The Natural Valley of the Sphinx

Supernatural

Those bemoaning that Austin is ebbing weirdness, soul, etc. need to hear the story of Austinite Josh White, aka the Sphinx. Something of a Svengali among the younger musicians’ set, he composed “folk-Buddhist-bluegrass-country.” Passing away in October 2012, he left one recording of a live show and a few songs. Seven of them are collected here, performed by those he collaborated with including members of the Black, Whiskey Shivers, Voxtrot, the Navasota String Band, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. There’s an old-time feel here, yet it never gets pretentious or as stomped upon as some of today’s fake folk can get. Instead, Gilmore’s spirit absolutely shines on “The Moon Song.” White’s featured on “The Day the Locusts Come,” as close to a Pete Seeger “everybody sing” moment as Austin’s ever experienced. Proceeds from Supernatural benefit the SIMS Foundation.

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This article appears in July 24 • 2015.

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