Great Weekend

(It's me and Scott H. Biram, who told me to come back and

see him again because he can do the show much better then.)

Barton Springs, Scott H. Biram and MGMT.

First, let me say again, that the people in Austin are really so nice. I remember when I was living in Victor, I never worried about going skiing by myself. There were always cool people around and you could just meet up with someone in the line or on the lift. Well, Austin is just like that when it comes to shows. People are so friendly here, they come right up and strike up a conversation.

Saturday I was a total waste of space. I think between recovering from a cold, getting excited to visit with some new friends for dinner, and the Scott H Biram show I was just a little antsy. Anyhoo, rallied in time to drive out to a lovely dinner in the hills and meet some amazing, accomplished, and hysterically funny new folks. Thank you all for the hospitality and the Chardonnay.

Then it was a bit of a dash back into town to meet Billy (missed Steph and Marco by a minute) for the Scott H. Biram show at the Red-Eyed Fly.

(This is the back patio at Red-Eyed Fly)

Another cool little bar off of 6th (I think it is on Red River). There were some local acts opening, I only caught the last one. A mix or gwar, hard rock, and a little funk. Yes, I know what I just wrote sounds crazy pants, but it was true and they totally grew on me. It was rough at first because it was loud, but then it was awesome. Then Scott H. Biram took to the stage. Great music, I think I heard of him before but could not place him. He put on a great show, playing some news songs and some Delta Blues songs. I really had a great time!

That is a great little clip from the show. He was so cool!

Sunday was another waste of space day. I managed to rally in the afternoon with a trip to Kerby Lane's were I tasted excellent guacamole (it is everywhere down here, and it is awesome) and sweet potato french toast. Had some this morning as a matter of fact. Then I went to Barton Springs because it was 100 degrees outside and you cannot function in that kind of weather. CANNOT!

Barton Springs lives up to the hype, cold and awesome on a hot summer day. Unlike a lot of man-enhanced springs, this spring is huge.

So wonderful. Jumped in, cooled off, jumped out, started sweating immediately, jumped in and cooled off again.

Then, had to hustle home and get ready for MGMT outside at Stubb's. Now, I knew it was going to be hot. Chose a nice long summer dress for the occasion. That was a huge mistake. I was once again sweating like that whore in church I so often reference. Good god. I decided, after three hours of praying in vain for some coolness to descend upon this outdoor venue, to tie my dress up as high as decency would allow. I also found a discarded paper taco dish, and used it as a fan. This was my best decision because all kinds of people started coming up to me to partake in the fan awesomeness. You have to imagine, it is a crowded outdoor show, 95 degrees, 100% humidity, even the bands were like, "WTF?"

Made a new friend in the process and he informed me that it was totally ok to sweat. I told him I had not been riding my bike (a bit of a signature for me normally in summers) because of fear I would flood venues with my resulting sweat. "Awww, hell no, you're suppose to sweat down here. People expect it. You can stink too. Let's go bike ridin'!" Cool, done. Whether or not it is indeed okay to sweat and be stinky, this dude says it is, so I am rollin' with him (my sweaty wolf pack now has two members).

(Stubb's Outside)

Well, there was no way in hell I was pushing my way forward to the stage, between the heat of the night and the heat of the bodies I would have surely died. I did enjoy the musical styling of MGMT from a far, and they did not disappoint. A much better band live; lots of live instruments and not a lot of sound mixing. I recorded a little, but it sounds like hell so I won't burden you with it. They were really amazing though. From now on however, when I roll anywhere, I will have one of those "lady fans" that were so popular back in the day. Now I know why those southern bells were so fond of the fans.

That was the weekend that was. Lots of fun people coming my way this week and weekend. Keep reading. Miss you all!

On Deck

Well, I am sick, but I am recovering.

Here is what is on deck for this weekend.

Adventures: Dinner with the Uncles, Mtn Bike Ride!

Shows: Scott H Biram and MGMT!!!!!!

