Flanfire

Carolyn Wonderland and Threadgill's Old No. 1 - it just feels right. Like Janis and Kenneth Threadgill, like apple pie and motherhood, like biscuits and gravy. Backed by the incomparable Cole El-Saleh on keyboard, Carolyn brought out the full ensemble - her Gibson electric guitar, of course, plus her old high school cornet, an accordian, and a lap steel - plus her own hands and mouth which become musical instruments in addition to her regular vocals. And when we say she had a full house, we mean full in number and in the comfort of their bellies.

What a mix of songs Carolyn provided last evening - from her second collaboration with Houston legend Jerry Lightfoot (off Texexistentialism, the product of a tour that included a show or two at The Vibe on Sixth Street), from her current CD Bloodless Revolution, from her head as she made it up on stage (Misunderstood, it might be called), and from an earlier in the day collaboration with Ruthie Foster (which must be called "Come Together," and this night was the first time the song was ever heard by a live audience). She closed the set with the gospel tune, "I Shall Not Be Moved" (which deeply moved everyone in the audience) and with a guitar solo driven version of "Let's Go Let's Go Let's Go Downtown".

The night before I got to hear a rising star in Austin, Rudolph LLanes, down at Natalie Zoe's songwriter showcase at Club One 15. Llanes, who hails from Corpus Christi, says his influences include the Beatles and the Who, nevertheless sounds more like the group Looking Glass from the 1970's (remember, Brandy, You're a Fine Girl?) with a little of Al Jarreau and Stevie Wonder (music he used to listen to as a child with his drummer dad). His songs are smooth as silk and sexy and romantic. Llanes plays every instrument on his current CD, "Into Focus," with very little extra help from side men.

On "Those Words," Llanes admits --

I lost more sleep than I care to say
The night for me is just darker day
It's when I think of times we'll share
I know you don't care
It's no crime
It just helps me see I'm losing my mind.

On "The Parent Song" (another title I did not guess), Llanes lets us in on this secret shame --

Fools don't come in millions
Just a few with their opinions
At somebody who would die to take your place
And the mistake that you're making
Is not giving while you're taking
And hiding from all who come to see
You shouldn't hide 'cause there's no need.

LLanes could easily fit in on KGSR's soft jazz program, and Dick Clark would agree that you can dance to his music. His current regular gig is at Habana on Sixth Street on Friday nights, but word is he may be back at Club One 15 next Monday. Sharing the stage with Rudolph were bassist Danny Beltran and Gene Pool keyboardist Stefano Intelisano.

Natalie had other guests as well, including guitarist and songwriter/singer Beth Garner and El Campo's Haydn Vitera, plus percussionist Juan Rodriguez (six years with Joe King Carrasco) and guitarist John Heagle. Garner, Vitera, and Zoe all swapped songs during two short sets, while Vitera moved from fiddle/violin to guitar and back. Dallas native Garner sounded very good on her jazzy guitar licks (no surprise - she was a jazz performance major in college), and her cool stage presence made me very sorry to have missed her shows last moonth at Ego's with the trio Queen of Spades. Vitera will soon be showcasing a new CD of his own, but meanwhile he's a great man to have on stage (especially if you are Natalie and singing your oldie but goodie, Texas Sunrise).

Club One 15 is having its grand opening on May 27, with Les and the Funk Mob. Mondays are singer-songwriter nights with Natalie Zoe and friends. Other nights will have jazz, DJ's, and live R&B and soul music ... in a bar that feels like your living room.