up for a stint with Buick MacKane, who are heading out for another series of dates with Son Volt. Al will also be playing the Jimmie Rodgers tribute show in Cleveland at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside such luminaries as Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen and emceeing the No Depression show in Seattle (a role he’s considering keeping for the No Depression II tour next year). As far as Javier’s appearance in Buick, when asked about the inevitability of the band being compared by critics to the Troobs, Al replied (and keep in mind his desire to start an Oasis vs. Blur-type feud with former bandmate Jon Dee Graham), “Me and Javier were the True Believers!”
Guitar and Goodbye
Friends of guitarist and guitar expert Danny Thorpe were shocked this week as word went around that the soft-spoken owner of Primetime Music Shoppe and Repair had taken his own life last Sunday. Thorpe had been a member of the Shakin’ Apostles and of Teisco del Rey‘s band among others, and was described as “a collector’s collector and a very talented guy” by friend and former bandmate Fred Krc. Details are still unclear, but Thorpe had apparently been undergoing serious business and health problems.
On another sad note, if you’ve been watching the unfolding saga of the two men who were just apprehended for the beating death of Darryl Rutherford in Wimberly two months ago, I’ve just been informed that the victim of that crime was better known as “Zeke” Rutherford, drummer for the Conqueroo. Jason Wakefield, a friend of Rutherford’s, described him as “a peaceful, loving man, who didn’t deserve to get beaten to death for his old truck. If they’d asked for it, he would’ve given it to them.”
Signs of the Times
Even amid all the other controversy about the club, the record label, et al, you must’ve wondered why the big, bountiful new Antone’s nightclub still doesn’t have a sign — just that big ol’ banner a’ flappin’ in the breeze. Susan Antone notes that a very nice sign from Neon Jungle was ready in time for the club’s grand opening, but that due to some sort of city regulation, they were not allowed to put it up. Apparently the sign is too big to meet the city code, but Clifford Antone says he’s been “too busy to think about it unless someone mentions it.” He’s currently more concerned with booking the club and recording the Keller Brothers, the new kids on the block that he describes as “the best young band I’ve heard since the Thunderbirds.” City Music Liaison Gavin Lance Garcia, who’s been pursuing the matter, says that, “To my knowledge, they’re going to [have to] re-do the sign.” That’s awfully harsh on an already-struggling club — maybe they could just give it a trimming to make it legal. I can hear it now: “Hey everybody, let’s go down to `tone’s’ this Saturday. I hear Bobby Blue Bland is playing…
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Okay, Now, About That MTV Thing…
The minute last week’s issue of the Chronicle hit the stands with the story about the October 17 MTV Sports and Music Festival and how they planned on including some local acts, I’ve been deluged with people asking the same question: “How do I get on board this gravy train?” Well, Greg Baldwin at MTV central says it’s simple, really. Just send a tape or video to the Austin Music Network. Yep, the local music video outlet is helping the behemoth sort through their options, so send your package to the AMN, care of Ester Matthews (actually, Baldwin said “Esther Williams,” but we know who he meant) at 309 W. Second Street, Austin, TX 78701, and make sure you mention the MTV deal on your envelope. (The irony here, of course, is that by the time of the MTV Festival, the Austin Music Network may already be off the air.)
