Thursday has been the most fun day yet, here in Austin. Breakfast at the Bouldin Creek Cafe, then took a walk around South Austin. It's really beautiful here, but the heat does get to you after awhile, and it's not even "summer" yet here! We passed by a club with a huge country festival going on. Lots of cowboy hats and lots of pedal steel guitar and dancing! In the afternoon, I played a set at the G&S Lounge, after which I got to see a set by Brennen Leigh and her band (who I met last year and this at the Evangeline Cafe). Great set!
Next I was off to Opal Divine's for John Conquest's (of 3rd Coast Music) NotSXSW Festival, which is a festival based around roots music, Americana and country music on a huge beautiful outdoor deck. Jim took a whole bunch of pics. We just missed Boston-based Eilen Jewell's set, and we say hi to our Boston friends. Johnny Sciascia, who used to jam with me at the Midway, is her bass player, Jason Beek (WMBR DJ, American Primitive show) is on drums. Also Somerville-based country guitar player extraordinaire, Jerry Miller is on a beautiful Gretch guitar. We go to see a set by them later back at the G&S Lounge.
Right before me at Opal Divine's we get to catch a set by James Hand, a local country music legend in Texas. His set is amazing, I love the way he shakes his hips while he plays guitar. It was explained to me later by Jerry Miller (who is originally from Nashville) that that's the way the audience should dance to this music. Check out the pics we took together after his set! I was also interviewed for KMUD in Garberville, Northern California by Honkytonk Bill! Check out his show "Lonestar State of Mind!
We went back to the Bouldin Creek Cafe for dinner, we took a couple of pics of us waiting for our food with some Lone Star beer, which is everywhere in Texas! Good stuff.
Then we caught up with the Eilen Jewell Band back at the G&S Lounge. They lots of fun, and Eilen has a beautiful voice. They did everything from country to blues to spirituals. Their tour started in Maryland, went to St. Louis, and next they are off to New Orleans before driving back to Boston.