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Flanfire (Duggan Flanakin) is bringing LIFE to Austin music -- and telling the world how sweet it is!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
T-Bird and the Breaks (Dancers Welcome!)
On the brink of a breakout show at the Scoot Inn (opening for legends Barbara Lynn and Bobby "Blue" Bland"), T-Bird and the Breaks rocked the house at Threadgill's on July 11th -- the band has another show at Momo's on July 18th with the Lost Pines and the Belleville Outfit -- what a lineup!. You know the band is good when the dancers cut across generational lines (and yes I was among them!) -- and when they dance ALL NIGHT LONG!
And why not? Ever since vocalist/songwriter Tim (T-Bird) Crane and guitarist Sam Patlove left their home in western Massachusetts for the golden shores of Lake Travis, the boys have been picking one four-leaf clover after another. Start with the hot backup vocalists (Stephanie Hunt and Jazz Mills), add in a blazing horn section (trombonist Matt Price, saxman Houston Rawls, and trumpeter >>), throw in Patlove and the amazing John Allison (also with Goldcure!) on guitars, and wrap the whole enchilada around the rhythm section of Marc Lionetti on drums (also with the Lost Pines) and Cody Furr on bass (who actually co-founded the Lost Pines) and you have 10-digit excitement all over the stage.
And speaking of Miss Colonna, I also caught part of her show at Central Market (photo), which on July 4th hosted a great show with Denmark's Paul Krebs, world traveler Troy Campbell, the 
feisty Dickie Lee Ervin, and Jenifer Jackson (with drummer extraordinaire Billy Doughty and his own fine voice). On one Wednesday I endured the bad sound at the Continental Club for Nathan Singleton but still had a blast and then trekked to Antone's for Ilsa's Birthday Party for a set by three-fifths of Blues Mafia (Sasha was stunning in her black dress -- shown here with pal Gracia Logue-Sargent who is excited about HER new music project). 
So then there was the night I was at Momo's and ran into original Jug Band bassist Will Dupuy -- and HE said there has been some idle talk about creating "Weary Jug" -- so I thought I would show photos of former Weary Boy Mario Matteoli (who has a new CD out!) -- here backing Cayce Rose and the Mind Games (featuring her brother Derek Hatley and HIS daughter Bianca plus Dave Warren) at Roadhouse Rags (a venue I will begin to attend with frequency now that I have found it) -- and current South Austin Jug Band members Matt Mefford and Dennis Ludiker along with Noah (Nug) Jeffries and (not shown) Jugger Brian Beken in their Sunday at Momo's band Milk Drive. Someday I will write extensively about the Idaho (and Washington State) geniuses who have invited Mufft into their secret society -- but for now suffice it to say that they are all so good that Ludiker, who is the 2008 Texas State Fiddle Champion, plays mostly mandolin in this band, while Jeffries, who once made a good living teaching mandolin and fiddle, here shows off his emerging guitar skills. Now if they would only do a few songs you can play on the radio without bleeping!
On the brink of a breakout show at the Scoot Inn (opening for legends Barbara Lynn and Bobby "Blue" Bland"), T-Bird and the Breaks rocked the house at Threadgill's on July 11th -- the band has another show at Momo's on July 18th with the Lost Pines and the Belleville Outfit -- what a lineup!. You know the band is good when the dancers cut across generational lines (and yes I was among them!) -- and when they dance ALL NIGHT LONG!
And why not? Ever since vocalist/songwriter Tim (T-Bird) Crane and guitarist Sam Patlove left their home in western Massachusetts for the golden shores of Lake Travis, the boys have been picking one four-leaf clover after another. Start with the hot backup vocalists (Stephanie Hunt and Jazz Mills), add in a blazing horn section (trombonist Matt Price, saxman Houston Rawls, and trumpeter >>), throw in Patlove and the amazing John Allison (also with Goldcure!) on guitars, and wrap the whole enchilada around the rhythm section of Marc Lionetti on drums (also with the Lost Pines) and Cody Furr on bass (who actually co-founded the Lost Pines) and you have 10-digit excitement all over the stage. Much Love (also featuring Rawls and Price with trumpeter Scott Standing) really warmed up the crowd with a joyful opening set -- my first time to hear Matt Creaton and this wonderful band (more on them another time). But I had not see T-Bird in months -- and was psyched for the band that keeps everybody on the dance floor! First thing I noticed was the rhythm section -- the thump of the bass drum set the stage for everything else! The boys (and women!) paid tribute -- a little Funky Broadway, a new Al Green cover, and some Eddie Floyd -- but the scary thing is the songs you think HAVE to be classics are really their own -- Blackberry Brandy (destined to BE a classic!), Sunday on My Own, Plenty of Soul, and Tobacco Road, plus John Allison's Takin' All the Blame. This is a million times better than "Sweatin' to the Oldies" for weight and strength control -- and a whole lot more fun, too! [Photos: T-Bird; Bird and her fellow dancers; the Breaks' horn section.]
