Liberty Lunch, Wednesday 29
Uncle Tupelo was a band whose musical sensibilities were perfectly insync with Austin’s. Perhaps that’s why the band recorded here, and in the
aftermath of its break-up, why one of the Tupe splinters, Jeff Tweedy’s Wilco,
has already played in town four times. This is the first time locals will get
to see Jay Farrar’s vehicle for world-weary songs rooted in musical Americana
(Son Volt’s debut, Trace, is strong branch from the Tupe tree), and from
my vantage point, those folks are licking their lips over this ‘un — and their
Waterloo in-store, same day at 5pm.
BAD LIVERS
Emo’s, Friday 24
What can I say in eight lines that hasn’t already been said faster on abluegrass hillside by Danny Barnes, Mark Rubin, and Ralph White? I mean,
besides the fact that the Bad Livers at Emo’s is an Austin tradition, no less
than Big Daddy Don Walser at Babes or Junior Brown at the Continental — only a
lot less frequent. Blue thrash me, boyee.
ANDERS OSBORNE
White Rabbit, Friday 24 & Saturday 25
Not long ago, Anders Osborne was just a blonde Scandinavian soaking upAmerican blues and perfecting his wicked slide in New Orleans. A trip or two to
the White Rabbit proved that sometimes the take on American blues is better
served from across the pond. Epic records must have agreed, because they’ve
just released Osborne’s good time debut, Which Way to Here, on their
blues ‘n’ roots imprint Okeh, which already sports modern-day bluesicians Keb
Mo’, G. Love, and dubmen Little Axe. Osborne has seemingly found a good home
there, the same of which could be said for the Rabbit.
PRAISE CELEBRATION
Austin Marriot, Friday 24 & Saturday 25
The Capitol Ballroom of the Austin Marriot at the Capitol (701 East 11 St.)will be the spot of religious ecstasy both Friday and Saturday nights starting
at 7pm when Texas Folklife Resources and the Texas Gospel Announcers Guild put
on their Sixth annual “A Praise Celebration in Song” services. Over 20 gospel
groups from all over the Lone Star state will perform each night with the
express purpose of ascending the plain of religious fever, where rapturous
communion with the Big Guy is as intoxicating as any musical experience you’ve
ever had.
THE GRETCHEN PHILLIPS EXPERIENCE
Electric Lounge, Saturday 25
Surprise, surprise. Who should I see walking down the drag the other day? Noneother than Gretchen Phillips, who’s been out of town for what seems like ages.
She’s back to dust off her Gretchen Phillips Experience and her eclectic guitar
madness, and on this benefit for the Lesbian Avengers, Phillips shares the
stage with Performance Art Church spin-off Unhung Heroes, and SXIP, who plays
one mean tampon. (If you’ve never seen this, believe me, you’ve never seen
this.) The night kicks off with neon folk-rocker Thomas Anderson at 9pm.
CHRIS ISAAK
Austin Music Hall, Sunday 26
Like the soft touch of your lover’s hand on your cheek, Chris Isaak’s velvety music embraces the listener. Like warm kisses pressed into the small of your neck, each song stands on its own while leading to something bigger. Wistful and tender without being clich�d but capable of going all-out rock & roll, Isaak’s dreamy sound makes you remember just how potent and timeless songs of love are. — Margaret Moser
22 BRIDES
Antone’s, Sunday 26
The Johnson sisters (Libby and Carrie) may be 20 brides short, but with theirtangy twang and indigo harmonies, the wedding of post-modern metropolitan
hillbilly music and heel-clicking peppy pop, is a blissful union indeed. This
NYC-based quartet reminds me of the kitchy, twisted country poppers outta S.F.,
and if their Zero Hour release Beaker is any indication, this gig should
be more fun than a naked hoedown.
EBN, BANCO DE GAIA
Ohms, Monday 27
Ken Lieck’s favorite group, the Emergency Broadcast Network, transmitsmulti-media musical madness for the masses (see “Dancing About Architecture”),
which will be right at home at the dancing hysteria of Ohms. UK MIDI geek Banco
de Gaia opens with ambient exotica.
VELVET HAMMER
Pearl’s, Tuesday 28
Heart may have broken up after the release of their most recent live album,but Austin’s Velvet Hammer have come way too far, and worked way too hard on
getting their live CD out to do the same. Instead, the quartet of female
hammers celebrate the release of their debut with the help of KLBJ and their
“Local Licks Live” program, which broadcasts from Pearl’s every Tuesday.
ALSO PLAYING
Friday: 21st Century Blues, Caf� Solaire; Buick MacKane, Hole in
the Wall;
Saturday: Gomez, Buzzcrusher, Pretty Mouth, Jesus Christ Superfly, Voodoo
Lounge
Sunday: Dino Lee, Cedar Street
Monday: Natalie Merchant, Innocence Mission, Austin Music Hall; Don Walser,
Babes
Tuesday: Kytsch, Mineral, Blue Flamingo
Wednesday: Wayne “the Train” Hancock, Jovita’s
Thursday: Bill Campbell, Continental Club
This article appears in November 24 • 1995 and November 24 • 1995 (Cover).