Janice Williams Loves Austin

I think I’ve just about got the blog softward dilemma figured out, so be on the lookout for a new blog format in the days to come. I think it will be more readable and easier on me, too. We’ll see.

So, how ’bout them Cowboys? Did you find a place to watch the game? I had a couple of invitations to houses to watch the biggest game of the season so far, and, of course, I could have gone to a sports bar, but I opted for radio. Man, how did we ever listen to AM radio in the ’60s and ’70s? WOAI in San Antonio came in clearer than Austin, but it always sounded like a teakettle that was about to go into full boil mode. I don’t remember the Beatles or Lovin’ Spoonful having a distant train whistle during every song. Through the game, I did feel a little like Donna Reed; I was cooking fudge in the kitchen with a little radio on the counter. Pearls. I should have put on some pearls.

Mark came home and ate dinner at the kitchen table while we continued to listen to the Cowboys (it was getting a little too close for comfort at that point). I felt like the folks in old movies who sat, motionless, while a ball game or a radio show was on the air. It is a whole different experience, that is for sure.

We finally wised up and tried to get the game on the internet instead of the airwaves. MUCH better reception (still WOAI) there. We debated whether Brad Sham had been tippling a little during the game, he sure was giddy . . . and funny! Maybe it was just because we so seldom hear him do the radio broadcast. I loved it when Babe Laufenberg said, “Do you know what’s interesting?” and, without missing a beat, Sham said, “Kierkegard?” That’s good radio.

Romo and the boys kept the lead, beat down the clock and got win number 11. Whoo-hoo. I’m looking forward to the Superbowl.

My mind was still in Depression mode or something, though. I saw our Scrabble board and thought, “We should play Scrabble.” Then I had to remind myself we weren’t in a blackout, the TV wasn’t broken, we weren’t snowbound, it was that dang ol’ Jerry Jones that kept me from watching the boys, not a natural disaster. So I turned on ESPN and got to see all the beautiful color highlights and enjoy the win all over again. I certainly hadn’t pictured the Cowboys in blue jerseys and those odd white helmets with the solid blue star. What was up with that? It didn’t look like MY Cowboys, so in that way, the radio and the theater of the mind did have its advantage. But not enough advantage. I want the full at-home TV experience on December 9. Is that too much to ask?

I was too wound up last night when I came in to write. It was a great day in many ways.

I started the day at the Saxon Pub at noon. No, I haven’t taken to drinking early, it was a luncheon/meeting of WIMPS, Austin’s women in music. I met many women that I have emailed with while on the job, but had never met face-to-face. Women who really make the music in this town work by promoting, booking, and publicizing the shows. Lots of artists on hand, too: Kathleen O’Keefe Braun, Mary Cutrafello, Abi Tabia, Gina Chavez, and Lee Duffy (and more). Nice to catch up with Lee Duffy about her Monday night residency at Threadgill’s now. She’s playing her tunes with an all-star band, my favorite Floyd Domino and members of Merle Haggard’s and George Strait’s bands, too. Thank you Nancy Coplin and Rose Reyes for getting this great group together. It was also great to visit with the owner of the Saxon Pub, Joe Ables. He’s got a wonderful listening room (as well as a great bar and place to play pool!) and the Saxon books so many great artists, including newcomers. I look back and some of the very best shows I’ve ever seen have been at the Saxon Pub: Jack Ingram’s Acoustic Motel tour immediately jumps to mind, along with the first time I ever saw Hayes Carll (along with about 12 other people that night). Beautiful memories.

I also got to see Sam Allred yesterday. For those of you that have been asking (everybody!), he’s doing good. He looked great and was getting along well with the new hip.

Now, on to the music… Sunny Sweeny has taken residence at the Saxon Pub on Wednesday nights and I went to enjoy her music first. It is just fun to watch her band, they really look like they are having a ball playing the tunes and trying out new things. They seriously adhere to the classic music traditions that they love (primarily Merle Haggard’s), but also have fun with it. ME Television was on hand with Natalie Gilmer and Kevin Connor signing people up for the Skifest 2008. You can still sign up at their website. They’ll be giving it away Sunday, December 9 at the Saxon, so check the details and sign up to win your invitation.

At the Saxon I also got to visit Kyle Wieters, Jack Ingram’s guitar tech. Absolute great guy, as are all the guys on Jack’s crew and in Jack’s band. Kyle lives on the band bus these days and keeps all his stuff in storage at his parents’ home down by San Antonio. Man, that is a life I can’t imagine living, but I sure appreciate the people that make the music possible and DO enjoy living that way. I’m glad you got to be home for Thanksgiving Kyle.