Mixed Notes
And now, here’s that part of the column where I answer all the many issues of the week — except for “Will Jerry Lewis actually survive all 21.5 hours of that telethon again?”…
Say goodbye to Mineral. Well, actually, you can’t say it in person, because the band is on tour through the middle of September, but those close to them confirm that they’ve decided to call it quits. The Electric Lounge’s Mike Henry reports he’s heard the band was splitting because, “they just don’t feel it anymore.” Henry adds that he believes their Lounge gig on September 19 will be their swan song, but a friend of the band says there’s talk of an official farewell show by the Interscope recording artists on October 12…
The Texas Meat Purveyors are dropping the “Texas” from their name, but it’s not because they ain’t Lone Star proud. The actual Texas Meat Purveyors company has asked that they cut it out, so from now on the band will simply be the Meat Purveyors. Either way, they’re signing a deal with Chicago’s Bloodshot Records and will begin recording this weekend (following tonight’s show at the Hole in the Wall) with Jon Langford producing and Ralph White guesting on fiddle. The album, as yet untitled, is due in January, and the band is continuing in its search for a permanent bow-handler. As Purveyor Cherilyn DiMond puts it, “Hell, we’ve got a deal, why the fuck can’t we find a fiddler?”…
Hey, you Spelling bees, take note that producer Aaron Spelling‘s production company has notified Lisa Tingle that her “Gun Song” will be used in the second episode of the new season of Melrose Place (They still make new episodes?!?). Listen for it during the opening credits on September 15, and given the company’s apparent love for Austin, expect to hear more local music throughout the series…
Wayne “the Train” Hancock‘s new That’s What Daddy Wants should be in the CD shops by the time you read this. If you wanna get a taste of what it sounds like, you can also follow him around as he opens dates for ZZ Top…
Also finally out is the Chris Duarte Group‘s Tailspin Headwhack…
Though Trish Murphy‘s recent showcase for busy bee Seymour Stein “didn’t go the way it was supposed to go,” according to hubby/manager Charlie Niece (the Sire Records boss had another appointment with Don Walser at Jovita’s and bolted after about four songs), her recent appearance at the Songwriters Showcase at Stubbs’ did, with a Sony Nashville rep who totally “flipped out” over Murphy, promising to do everything in his power to get other Sony folks to check her out. In between was a showcase in New York at the Bottom Line, where the A&R contingent was “slim pickin’s,” but the show at least guaranteed more gigs in NY and Philly in September…
Widgeon Holland has been making quite a name for himself in Ireland, as has his manager Chesley Millikin, who made the papers in the land of the Shamrock a few weeks ago when, three days into a visit to see Holland, the Irish weather exacerbated his emphysema and landed him in the hospital. As for Holland, his name has been making regular appearances in the Sunday Mirror for, among other things, his appearance at the Guinness Blues Festival. Hopefully, the Irish will have gotten plenty of Widgeon before September, when he leaves to tour Australia, including a gig at the Melbourne Festival with Long John Baldry…
Next Tuesday, the Ritz is hosting Austin Salutes Jeff Buckley, an evening of videos and locals playing music by the late singer. And as one member of our music staff pointed out, this is one show with a guaranteed high “get-laid factor”…
Though he joined the other three Monkees for the UK leg of their tour, don’t expect to see Texan Michael Nesmith on the stage when Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, and Peter Tork hit the Erwin Center on September 27. Nesmith’s official excuse for bowing out is that he needs to concentrate on the script for the band’s upcoming second feature film, though he told me last fall that the task was secure in the hands of some young hotshot writers that he fully trusted. More likely old “wool hat” just plain got tired of life on the road, since he’s never been known as a big fan of touring…
At least the Monkees can get three out of four members to show up for a gig. The upcoming Van Halen show at the Austin Music Hall only features one member! Of course I’m actually talking about Sammy Hagar‘s solo gig, where, due to ever-changing traffic laws, he’ll be doing his new hit, “Okay, I Guess I Can Drive 70, But I’m Not Going To Be Happy About It”…
Just as Ata-Glance Records releases its debut album by the Pilot Ships and has a benefit for the label at the Electric Lounge next Thursday, label owner Brian Flaherty informs me he’s preparing to move to Chapel Hill. That doesn’t mean Ata-Glance will be out of sight, though. Flaherty will be working on Glorium‘s Close Your Eyes CD and plans to release it from his new location…
Jazz PR pianist Mark Rubenstein is another soon-to-be ex-Austinite. He’s relocating to New York, and the band will be playing farewell shows throughout this weekend. Look for them at the Elephant Room (tonight), Iron Cactus (Friday) and Calle Ocho (Saturday)…
In-stores are a’poppin’ this week, with Music Mania bringing in K.B. & Li’l Flea from Street Military to sign autographs this Saturday at 2pm. Over at Waterloo Records, the Good Medicine Band will be playing on Friday at 5pm, and The Bottle Rockets will pop in for a performance on Tuesday. ABCD’s monthly First Thursday show is next week, with Neo Trio at 7:30pm and Inmindalone, DJ Nate, DJ Daniel Garrison, and DJ Kobi…
Oh, no! Not again!: In the “Hot Box” column in the new Texas Monthly, Joe Nick Patoski writes that Wayne Hancock “demonstrates his ability to grasp the greasy and grungy essence of Eighties punk by deftly covering the Clash‘s `Brand New Cadillac.'” Somebody call Jakob Dylan to see who he thinks wrote the ever-popular rockabilly standard as his band the Wallflowers closed with it at the Erwin Center on Tuesday…
— Contributors: Raoul Hernandez, Andy Langer, Margaret Moser
This article appears in August 29 • 1997 and August 29 • 1997 (Cover).