Flanfire

Gary Newcomb has been a busy man of late. Take Saturday -- showcasing his brand new CD, "The Gary Newcomb Trio" together with Outlaw Billy Doughty on drums and Brandon Gonzalez on electric bass, and then after enjoying a set from a stripped down Brothers and Sisters (just five pieces!), hopping back up on stage for an extended set that welcomed back the ENTIRE Li'l Cap'n Travis to the Austin stage. So after a few hours' s sleep (maybe!?), Gary was back at it on Sunday morning at Jo's Coffees with the Brothers Lazaroff and later Jo's House Band. Then he was off to play the national anthem at a Roller Girls contest. Just one full day's work for the MAN OF STEEL!

Austin is famous for pedal steel players -- seems like there are DOZENS of legendary players who have semi-retired here (which means they play just three or four nights a week), and others who pass through here from time to time. No way to rank these guys -- but one thing is fo' sho' here in this town -- NONE of them can sing and write those lazy, crazy, hazy daisy summer songs like Gary Newcomb.

But first some props for the artwork on the CD jacket -- by Matt Kinsey -- and the design work by Geoff Peveto of the Decoder Ring Design Concern. And, yes, this CD was recorded on 2-inch real tape at The Bubble (but enough techie stuff). This is DANCIN' music -- of the 1950's kind.

Maybe my very favorite is "For the Birds: Bluebird," with its amazing (unearthly) solos (did I mention this is great makeout music!) -- " ...and there's the tragic story of the one who died in vain becoming the bird of fire rising from the FLAME. So if you're lonely baby and you don't know what to do, just listen to the wind, something will come to you ..."

The CD begins with the quirky "Firefly" -- "how can it be that you are a whisper of affection from afar, or are you just a piece of fallen star, I could never keep you in a jar." Next up we learn that Gary is "Too Sensitive," and did I mention how well the rhythm section lays the foundation from which Gary improvises all over the place? This song, though, is dreamy like lying on your back and watching the clouds go by. And then there is the "Open Prayer of a Horse Thief," the first of many songs here that showcase Gary's wit and wisdom (not far from the Far Side!) -- "A man must have a trade, have a bed in which to lay .. I took what should have been and made it mine .. O driver wake me up on the other side." This is a great tune!

"Snow Day" -- takes us back to grade school -- but "Helen of Troy" takes us somewhere else! What a trip it is -- funky, smoky -- and all of a sudden a carousel! Billy's drumming is HUGE in setting the tone here ... and did I mention this is a beer (and whiskey and wine) drinking song? Next we go on a journey down to "Sycamore Street," where "it's all milk and honey," maybe in the 1890's? There's this kid wanting to buy a music box and a bouncing ball -- and maybe a marionnette... and more. [I can just hear Donna Fargo doing this one!] Yeah, this is a waltz!

Okay -- I am NOT going to tell you any more about the other songs -- you will just have to buy the CD (and you should RUN RUN RUN to get one). This is WONDERFUL music, timeless and pure and amazingly childlike. [Okay! Gary does take us off to "The Greyhound Races," and we can just watch the dogs running silently and sleekly around the track.] And "Lazy Eye" is the closest thing to a real country song on the whole record; you can two-step to this one. "Late, Late Last Night" is yet another love song (and of course another waltz).

And then there is "Daisy Don't" -- a shuffle to be sure, but with some odd twists that might frustrate the "average" Broken Spoke dancer (but not the real pros -- and the Lawrence Welk dancers would have had a field day!) "Local Honey" is totally a pop ballad -- no country here. Finally, Gary reveals that he has always been "One of the Wild Ones" -- as if we did not know (after all, he does hang out sometimes with Rich and Landry and the other Lonesome Heroes). Sure, the song says "you" are one of the wild ones staring into the sun -- but we know. Brandon on bass just kills on this number ... which the Heroes MUST COVER!!!!! This is travelin' music.

What a TOTAL feast Gary Newcomb's set was at the Continental Club. But gluttonous us -- we had another two-plus hours of music left (that for me after eight bands in showcases all afternoon, but that's ANOTHER blog story). The beautiful Lily and her gregarious brother Will -- Brothers and Sisters down to five pieces (David Wilcox on guitar, David Morgan on bass, Greg McArthur on drums - right?) -- just as good as ever and with a brand-new CD due in July! How sweet it is!

And the night had really just begun. Jeff Johnston's entire family (or so it seemed) was in the house for the first of what promises to be MANY shows by the re-formed Li'l Cap'n Travis! And Jeff brought down the house when he switched from bass to guitar on "Wichita Lineman,"which Jimmy Webb wrote and Glen Campbell made famous -- but Jeff now owns. The versatile one also took over on pedal steel while Gary Newcomb (equally versatile) showed his lead guitar chops! I could not, of course, write about this show - I was too busy dancing all over the room tired as I thought I was. Everybody was overjoyed to see the angular form of C. Christian Braafladt back on the Continental stage and to hear the harmonies on these immortal songs.

Gotta save some props for the Brothers Lazaroff -- David who lives in Austin and Jeff who (still) lives in St. Louis (who brought down the guys from his band there to play here a few shows). Brunch at Jo's featured in the band the lovely Elizabeth McQueen (and hubby Dave Sanger on percussion) and the immortal Lindsay Greene playing keyboard and accordian (Jeff had brought Teddy Brewkins, his amazing bass player, and drummer Grover Stewart); Jerry Hagins on (unmiked) banjo, and of course the ever-present Gary Newcomb on pedal steel.

This was a collection of songs mostly NOT on the band's "Pure Delight,"and featured an oldie, "An Image Through a Row of Trees," "Union of the Soul," and "Let It Be Love" -- all amazing. Elizabeth has been covering the brothers' "Dreaming" so naturally she sang it at Jo's. Jeff has this voice that is better than a massage -- well, almost! What a great morning with my pal Jack.