Flanfire

Steve Ulrich Back in Austin!

Longtime Austinite Steve Ulrich (aka Steve Convenience, Zeus Muldoon, Steve Duckfoot) moved a few years ago first to Guatemala (where he met his lovely wife Elizabeth) and then to Portland, Oregon (her hometown), where he has found numerous venues and written many new songs. Steve will be making a rare appearance in Austin at Cafe Caffeine on March 28th, with Beth Richard starting off the evening with some of her new piano-friendly songs. Steve will be showcasing tunes from his brand-new CD, "Break on Through" (and yes, he DOES cover the infamous Doors song).

Once again, Steve has teamed with famed bassist and producer Brian Beattie (Glass Eye, Okkervil River, etc.), this time to make what Steve calls "nouveau skiffle" music -- live takes with two tracks on analog tape. Eight of the tunes are his own, including "Dishdraining Blues" and "Someone Like You," with "George and Martha" and "Banks of Jordan" from Mark Ambrose, "Blue of the Evening" from Paul Sanchez, and "Fall Down" by Matt Meighan. Longtime pal Emerson Roberts is on drums here, all the way from Montana, with Richard Parke and Jason Richard sharing guitar duties. Jonathan Meiburg played banjo on "Break on Through," and Scott Marcus added a few drum tracks.

I first heard Steve on a regular basis back at the OLD Hole in the Wall in 2001-02 -- he was my daughter Susan's favorite singer. Hilarity with a social conscience marked songs like "Westernman," "Salamanderman" and "Swedes of Minnesota." Plus, of course, Steve was always talking about subatomic particles for peace -- and loving people around him. Steve is also using his concerts these days to raise support for street kids in Guatemala.

Craig Marshall: The King of Austin Pop!

I was so excited to learn that Craig Marshall had completed work on his self-produced CD, "Point of View" -- with Jon Notarthomas on lead guitar and vocals, John Thomasson on basses -- with drums and percussion by Jason McKenzie and Jeff Botta (alternating tracks), keyboard help from Derek Morris and Sam Lipman, some steel guitar from Charlie Richards, and harmony vocals on one track by Jo Beth Henderson. Craig, of course, is also the lead singer in the jazz swing cover band The Lucky Strikes (he is also a fine guitarist!) -- but since hearing his pop songs years ago at the now-defunct Woody's South, I have admired his pop songwriting.

This THIRD solo CD (after "Popular Crimes" and "Before the Fadeaway") includes some of my all-time favorites, led by "Lost in Space" and"Radio Girl," but all of the songs are singable, catchy tunes that bring back that feeling that anything is possible for those with a song in their hearts. "Why IS everything so difficult?" for people to recognize that this guy is writing songs as good as Lennon and McCartney? "I Know What It's Like" just marches along until the very end, when Craig slows it down (catch the harmonies!) before the final explosion that makes you want to mimic the Butabi brothers and their headshake.

"When the Camera's On You" slows it down (Ricky Stein should steal this song) so you can focus on the lyrics -- "hiding in the negative, quickly gets repetitive, something's gonna have to give, I know, you know .. the camera's on you ..." And, really, it always is. "When You Come Back Down" just has to be sung by the whole HOUSE FULL of people, "Will you remember me, when you come back down?" This is a true HIT SONG! If you liked, "That Thing You Do," you gotta have this record!

"Paper Cut" is a true ballad -- sounds like the 1950's and feels like dancing at the prom. Live, you cry out for a real piano solo -- why wasn't this song in any of those Sixteen Candles movies? [the whole genre?] You get to kiss the girl at the end of this one -- to heal the hurt -- "now that we've had some time, now that we seem to know, now you can let your mind get some rest." Just wonderful!

But next up is "Lost in Space," complete with sound effects -- and that great signature riff! "It's right between the reds and greens in life that you're floating through." Another song you just have to sing along with -- and light a candle! This is date music! Especially for the long-wed! Okay -- "Radio Girl" is just as special -- another jukebox necessity! This is another one that the whole crowd just stands up close to the stage and bounces up and down to the music -- and shouts out the lyrics back to the band.

Then there's the title cut -- great harmonies -- almost Beach Boys half an octave lower but with a little Beatles psychedelia mixed in -- and yet, some of the lyric structure hearkens back even earlier to 1950's style harmonies (can you say Four Freshmen?). But squeeze your sweetie stuff to be sure. Thankfully, "One Face in the Crowd" just flat out rocks -- vintage style. [How often do I start thinking "Revolver"?] Last (but there IS no least here) we get a "Small Reminder," one of those songs you just stop dancing to and just squeeze her tight. Reminds me of the Hollies (did I leave anybody out in my quest to get across the fact that this is great great pop music?)

Once more -- this is absolutely the perfect record to put on when you and the one you love are stuck at home on a rainy day. And be sure to thank Craig for the great memories .... BUY THIS!

But Wait! There's More!

The amazing Molly Venter, a New Englander who has spent time in Idaho (as did her singer-songwriter brother Josiah), just returned to Austin (and Body Choir!) from a long stay in Mexico with a brand-new record almost here (but with a five-song preview that made me fall in love with her music). "Shaky Ground" opens up, but then there is the title cut, "Love Me Like You Mean It." Sorry -- no Molly dates to report, but keep an eye out. Her songs cut like a knife.

Cranes of the Republic -- which bills itself as a band comprised of a high-pitched-singing choir boy, an apathetic giant, a lanky jew who runs charities, and an A.D.D. drummer. How can you not like "I Found Happiness on the Radio"? I also liked "Two Pair," which is posted on their myspace page. This band is just getting started -- and getting noticed. Meanwhile, An Even 3 (AE3) and TheHeroCycle (the twin bands of Althea Capra and Griffin Yu - electric and acoustic, respectively) also handed out demo EP's during SXSW week. Look for giant leaps forward for these and other young Austin bands (for example, The Fireants) in the coming months.

Okay -- I have CD's from Austin Collins (sure, he's from Dallas, but he does record for Austin's own Fat Caddy Records) and the one and only Izzy Cox ["Love Letters from the Electric Chair"]. And more to come. And, yes, I forgot to mention an entire day's worth of great music I heard last week. Or for that matter, last night's trip to the Hole in the Wall to see the Shake Em Ups! But as always there is so much more to see than time to see it, and so much that just gets trimmed at the cutting table of time.


Flanfire -- Bringing LIFE to Austin music.