Best keep your stash well hidden if you’re heading off to the final weekend at
the Kerrville Folk Festival. As you may have heard, there were some pot busts
the first weekend of the Fest. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether a
couple of hits off that “J” are worth the risk. Here’s the weekend’s lineup:
Today (Thursday): David Amram, David Broza, Linda Lowe, and Townes
Van Zandt. Friday: Joel Mabus, L.J. Booth, Carol Elliott, Floyd Domino,
the Klezmatics, and David Amram. Saturday: Buddy Mondlock, Lynn Miles,
Freeway Philharmonic, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lowen & Navarro, and Mumbo
Gumbo. Sunday: Kat Eggleston, Steve Seskin, Heather Bishop, the Sundogs,
Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, and Butch Hancock. As far as that other
“ville-fest,” the Clarksville Jazz Festival, there’s a box about that elsewhere
in the music section.
The Emo’s Files
David Thomson at Emo’s wants to put an end to a few rumors that are
currently circulating. Rumor Buster #1: The club is not about to go
belly-up, although recent events haven’t been kind to Emo’s. As far as someone
buying the building, I’ve printed this before, but every day someone new seems
to notice the “for sale” sign that’s been up outside the club for literally
years: Even if the building is bought, Emo’s lease doesn’t run out for another
three years. Some changes are in the works, though. This summer’s shows will
probably be all-ages affairs, and the cover for minors will likely go up to $7.
Following an experiment with last Sunday’s All show, said shows may
start early with cover for adults dropping to zero after midnight. Rumor Buster
#2: Live At Emo’s II is not dead in the water. Both it and the Emo’s
Speed Trials CD are being held up because one DAT tape from each is
locked in a former Emo’s booker’s house while he’s away accompanying the
Juliana Hatfield tour. And since I know some of you readers are buddies
with the Supersuckers, tell them that if they don’t get that Willie
Nelson intro sent down here muy pronto, it’s not going to make it
onto the Live II CD! Rumor Buster #3: Well, actually, I don’t even want
to dignify the one about the dead body in the alley behind the club with a
response…
15 Deluxe
Well, not only is Bryan Bowden out of Sixteen Deluxe, he’s
completely outta town. Bowden says he’ll be pulling a Hamell move at the end of
next month, and heading up New York way. Crown Heights, the Yankee band
who moved here for a six-month stay, are preparing to head back north and when
they go, they’ll take Bowden in tow. Casey Rhodes of Lowbrow is
the new Deluxe drummer for now. Casey’ll be touring with the group, and if they
all get along, the addition will likely turn out permanent.
While You Were Out…
This week marks the return to the Austin printed page of one Michael
Corcoran, (over at the Austin American-Statesman). Corky, here’s
some of the things you missed since your final Chronicle column appeared
in this space seven years ago: Twang Twang Shock-a-Boom, Buick
MacKane breaking up, the Arc Angels, Buick MacKane breaking
up again, Ann Richards’ career move from Governor to Doritos shill,
Kelly Willis‘ turn as a big-time cover girl, Buick MacKane breaking up
yet again, Ed Hamell‘s bald balladeering, Charlie Sexton growing
up and getting a sextet, Joe Rockhead, Sneakers (twice), La Zona Rosa
(also twice – ask Don McLeese about it), and Buick MacKane signing a big
record deal. Oh, and the True Believers put out a second album! Here’s a
few suggestions if you hope to resume the wild lifestyle you enjoyed in the old
days in Austin: 1) List all your aquaintances in order of ability to act as
designated driver, ranging from Casey Monahan (always) to Gibby “Jesus Wrecked My Hot Rod” Haynes (never); 2) If you go out to a club
and see Don McLeese there, go home and take a nap. Your shift hasn’t
started yet; 3) Remember, that girl you meet at Emo’s who’s young enough to be
your daughter may be your daughter; 4) Remember also, that girl you meet
at the Blue Flamingo who’s young enough to be your daughter – may be your
son; 5) The Chronicle issue in which your final column appeared
counted around 70 live music venues in town. In this issue, we list nearly
twice that many. That’s a hell of a workload covering all those places, but
don’t worry; half of them will most likely be closed down by the end of the
summer; 6) If you get disoriented, just keep repeating “Black Cat” over and
over until you realize that some things never change. (Hey, waitaminnit!
Not all of these motorcycles are Harleys…!)
Mixed Notes
There’s nothing besides lint left in your pockets and the benefits just keep
on coming? Never fear! June is benefit month at ABCD’s, but their approach to
it is to have free in-store shows (this Saturday’s features Tony Campise,
Derailers, and Tomas Ramirez between 2-5pm), and give 10 percent of
the profits from the CDs you buy to a worthy cause (in this case, KOOP
radio)… Among the sympathy cards and letters I’ve been sent to pass on to
shafted La Zona Rosa employees was one from a CPA who wanted to share
information on how any Texas worker can get their final paycheck. I’ve got no
room to print the legalese, but here’s the number for info about the Texas
Payday Law: 800/TEC-WAGE. n
Sims Ellison
1967-1995
Sims Ellison, bass player for Pariah, was found dead at his Austin home June
6. The Austin Medical Examiner is tentatively listing the cause of death as a
self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 28.
Since high school, Ellison played exclusively with Pariah. As club
favorites in their former hometown of San Antonio and in their adopted Austin
homebase throughout the late-Eighties, Pariah went on to sign with Geffen
Records in 1990, and in 1993 released To Mock A Killingbird. After
completing demos for a second record last month, Pariah, which also featured
Ellison’s brother Kyle on guitar, severed ties with Geffen. Last week, the band
announced an indefinite hiatus while its members pursued individual career and
musical opportunities.
Plans are being made for a funeral service in San Antonio this weekend,
with a special memorial service/concert tentatively set for the Back Room this
Sunday. The Ellison family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations
earmarked for a yet-to-be-named charity be made to the Austin Rehearsal Complex
Music Fund In Memory Of Sims Ellison. The donations, and all cards, will be
handled by the ARC at 1109-B South Congress, Austin 78704. For further
information about the concert, call the Back Room at 441-4677 or the ARC at
443-5522. – Andy Langer
This article appears in June 9 • 1995 and June 9 • 1995 (Cover).