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.
Threadgill’s World Headquarters kicks things off tomorrow night with a birthday party for Gram Parsons, who would’ve been 64. The cosmic cowboy’s never ending influence on country-rock will be celebrated by Michael Fracasso, Gurf Morlix, Earl P. Ball, Albert & Gage, and too many more to mention.
Antone’s kicks out the jams the next night for Doug Sahm, with SDQ2 featuring Augie Meyers, Shawn Sahm, and members of the Texas Tornadoes and the Sir Douglas Quintet. Jimmie Vaughan, Paul Ray & the Cobras, Greezy Wheels, and other friends are also on board to help raise money for Doug Sahm Hill, the city’s memorial for the Texas Groover who passed away 10 years ago this month.
The pain of losing Stephen Bruton has yet to subside, so the Saxon Pub offers a birthday tribute to the late guitar slinger on Saturday with David Grissom and the remaining members of the Resentments. Expect a few tears and several murmurs of “too soon, too soon.”
Friday night New Orleans funkateers Galactic take over the outside stage at Stubb’s. Since they’re preparing a new disc featuring their hometown heroes there will be fresh jams. Plus, an up close view of skin beater Stanton Moore is always a blast. Local soul mob T Bird & the Breaks take the stage inside afterward pimping the initial release in their new 45 of the month series.
Meanwhile, over on South Congress, madness ensues with Mojo Nixon & the Toadliquors at the Continental Club. Nixon, a hot property on satellite radio, has recently “unretired” by self-releasing Whiskey Rebellion. His Austin show and one the following night in Houston are the only dates so far in his tour calendar.
Finally, the Cactus Café’s Griff Luneburg claims that the last time Richard Thompson played the Texas Union Ballroom, it saved his life. While salvation isn’t promised this time around, Thompson has longtime friend and professional wise ass Loudon Wainwright III along, making Saturday evening’s performance a don’t-miss for fans of stunning guitar and utra-literate stories and songs.
This article appears in swine flu.