Keep reading, I miss you all!

Makin' Lemonade

Well, we got shut down on a show Wednesday (despite braving a big ole thunderstorm).

No worries, onward to Lovejoy's and other haunts down on 6th street. Lovejoy's is a great grimy bar with amazing art work and what not all over place (including on the bartender's face). Motorcycles outside, cold beer and pool inside.

Very cool place, excellent beer selection. There was DJ there spinning 60's garage rock; and, while Steph objected to his selections earlier in the evening, the dude came into his own shortly before we all headed home. Great genre of music there that I am only now discovering, but thoroughly enjoying.

On to a local tattoo shop where Billy knew a guy.

So my wolf tattoo is not going to be as cool as originally imagined. Boo! The colors will not show on my dark skin. I did discover a new thing, scaring. I think I will just reduce my original vision to a sketch outline in grey. And, that will be cheaper than what I was planning on anyway. A win all around.

Finally to one more bar, where after ordering food, we discovered Billy had no license so we could not stay. But it was a neat place, Casino El Camino.

Nice mellow night on the town where we planned our next shows, listened to great music at every bar, whether it was a jukebox or a DJ.

Oh and here is this little gem . . . Helter Skelter indeed.

I am going to do a whole post on cool tattoos of Austin!

Sweat Solution

For years I heckled girls wearing short shorts. I argued it could never be hot enough to warrant so little clothing. Well, I was right about this matter as it concerns Boulder and Jackson. However, the solution to sweating down here in Austin is tank tops and shorts. Maybe not short shorts, but shorts. As long as I am rolling tank top and short shorts style I am good to go. Dude imaged above certainly is ready for Austin. Happily, he would fit right in here.

The short shorts solution has presented another problem, lack of exercise. Now I have to exercise so I look less like the dude above (the resemblance is uncanny), and more like ..........

Tattoo

Well, I almost forgot to tell you all the most important announcement! I am getting a tattoo (eventually). Here in Austin there are tons of amazing (and also terrible) tattoos. I have been threatening for years to get the Teton Range tattooed across my stomach. I still might. That is not my latest obsession, however. My new and awesome tattoo will look something like ............

Well it will be a wolf howling at the moon and a dream catcher is next to the moon. But, you get the idea. Think county fair t-shirts, or black van art. Here are some more inspirational photos.

The best thing about this tattoo is that it will be on my left side/ lower to middle back. When I arch my arm I will howl!!!!! It is going to be amazing, and I was practicing this awesome move last night at the bar. When I told one friend about this amazing tattoo she responded that I was going to need to go out immediately and buy a black t-shirt that is all shredded. I will do you one better. I will get this t-shirt.

And I will be wearing it as a t-shirt, not a dress, for decency reasons.

Outlaw Country

I came to Austin because I wanted to hear and play a certain kind of country/alt-country/americana music.

I googled around for a show to go to. I found the Continental Club, and saw that a guy named Dale Watson was playing on Monday night. I did not link to any of his music. I just read his biography and some reviews. There was one quote that stuck out immediately.

"I'm one of Dale's biggest fans - I enjoy all his records and think he's great. I think there's a great deal of similarity between Dale and Waylon and myself...Kris and all the guys who just want to play their music and not have to go through all the bullshit. Dale stays true to what he believes in...whatever they say made me and Waylon 'Outlaws,' I think he's the same...if WE were, HE is." -Willie Nelson

That was all I needed to know about Dale Watson right there. The show was great. The man got on stage at about 10:15pm and played STRAIGHT until 1:45am. Don, Mike, Chris, and Dale's other Lone Stars were fantastic. It was amazing! At the end of the night, I was sitting outside trying to figure out how to use my new worthless phone. Mike, the drummer came outside. "You were really phenomenal. Awesome show." I said. "Thanks, you were great out there singing and dancing. What's your name?" And we had this great conversation. I told him about my silly dream of being a songwriter and singer. Then the bassist Chris came out, I said hello. "You better not let Dale know you sing, he'll have you up there in no time." Mike said, "Oh you have to go meet Dale, come on!" We rolled back into the bar, and I tapped Dale on the shoulder. "Hey I just wanted to say great show." I said (so lame). He replied, "I wanted to meet you. Where are you from? This is your first show? Oh man I cannot believe you missed chicken shit bingo last night . . . ." And so on, great musician and truly nice guy.

