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As usual I spend the afternoon using John Conquest’s Not-SXSW program as published in the Third Coast Music magazine. My personal kick-off is at Opal Divine’s Free House in 6th Street, where Pigeon O’Brien runs a full program starting at 11am. I am so happy to be asked to introduce my good friend Jeff Talmadge there. He is a great singer-songwriter and has a new CD out recently, ‘Kind of everything’, that has been received enthusiastically. Next up is Amelia’s at South 1st Street, one of the much used locations of John Conquest’s program. BettySoo, the phenomenal petite singer-songwriter from Austin, has teamed up with Canadian dobro-player Doug Cox. The combination does wonders, as we are listening to them sitting on the amazingly ancient garden chairs in Amelia’s garden.
Especially Jeff Talmadge’s wonderful ‘Lie to me’ is a treat to the ears. The duo has a CD coming out this summer, watch for it. Across the street is the G & S, the main podium of John’s artists with both an indoor and an outdoor stage. A large parking lot was turned into an outdoor venue. A lot of chairs and tables for the audience’s convenience. We plan to hear beautiful Amanda Shires with Rod Picott. They do two sets, one of Amanda’s songs and the second for Rod’s works. A mighty enjoyable 90 minutes! The last artist we see here is Terri Hendrix, together with master guitar-player Lloyd Maines. Terri is as wonderful as ever! Next we find out that the Irish pub Mother Egan’s has disappeared totally from West 6th Street. In its place the new Dogwood has appeared and after walking up and down East 6th Street (no cars, a lot of happy people and music coming out from all the bars and restaurants – it looks like we are in Paris, France) we end up here, waiting for Slaid Cleaves (his wonderful yodeling is greeted with joy by the audience) and my personal favorites Hot Club of Cowtown.
The Hot Club has a new CD out, called ‘What makes Bob holler’, their extended tribute to the King of Western Swing, Bob Wills. Of course they have done lots of Bob Wills songs over the years, with Elana’s fiddle leading the way and Whit’s great guitar playing and Jake’s slamming bass to follow suit. They are amazing, doing a fast running show of Bob Wills’ songs and other originals from the pre second world war jazz scene. Our dinner at Opal Divine’s is enlighted by wonderful music from Walt Wilkins and from the local favorites Mike and the Moonpies, a wonderful country rock band. Pigeon closes her efforts with surprise act John Fullbright, a mighty talented young singer-songwriter from Woody Guthrie’s birth town Okemah, Oklahoma. The Wednesday of SXSW brought a lot of wonderful music, the weather was nice, Austin is in full swing again!
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