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Flanfire (Duggan Flanakin) is bringing LIFE to Austin music -- and telling the world how sweet it is!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

The Only Tragedy: Nathan's Still a Sideshow!




















Nathan Singleton; Justin Wade Thompson and Jeremy Harrell (the Sideshow Tragedy); Sam and Ruby (from Nashville); Dustin and Savannah Welch.


It's not every week you get to see the same band blow your head off twice! And you can hardly wait until round 3. I stayed out till 2 am on Monday to finally catch a set from Nathan Singleton and His Sideshow Tragedy, then got a second shot of White Lightning Wednesday night at Ego's -- who needs a massage?

This band is pure Texas. Nathan hails from Tyler, admits to ripping his resonator collector dad off for the two jewels (a National 1933 and a National 1938), and oh yeah has a brother named Hunter Thompson Singleton. Maybe a sign that he should team up with Justin Wade Thompson and his Rickenbacker bass, his acrobatic energy, and his poetic passion -- and with Jeremy Harrell on drums (whom Nathan met up with at Texas A & M Commerce and played with in the band Myna) flailing away with punch after punch to set the pace.

I am not even going to try to explain this band to you (just read the stuff on their myspace page) -- because this is all about energy and emotion -- and, yes, the juxtaposition of the rhythms of Robert Johnson and Chris Whitley (for starters) against the artistry of Ingmar Bergman and Arthur Rimbaud (for example) filtered through this Texas trio makes for toe-tapping, brain-rattling music that challenges body and soul alike. Whether it is a re-telling of the story of Stagger Lee or an innocent "Fishing Song," or even one of the rarer ballads, you just keep wanting more of this band -- their energy, showmanship, and sheer talent.

Another way of saying it -- Nathan Singleton is the male counterpart of fellow East Texan Michelle Shocked. The new CD, "Borrowed Guitars, Unwound Hearts, and Broken Strings" will be out soon. So why are these guys [or Jeremy Nail, who also played Momo's on Monday, or Dustin Welch - see below] not playing major festivals?

Probably because the Lords of SXSW, Austin City Limits, and (yes) Famecast (etc.) are too busy fawning over manufactured celebrities. Take, for example, the outstanding live show from Stubbs by REM (broadcast live on KUT and many NPR stations worldwide) -- four other bands (one with Rain Phoenix), none of which is from the "live music capital of the world." If SXSW is supposed to be an Austin music showcase, what up? Despite the ravings of the press, the Papercranes were nowhere near as good (at least on radio) as half the Austin bands I saw last week. I'd like to do an "Austin Unlimited" show featuring Austin bands and solo performers juxtaposed against counterparts from other American cities -- genre by genre. Meanwhile, our own musicians -- the guys and gals who make the scene that is the backdrop for SXSW and ACL -- are far more popular in Europe and even Japan than on local radio.

But I digress. Momo's on Sunday had me hanging out to watch the Belleville Outfit (who did get to play ONE song at the Austin Music Awards show on Wednesday). Back to Momo's on Monday for CandiLand, then Dan Dyer's friends from Nashville Sam and Ruby (who was also Dustin Welch's high school classmate), who made me think differently about Nashville music thanks to their wonderful acoustic set (backed by cello and violin). I even went on myspace and checked out the Spiritual Family Band (also from Music City), more folks Dustin knows who are making beautiful music up there.

And then the fun began -- Dustin brought out his full band PLUS cellist Brian Standefer and literally blew the doors off Momo's (okay, they opened up and we all froze but loved it!). And what a band - Tricia Keefer on fiddle, Kyle Ellison on guitar (and yes this was his brother Sims' birthday), Drew Smith on acoustic guitar and vocals, Joe Humel on drums, and Joe Beckham on bass -- plus sister Savannah on vocals and Dustin on banjo, Gibson, and resonator. The "Whiskey Priest" quickly sold out of the five-song EP he had made just for SXSW week (more were on the way) after bringing the "Poor House" down. From "Empty Parking Lots" to "Idaho Moon," the brother-sister harmonies (plus Drew) just added to the zeitgeist. Dustin even threw in a Swindlers' song (that's his old Nashville band with Justin Earle, who would be in town later in the week) and an Irish murder ballad for good measure. The full CD will be out in May.

This musical journey report, though, goes back even further, to a cold Friday night at Austin Java with a very warm set from the wonderful Jean Synodinos (and later an even colder set by Blues Mafia at Junior's Ice House in Round Rock -- which on a warmer night would be a super venue, thanks to the food and the fine outdoor stage). On Saturday, it was more comfort food at Waterloo Ice House with music by Ruby Jane backed by Jim Stringer, David Carroll and an awestruck (see photo) Kim Deschamps.










Then it was back to Blues Mafia Sunday evening at Jovita's -- but not the usual lineup. Movie stars Kai Roach and Chris Copeland were late to the gig -- which opened with a blazing set from James Bullard with movie star Gary Clark, Jr., on drums. Drummer James Wiseman stepped in for Copeland, and Roach's slot was filled by a music teacher from Anderson High [see photo], and movie star Evan Butts sat in on harmonica for a song or two, to the delight of Mafiosa Sasha Zoe and Max Frost (not shown).

Now on Thursday afternoon, I was privileged to assist Lifeworks and Cafe Caffeine by recommending a few of my friends to share their outdoor stage. Opening up was Austin newcomer (just in from Seattle and holding her Billboard jazz song of the year trophy in her hand) Alyse Black -- a redheaded piano player with a goofy song or two in her cupboard and a smile as big as (well) her generous heart. Next up was Nicolette Manglos, backed by multi-talented (standup bass, lap steel, electric guitar, and trumpet) B. Sterling Archer. Nicolette is finding time to promote her newly released CD while working on her Ph. D.

Even newer to Austin (by a week) was the third performer, Carrie Engdahl, who will surely win audiences over with her infectious smile and songs "about boys" and other topics, too. This New Jerseyan reminded me a little of fellow New Jersey native Mary Chapin Carpenter (who after all wrote "Passionate Kisses" made famous by our own Lucinda Williams). Both Alyse and Carrie have been writing songs like crazy since getting to Austin (and both are posting these new songs You Tube style on their myspace pages). Carrie on Thursday performed "Red Light Kisses," which maybe she wrote while waiting eternally at one of Austin's infamous intersections. You can find Alyse singing "Who Am I" (in her own words) like a 14-year-old on her myspace. And did I mention that Nicolette is also a gifted pianist (as is Alyse)? Later, Stefanie Fix and Jenifer Jackson (with Billy Doughty helping) blessed the (too sparse) crowd with their wonderful songs.

Closing out a long afternoon, my mom and I (yes, she had enjoyed five hours of great songwriter music!) trekked over to Ming's for some great spinach stir-fry and equally great music hosted by impresario Matt Hubbard. Had to leave before Suzanna Choffel's set, but did get to hear my good buddy Kevin Carroll (backed by Mike Meadows on percussion) and also the wonderful songwriter Lee Duffy (backed by Will Sexton) -- how sweet that was!










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Flanfire -- Bringing LIFE to Austin music.

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