Backyard, Saturday 12
Little Charlie Sexton ain’t so little anymore, and neither are the
crowds that
show up for his gigs – what few Austin ones there are. Since the
unveiling of
Under the Wishing Tree at the Austin Music Hall during SXSW,
Sexton
seems to have made only one other local appearance, and that was a mob
scene at
Shady Grove you couldn’t have gotten into with a helicopter. Seems the
swamp
blues he’s cooking up these days are as enticing as a steamy night down
in the
Big Easy. The mojo rises at the Backyard.
WORDSTOCK
Chicago House, Friday 11
In the Chronicle’s “Best of” issue under the “Arts &
Entertainment”
section there was an entry that read: Most Intriguing Trend – Poets
Fronting
Bands. Pretty self-explanatory, and here’s your chance to see
exactly what
we were talking about. Friday at Chicago House, five poets will show
they know
how to play their instruments as well as wag their tongues. Check out:
Tammy
Gomez doing her jazzy jams; Glosso Babel and John Cutaia pumping world
music;
Gas Pedal flooring industrial sounds; Jeff Parker Knight and his
acoustic folk
narratives; and Thom the World Poet improvising up a storm of sounds.
TRAGICALLY HIP
Liberty Lunch, Friday 11
That Live, Hootie, or even R.E.M. are playing Southpark Meadows and
the
Tragically Hip are back for what seems like their ninth go-round at
Liberty
Lunch is simply criminal. At the Hip’s best, which their five records
have
captured more with each outing, the Canadian group not only out-write
the above
collection of arena acts on similar musical grounds, but also return
each time
as better showmen. Frontman Gordon Downie’s knack for making awkward
stage raps
and nervous-wreck vocals somehow charming is especially entertaining.
Best of
all, the Tragically Hip return each time with more swagger and
confidence,
longer sets, and more new material for the fan’s dollar, never letting
on that
they know they deserve better crowds. – Andy Langer
TWINKLE BROS.
Aussie’s, Saturday 12
When the Twinkle Bros. used to frequent Austin in the mid-Eighties,
they were
among the most exciting of Jamaica’s roots-reggae bands. Although the
group
hasn’t toured in years, they still appear to be fronted by their
dynamic
vocalist Norman Grant. Now, if they can just lay down that hard
rockers’ riddem
like the days of old, this will be a show long remembered.
TONI PRICE
Scholz Garten, Saturday 12
Finally, finally, finally! A new album by the queen of the
Continental’s
Tuesday evening happy hour. Simply titledHey, album number two
has a
lot to measure up to after Swim Away (still one of the best
albums out
of Austin ever) and it’s already begun to cast its spell over
me. Seems
as though Sue Foley and Toni Price are battling for my musical soul
this year.
Which one will possess yours? Let Price make her case here at the
Garten.
VINCE BELL
Chicago House, Sunday 13
Since Bell’s auspicious set at SXSW ’95, he’s been low-key. He
rumbled through
Europe with the Jayhawks, and then East-Coasted with Stephen Bruton. He
did a
Belgian TV show. Obscure publications in Holland, N.Y., and L.A. (like
the
Village Voice and the Times) wrote riot about him. No
biggie.
Yeah, and I’m Pablo Neruda. This will be the bionic songwriter’s last
Austin
show before brushing off the ol’ passport yet again. Catch him before
the
Eurofolks claim him as their own. Walt Wilkins opens. – Joe Mitchell
CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST
Electric Lounge, Tuesday 15
Tired of waiting ’til December to yell at your relatives, be sad, and
get tied
up in mall traffic? Lucky you, because 101X has decided Austin shall
have X-mas
in the eighth month. Not really, but they will record a CD to be
released come
holy-day time, the Lounge’s halls will be decked, DJ Ray-Dog may dress
like
Santa, and Fabu, Michele Solberg, the Flying Saucers, and the Farm Boys
will
sing festive carols. Ho, ho, ho. – Chris Gray
DJ ORACLE
Cafe Solaire, Tuesday 15
It’s really too hot to jump around much to music these days, which
is why an
evening of ambient sounds served up by Oracle and UFO Productions may
be just
the thing. I’m floating… – Chris Gray
ELVIS MEMORIAL
Continental Club, Wednesday 16
I hate Elvis. I hate those who say he’s the King of rock & roll
– I’ll
take Little Richard any day. And the folks who say he’s the King are
the same
ones who think Frank Sinatra is the greatest singer ever (give me Louis
Armstrong any time). But I love Ted Roddy. I love him being
King. Hell,
he is King – in this town anyway, twice a year at the very least. Two
shows
here. Check out the real king!
JIMMY LAFAVE
Cactus Cafe, Thursday 17
On Saturday 12, Jimmy Lafave goes before the world when his show at
the White
Rabbit gets broadcast on the Net (www.eden.com). For a more intimate
setting,
however, there are two nights at the Cactus (he’s there Friday 18,
too), and
plenty of time for yet another Austin heir to the Dylan throne to show
off his
new Bohemia Beat album, Buffalo Return to the Plains.
ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Booze Weasels, Continental Club
Saturday: Swine King, Starfish, Splinter, Emo’s
Sunday: Mitch Watkins Trio, Manuel’s
Monday: Gary Primich, Central Market
Tuesday: Myra Manes, Nipple 5, Unliked, Emo’s
Wednesday: Wayne “The Train” Hancock, Jovita’s
Thursday: Cotton Mather, Texas Instruments, Gourds, Hole in the
Wall;
Root 1, Shady Grove
This article appears in August 11 • 1995 and August 11 • 1995 (Cover).