Archive for March, 2011
Friday night hamburgers and Saturday dirt.
Sometimes it’s the small things that make me the happiest. I was on the way to yoga when a friend called about dinner. I have this thing lately with hamburgers and that was what we decided on. I grabbed up the necessary ingredients and we made a wonderful meal. It sure was nice after a long week of work and catching up and cleaning up after SXSW-11. I love having all sorts of people in town for the festival, but is sure is nice to get back to a routine. I enjoyed having a relaxing evening with good food and great conversation.
I spent Saturday morning working in the yard. I have a large project I am starting to tackle. It’s going to take a few weekends to complete. I have to move a whole lot of dirt around by hand. It took only a few minuets with a backhoe when we originally moved it out of the way for the foundation. I don’t happen to have a backhoe handy right now to move it back into place. I am working on getting a patio area leveled. I plan on having a seating area, a place for the grill and lots of plants. I am not sure I can get it hardscaped this year but even having it grass will make it more functional. Right now it looks rough with a whole lot of dirt. I will be working on it a few hours this afternoon to see how much more progress I can make.
SXSW- Side Projects
Side Projects seemed to be my favorites this year. I started noticing that the bands I enjoyed most this year were all side projects: Eightysixxed, The Baseball Project, & Tres Mts. I was thinking that those projects let the musicians play songs they like, don’t have the outside influences or the pressure to produce. It allows them to just have some fun playing with people they enjoy. I think it shows through during the performances. It was just interesting to notice that common thread for me this year.
I closed out my festival down on Congress Ave. early in the evening. I was picking up my house guest and got to spend some down time and socialize with the group. I didn’t head out last night to hear more music; it was time to wrap up the music festival and get ready for the week at work.
My house guest and assorted friends are heading to the airport this afternoon: on their way back home. It was sure nice to see them all; it is always great to be the host town of one of the biggest parties in music. It creates a buzz all over the country, creates lots of traffic and parking issues for the locals but its one week a year. I am sure all the visitors had a good time and some will be wishing they lived here. It’s not always like SXSW week around here. Some musicians might attempt the move here, but it is tough to get noticed in a city full of very accomplished musicians. All the bands are struggling for space in the clubs that still have a full line ups.
I ended up doing normal life stuff on Sunday afternoon and caught the end of the Nascar race. I got to see the last 75 laps and was disappointed to see the stands so empty. It sure would be a good year to head out on a road trip and take in some additional races this year, it looks like tickets will be easy to get. That track is usually tough to get into and camping and hotels are a bit difficult. Maybe later this summer I can head out and make it to a few tracks I have always wanted to see a race at. Congrats to the 18 on his win.
Saturday a music mix
I started the day with a good breakfast and headed over to Congress Avenue for the day parties. I stopped at Yard Dog and heard Mark Eitzel and then headed down to Jovitas and walked by the Continental club. I found myself in a vintage shop browsing through the items and then headed back to Yard Dog for The Autumn Defense. It was a bit warm for me and I was getting tired and cranky so I headed back to the house for a break.
I went downtown later on and caught the set by Les Jupes at a small club and then headed to Stubbs for part of Electric Touch and Tres Mts., the side project of Jeff Ament including dUg Pinnick & Richard Stuverrud. The sure had my attention as they wound through the set. I wandered over to a packed house of the Waco Brothers at the Red Eye Fly. It took a bit to get in since they were at capacity, but I managed to get pulled from the line and get in before the show started. I was up front enjoying he set with my friends from Canada; it is a regular set for SXSW we go to see. After trying to get into another club that was at capacity, we wondered back to the Red Eye Fly and I saw a bit of Ha Ha Tonka, but it was time to head home for the night before the 1:00am slots.
The days and nights have been flying by.
I have been running here and there for music: the New West Record party on Thursday afternoon with Buxton and Robert Ellis and then headed out for the Saxon pub for Eightysixxed with a double set: their normal happy hour Thursday slot and then the SXSW showcase. Will Sexton sat in and Bill Carter played a few songs with the band: that sure was an unexpected treat. I can’t wait until they come out with an album.
Friday I went to the Blood Shot Records party with the Waco Brother playing on Friday afternoon. I did a quick stop at home to get ready for the night events. I headed down to the new Austin City Limits Moody Theater for the Lost Highway 10 year anniversary. I saw Hays Carl, then Dan Tyminski for a short set with some of his newest songs. The special guest last night was Ryan Bingham. That sure was a great I was blown away by the guitar playing by that band. It was so nice to hear some high caliber playing, something that I have found lacking lately. I ducked out for some coffee and headed back for a set from Lucida Williams who looked and sounded great with her band, again some strong players. I did a quick stop at Antones for a set by Okkervil River to end a wonderful night of music.
SXSW11- The Baseball Project last night: Eightysixxed tonight.
I headed downtown to pick up my credentials after work yesterday and I managed to have a quick street corner meet up with one of my good friends from the Interactive festival and his girl. I headed home for a nap and some errands and then headed downtown again to join in the music fun. I met up with my house guest T. for The Baseball Project. Wow was that a treat, some great musicians: Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon having a bit of fun on a side project. T. and I then we headed over with a group to see The Hobart Brothers with Jon Dee Graham. It was a lively group that got together and then we meandered back to the car and headed home.
I am planning on hitting a few day parties including the New West Records and a few others downtown this afternoon. I am heading over to the Saxon Pub to the start off my evening tonight with some of my favorite Austin based musicians: Eightysixxed (David Holt, Gabe Rhoades, Tommy Taylor and Tommy Shannon) and Jimmy LaFave. It should be a treat There is so much music to choose from and so many parties: I just love it.