Of course, Flanfire has seen a LOT more music since his last post -- and yes there are reviews of the new Goldcure and Infinite Partials CD's (and more to come) on the way. There was, for example, the underattended Exit Festival (July 5th) which shut down BEFORE Skyblue 72 (Houston's power trio headed by singer-drummer Jessica Zweback, who were kind enough to lend me their blazing recent CD, "Feel My Way Home," that made me a lifelong fan) was scheduled to play (other bands, too, were bumped). Even so, I got to take in smokin' sets from Blues Mafia (with James Bullard and Aaron Lemke filling in for vacationing guitarist Max Frost and drummer Chris Copeland so well you hardly noticed they were gone), Patrice Pike (in the "treehouse"), Dustin Welch, Suzanna Choffel, and White Ghost Shivers. That very evening I dined at Botticelli's to the music of Joanna Barbera and her band and ended up at the Saxon for Wendy Colonna and HER band (with Chad Pope reaching new heights on guitar). [Photo: Johnny V with former Rock Camp students Kai Roach and Patrick Mertens of Blues Mafia.]
Of course, Flanfire has seen a LOT more music since his last post -- and yes there are reviews of the new Goldcure and Infinite Partials CD's (and more to come) on the way. There was, for example, the underattended Exit Festival (July 5th) which shut down BEFORE Skyblue 72 (Houston's power trio headed by singer-drummer Jessica Zweback, who were kind enough to lend me their blazing recent CD, "Feel My Way Home," that made me a lifelong fan) was scheduled to play (other bands, too, were bumped). Even so, I got to take in smokin' sets from Blues Mafia (with James Bullard and Aaron Lemke filling in for vacationing guitarist Max Frost and drummer Chris Copeland so well you hardly noticed they were gone), Patrice Pike (in the "treehouse"), Dustin Welch, Suzanna Choffel, and White Ghost Shivers. That very evening I dined at Botticelli's to the music of Joanna Barbera and her band and ended up at the Saxon for Wendy Colonna and HER band (with Chad Pope reaching new heights on guitar). [Photo: Johnny V with former Rock Camp students Kai Roach and Patrick Mertens of Blues Mafia.]
And speaking of Miss Colonna, I also caught part of her show at Central Market (photo), which on July 4th hosted a great show with Denmark's Paul Krebs, world traveler Troy Campbell, the 
feisty Dickie Lee Ervin, and Jenifer Jackson (with drummer extraordinaire Billy Doughty and his own fine voice). On one Wednesday I endured the bad sound at the Continental Club for Nathan Singleton but still had a blast and then trekked to Antone's for Ilsa's Birthday Party for a set by three-fifths of Blues Mafia (Sasha was stunning in her black dress -- shown here with pal Gracia Logue-Sargent who is excited about HER new music project). 
Another great memory -- Leeann's Barn Dance featuring Jackson and the Iron City Soul Shakers and Nathan Hamilton and the one-time-only (please, MORE!) reunion of the amazing Sharecroppers -- with David Sawtelle, Mark Utter, Bill Palmer, and Felicia Ford -- with Kim Deschamps sitting in. The joyful crowd demanded a Jackson encore -- so Leeann herself stepped up for "Brown Eyes." Jackson is maybe the ONLY live music performer still at Ego's (Thursdays from 7 to 9).
So then there was the night I was at Momo's and ran into original Jug Band bassist Will Dupuy -- and HE said there has been some idle talk about creating "Weary Jug" -- so I thought I would show photos of former Weary Boy Mario Matteoli (who has a new CD out!) -- here backing Cayce Rose and the Mind Games (featuring her brother Derek Hatley and HIS daughter Bianca plus Dave Warren) at Roadhouse Rags (a venue I will begin to attend with frequency now that I have found it) -- and current South Austin Jug Band members Matt Mefford and Dennis Ludiker along with Noah (Nug) Jeffries and (not shown) Jugger Brian Beken in their Sunday at Momo's band Milk Drive. Someday I will write extensively about the Idaho (and Washington State) geniuses who have invited Mufft into their secret society -- but for now suffice it to say that they are all so good that Ludiker, who is the 2008 Texas State Fiddle Champion, plays mostly mandolin in this band, while Jeffries, who once made a good living teaching mandolin and fiddle, here shows off his emerging guitar skills. Now if they would only do a few songs you can play on the radio without bleeping!Gotta toss in a few kudos to recent Austin visitor Braden Land (who hails from Tupelo and will be back soon) -- blew us away at Momo's happy hour but needs a full house! But if you REALLY want an late afternoon treat, get thee to Momo's for the Randy Weeks show (now THERE's a songwriter -- reminds me of Livingston Taylor). I got to see Randy last with Will Sexton and Rick Poss -- and once again I must remind my friends that there IS music at 5:15 pm most days at Momo's that is far better than what you are listening to at some dive bar -- and when it is not too hot, there is that rooftop patio.
Flanfire -- Bringing LIFE to Austin music.
