The kid in the Irish bar changing strings on his Fender Strat sees me, and I see him. Soon he’ll be serenading the Austin skyline from a hot ‘n’ bouncy bar or a wild ‘n’ windy outdoor stage. Scores of young pop ‘n’ folk angels cruise the city, breaking hearts and playing parts. Oh, how the night falls sultry down the neon boulevard. Ingenues of film announce their debuts in the dark cine-rooms, their dreams upon the silver screams.
Me ‘n’ my muse Linda cruise into Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse, most hip; you can eat ‘n’ drink in yer seat. We’re guests of Vince DiPersio (director), Rana Joy Glickman (producer), and Elizabeth Avellán (executive producer), here to see the cool doc of Herman Leonard, photographer, maestro: Truth in Terms of Beauty. Wow! Herman, his work, the jazz portraits, the journey into the center of the heart’s eye. Herman, our new friend. And then to church (the Presbyterian) to chant my songs to the sold-out brothers and sisters. How amazing it is to play to an audience of those obsessed with the creative arts. The lights down, the color shots of Stewart and Glens, cool sound sculpture as I played my poems of love & freedom.
Bright and blazing images of a city on fire with talent sharing one love. The mistress of film & music, poetry & prose, Aphrodite herself. See, hear, feel the heat down here, South by Southwest of the Texas heart. Deep in the soul of a Latin groove, a hot punk move, a cool Southern song, a funk blasted rap, a chilled-out child in blues. All is here present. Austin gives out the news the celluloid, digital, musical drama has once again arrived, and aren’t we all glad. I for one, Donovan, am privileged to be here in Austin.
This article appears in March 16 • 2007.