First night out on the town in Austin was amazing!

Boots, beers, whisky, and Honky Tonks

Oh man!!!! What a great great great night.

This story cannot be told without recalling my first days in Victor, Idaho. I had been in this little town in Idaho before, working for the local NOLS branch. But, visiting is different from living. Real living in Victor started in late July 2004. My good friend had moved over the pass, I was living with a woodworker (and Hungarian goat farmer) who was rarely around. I had the good fortune of living right in "town." Victor is a very small town; there was one flashing yellow light, two bars, a gas station and, at that time, very few stores besides the Victor Valley Grocery store. If I walked about 3 minutes, I could go from my front door to the Knotty Pine Bar & Grill. And that is exactly what I did every other night. I worked the late shift at a hotel (2pm to 10pm). By that time, all my friends and family on the east coast were in bed or out on the town. I did not know many people. So, I would get home around 11 o'clock every night and head over to the Knotty Pine. It was a local bar where everybody knew everybody. I quickly made friends with the bar tenders (a bar tender is a lonely soul's salvation). I would strike up conversations with the folks sitting around me, and slowly started making friends. The best part about the Knotty Pine was the live music acts that alway came through. Great bands (soul, funk, bluegrass, folk) came through on a weekly basis. Sometimes lots of folks were there, but often times aside from the bar tender, waitresses, and cooks, I was the only one, or one of few people, there. And it was great. Good, friendly people just hanging out, drinking too much, and having a great time. Those folks I met at the Knotty Pine are still some of my best friends today. I would drive all day and all night if they asked.

Well, last night reminded me of the good old days back in Victor when I was younger, more naive and better looking. I walked in, ordered a beer and roamed around. I walked to the back of a bar where there was a tattooed fellow sporting a white tank top and black and gold blazer. "I like your boots." I thought I heard him say. I looked around but thought I imagined it. "I like your boots," he said again, "Where did you get them? What size are those?" "Oh you are not going to buy those boots off her feet." The woman standing next to the blazer-ed fellow added. "Thanks I just got them. But, I really like her boots." The woman was wearing these awesome cowboy boots with dark brown leather stitched on lighter tan leather with purple accents on the dark leather. Well we started talking. They are originally from Montana, but moved to Austin some years ago. I told them I was about a week and a half Austin old. They said, "Well do you need friends?" "Yes!" I exclaimed. We all had a good laugh and headed into the main area to watch Dale Watson tear it up.

Well, you don't just make a friend. You gotta have stuff in common, you have to share some stuff. Well my blazer-ed friend, right after the first song started asked, "Do you know how to two step?" Does the pope shit in the woods? Those readers who know me know that two stepping is one of my all time favorite activities! "Yes!" "Well I don't." He replied. "That's okay, I will teach you and still make it look like you are leading." We had a great night, and by the end of it he was actually doing a damn good job with it too. Well that kicked off a whole lot of two stepping. Great dancers at the Continental Club. So much fun.

My bedazzled boot friend was no slouch either. She was a great dancer in her own right and we had a great time out on the dancer floor. But, even better, we knew every word to the covers Dale Watson sang (Jackson, Luckenbach, Tx, You Don't Have to Call Me Darlin') and we sang loud. Even Dale Watson and the Lone Stars noticed. "How nice to make a friend that likes all the songs you like. And can sing too!" Dale Watson said at the end of the night.

I have met some of my best friends at bars. I hope these new friends will be friends down the road. My bedazzled boot friend said, "This is great, I always remember we met singing and dancing at the Dale Watson show!"