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Lured as I was to the Gypsy Lounge (East Sixth near Comal for the uninitiated) by the prospect of hearing Stefanie Fix swap songs with Noelle Hampton, I walked in the door only to find joy unimaginable — the lovely Havilah Rand in the stead of my great pony-tailed pal Dave Madden, along with Noelle’s “man” Andre Moran playing lead guitar for all three lovely ladies. This is Stef’s gig mercifully moved from jovita’s (good call, Mister Bane!), and in two weeks her special guest will be (drum roll!) Wendy Colonna.
The place was packed — on a Tuesday night — the atmosphere was thick with incense and the lush red curtains that encase the floor level stage. The music was surprisingly psychedelic at times, and I was back in the Sixties again. Best thing about this double set was that all three women are seemingly in awe of each other’s talents — and all were helping with the ooh’s and lala’s as appropriate. Love (as Jesse Colin Young so greatly desired) was all around. And, yes, they have Jameson and ginger!

I looked around and noted the presence of one Jimmie Dreams aka the booking agent Jimmie Graves, and it was to be his night after the ladies were done.  Mind you, the Gypsy’s owner noted that his website will be up “soon,” and a quick check of his Facebook page was equally unrevealing, so for now the best way to find out who is playing is word of mouth.  And the place is full – even in the back tented (and heated) smoking lounge.  A few minutes later D-Madness walked in, and I knew I was not going ANYWHERE!  You just have to know that this smiling, very charming visually impaired but musically gifted man [Brian Conway long ago told me D-Madness was the most amazing musician in all of Austin, and he just might still be right!) is going to rock your world — tonight he was playing (as he often does) his Tama drum kit and sampling on a keyboard, while using his voice as a musical percussion instrument in addition to singing and rapping and playing styles from jazz to funk to ure soul.  I have also seen D (aka Dwayne Jackson) playing bass (notably, on a SXSW Sunday at Hickory Street with Corrina Rachel).  Tonight was no exception — last time I saw D was at the Moody Theatre with Bavu Blakes at the fundraiser for Austin Music People (AMP) — tonight it was the interplay of drums, vocals, a little keyboard action, and alternating lead guitarists (one of whom was the illustrious Mister Dreams).  All in all, the Gypsy is going to be HUGE in this town — next door to Hotel Vegas, around the corner from the White Horse.

Before I go, I want to thank Lee Duffy and Rick Busby and all of the folks who made last weekend’s Austin Songwriters Group confab so special – I only got to spend half a day on Saturday, attending three or four sessions and listening to music from Marvin Dykhuis, Will Sexton, Joe Manuel and Sonny Throckmorton, but the time was more than well spent.  Friday night had been special at the Continental with the Mastersons (Chris and Eleanor), and Saturday night just as special with the return of Cowboy and Indian (plus a fine set from the Dead Left, with Neal Kassanoff, Lindsay Greene, and Lauren Gurgiolo).  I spent Sunday evening chilling at Baker St. for the open mike, heard some fine sets from close friends and newcomers to Austin (even Marcia Hayden Hendrick all the way from East Hampton, Massachusetts) – and we all got an unexpected blessing when Mandy Rowden and Deann Rene played a short set to close the evening.

Previews of coming attractions — Let’s start with the Love Leighs next Tuesday at the Gypsy, but first we get the first shows of the year from the Moonlighters and Deadman on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, at the Saxon (both shows at 10 pm), and tomorrow night it’s Josh Buckley at Trophy’s with Bob Hoffnar sitting in on pedal steel (after Kem Watts plays the Crow Bar).  Lots more I could write about, after all this IS Austin — but wow two chances to see and hear Lonnie Trevino, Jr., in one weekend (with friends coming in from Colorado and Louisiana to see the Deadman show).

Finally, I just heard from The Iveys, The O’My’s and Judson McKinney — all of them with new music and all hitting Austin for SXSW, along with half the plugged in world.  It’s just two months off … so catch up on your sleep now.

Friends, I thought I had done well to have my friend Laura Jean Thompson down from Chicago and play at the Whip In, Romeo’s, Cheatham Street, Baker St.,and the Ham Jam Concert Series — and to meet with Charlie Stewart and work on plans for Folk Alliance and beyond — but that was just the prologue (and indeed Laura and i had some fine adventures togethe!).

No sooner than I had dropped Laura at Austin Bergstrom on Tuesday did I get myself to the Contintental Club to see Dustin Welch with Steve and Mike Bernal on bass (and cello) and drums, Roberto Riggio on violin, and Eric McFadden on lead guitar and lead and/or harmony vocals. What a show — “Two Horses” as I had never seen it before, with Steve Bernal reaching notes on the cello rarely heard. Afterward, I ended up at the Korean karaoke joint on North Lamar singing and wishing Sarah Temple at happy birthday. Wednesday it was Trophy’s for Josh Buckley and Gilded Splinters with Phil Hurley sitting in on lead guitar. Thursday began with Barbara Nesbitt singing her heart out to a warm and fuzzy crowd (lots of fellow musicians) at Maria’s Taco X-press, then a quick jaunt to Baker St. to catch a set by Jennifer Ellen Cook, and off to Stubbs for shows from Les Rav and the White White Lights (with a stopover at the Mohawk in between). Barbara has a voice that melts gold into butter, and Lauren Bruno and Les Rav have added the impeccable Jenni Wieland on French horn and Andrew Noble on violin (and a little lead guitar!). Special thanks to my pal Scott Andrews, who was at the show the night before he played Houston’s House of Blues.

But Friday’s on my mind, and after a long day of work (missing day 1 of the Austin Songwriters’ Group’s annual confab) getting to the Continental Club with my pal Josh Buckley to see the Mastersons (Chris and Eleanor, with the bonus of sister Bonnie Whitmore in the house, and of course Falcon Valdez on drums. Chris has long been one of Austin’s (well, Bertram’s!) finest guitarists and songwriters but even he admits people come just as much to see and hear (and marvel at) Eleanor, who has developed from a strong side woman (violin and mandolin) to hardcore troubadour guitarist and lead singer. Their new CD, Birds Fly South (due in April, except for some advance copies the kids had with them), is just gorgeous, especially IMHO the title track! They’ll be back for SXSW so do not miss your next chance!
At the show (the reconstituted Derailers followed) Josh and I met two great new friends and he got to play them some of his own songs late into the night.
Saturday I finally got to the Omni for the ASG shindig and ran into so many old friends and met a few new ones – and got to hear Sonny Throckmorton and Joe Manuel (with Marvin Dykhuis and Will Sexton) sing some of their greatest hits, hear some top experts in booking, management, and more share their secrets, and have a wonderful time! Thanks again to Lee Duffy and Rick Busby and the whole crew for putting on such a powerful event (featuring indstrry pros from all over the place). bIf Goodlookingstrippedsingers Da A101783 Arto Lindsay Hyper Civilizado Remixes Good Looking Stripped Singers Flanfire o Dating Singers aIf Goodlookingstrippedsingers Da A101783 Arto Lindsay Hyper Civilizado Remixes Good Looking Stripped Singers Flanfire m u Good Looking Stripped Singers Good Looking Stripped Singers