From the Saxon, on to Hill’s Cafe for Brent Allen’s CD release. I have been to Hill’s so many times, of course, that I pictured this event being outside, forgetting that it is COLD in late November (well, cold enough). The band was set up on the inside stage in the restaurant and the place was comfortably packed. Brent and his full band kept things lively playing cuts off the new CD There’s a Lot of Folks Like Me, songs that have a traditional feel, a little Merle, Johnny, George (Strait more than Jones) and a touch of Junior Brown. Ran into lots of friends, which is the great thing about Hill’s. Their extraordinary manager Cheri Fox was on hand, working, of course. She’s always working! Don’t forget to call her NOW if you are thinking of a Christmas party place. Bill Rice was close by and keeping very busy promoting his new CD I’d Do It All Over Again. He’s at Buffalo Billiards tomorrow night (downtown on Sixth). Rodney was bartending at Hill’s. He and Cheri were both working at Hill’s when I was working there six years ago. They were good at it, though, and I wasn’t. Always nice to see Rodney’s smiling face behind the bar. John Michael Whitby, piano pounder for Asleep at the Wheel and somebody else, I never can remember . . . Oh, yes, George Strait . . . was at the bar with his amazing girlfriend Kacey. That girl is always so full of life. John Michael lends his talents to the new Brent Allen CD along with most of the other members of the Wheel. Greg Roberts was there and tells me about his new website Austin Music City, check it out. Angela-Marie Lampton was on hand promoting and supporting Texas music. Curtis (and I don’t know your last name Curtis!) bought me a beer and that deserves mention here. Thank you, Curtis. Dale Watson was on hand and sang with Brent’s band. He also sings on the new CD. I ran into lots of other friends at Hill’s, some who used to come to the Music Series and didn’t know I had lost my job. I appreciate the shock on your faces! Really! Also ran into some friends that offered new opportunities for employment. I appreciate that, too!

So, a “quick stop” at Hill’s Cafe turned into a full night, as I should expect by now. It was fun all the way around. Good friends and music. That’s what I love about Austin!

Just got in from a great night at the Tavern in the Gruene in Gruene. My friend Christy Meaux and I went down to see the live broadcast of the KNBT 92.1 Radio New Braunfels show “Roots and Branches of Americana” with Ray Wylie Hubbard. They sure manage to squeeze in a lot of music into two hours. Mattson Rainer from KNBT is running the show and engineering while Ray hosts things and talks to the guests on stage. Tonight, Harry Bodine started things off. I have heard the name, but have never heard Harry Bodine before. A former member of Delta Roux, he plays the greasy slide guitar and has that south Louisiana blues style. Jesse Dayton and Brennen Leigh were the featured guests with Justin Cole on standup bass. The duo has just released their first CD together called “Holdin’ Our Own.” They do great duets, really reminiscent of George and Tammy more than anyone else, I thought. Brennen’s voice is so strong and unique and Jesse reminds me of George in his youngest, finest days. They were terrific apart and together. To round out the night, Bleu Edmondson came to sing and talk about “Lost Boy,” his first CD release on new music in five years. I really liked Bleu’s take on “Texas country” and what is and what is not Texas country. The dilemma is in trying to define something. Sure, you can label things all day, but sometimes things just don’t fit into the categories and I admire artists like Bleu that just play what they want to play and don’t worry about the labels that someone wants to put on it. Bleu’s new CD is excellent and I will SOON give you a chance to win it, right here on the web. Really! How great is that? Meanwhile, go buy your copy because it is a very deep, very thoughtful album.

I knew I was going to see these artists when I headed to Gruene. But after they were through and a solo artist took the stage, I missed the introduction and didn’t know who I was hearing. But I sure liked his first song! I was going through that “Oh I like this song, what is this song?” and seeing the blank look on Christy’s face. Then it came to me… Sister Gold Hair by America! Just last week I was writing how America’s music truly is country. This guy proved that by making it a truly country song. I liked him a lot. We heard about three songs before we packed up and headed back to Austin, but I found out this was Zach Walther who plays so often around Gruene. Check him out! I want to see him again.

Eventually I am going to have a blog on this site, the kind that can be added to so easily. For now, I haven’t made that happen, but I still want to tell you where I’ve been and who I have seen in this past week. It reminds me why I am so thankful I am here in Austin, Texas, where you can see the most talented artists in little clubs and restaurants on a daily basis. And not “unknown” talents, although they are there, too. You can see artists that have recorded with Brad Paisley, toured with Merle Haggard, written for George Strait. It’s a town where an artist can find a home. And a fan can find heaven!

Last night I went to the beautiful and historic Paramount Theater to see the fabulous production of Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison’s Holiday Show. This is their fourth year to put it together and they opened their short tour here in Austin this time. Kevin McKinney opened the night. I had never heard of him before I Googled him and found that he was a founding member of the old Austin rock band Soulhat, which I had heard of, but still wasn’t familiar with. He has a new 12 song Christmas CD Kevin McKinney’s 12 Holiday Hits. It is a CD of acoustic guitar recordings he made as a gift for his wife. You can hear a bit here or find