Tomorrow night, upstairs at Lamberts, the FunkyBatz crew begins its Hot Funk in the City series, which brings two local up-and-coming funk/soul bands to the stage for the next three Thrusdays. I’ve heard the ready-to-explode guitar and sax histrionics of Uncle Bruno, who appear Sept. 10, and if they’re any indicator of the talent the Batz are wild about, it will be a golden opportunity to shake your moneymaker and check out some new bands. $5.
Elvis Costello and his latest aggregation, the Sugarcanes, will be taping an Austin City Limits episode on Monday, Aug. 31, one night before they appear at Bass Concert Hall. The Sugarcanes are some of Nashville’s finest players, including Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton, Dennis Crouch, Jeff Taylor, and Jim Lauderdale. Costello’s tour is an acoustic affair that leans heavily on latest Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, and word from the road is the new format seems to have boosted him out of a performing rut.
Finally got out to the reconfigured Backyard over the weekend, now dubbed Tim’s Porch, for the double bill of Uncle Lucius and Hector Ward & the Big Time. Highlight of the night was when the two bands joined forces – meaning at least 15 people were on stage – for a sweltering version of “Whipping Post” and rumbling run through Little Feat’s “Spanish Moon.” Smiles abounded. With upcoming shows from Eric Johnson and Asleep at the Wheel, Tim’s Porch is moving to bigger shows, admirable considering the revamped venue captures some of the intimacy and bliss of the original Backyard.
I’ve seen a few touching tributes to Jim Dickinson since his passing on Aug. 15, but one of the best comes from Chuck Prophet. Among the advice the famed record producer offered over the years: “Don’t answer the phone in the studio, it could be the company telling you to stop!”
This article appears in August 21 • 2009.