Flanfire

I got to know Hilary York when she and Aimee Bobruk were hosting a songwriter showcase at the Scoot Inn. I have seen Hilary and her sultry alto voice numerous times -- and have never been disappointed. But I had NEVER seen this blonde bombshell with a full band until last week at the Continental Club at a show she put together that also included sets from Claire Hamilton and The Breathers and Li'l Cap'n Travis.

It is little wonder that Hilary (playing duos with the likes of Joe Reyes and Kullen Fuchs) has been such a hit at the Driscoll -- she's Julie London all over again. [Wikipedia describes London's voice as "slow, smoky, and sensual," and Hilary too is as gorgeous as that World War II pinup girl!] Her last record, "The Moon," was done in part in San Antonio with that nefarious bunch of characters known as Buttercup [and in part in Austin with the equally nefarious Mark Addison the star maker].

At the Continental, her band included Fuchs (on Wurlitzer and trumpet), Reyes on lead guitar, Zachary Firnhaber on bass, Clay Fain on drums, and the wonderful Julie Lowery (whose band The Service Industry has a CD release at Emo's on November 28th) on harmony vocals. The truth is I was having too much fun to write down anything about the set list, but it is impossible to forget "Parlour Tricks" The party level jumped up considerably when Hilary's go-go dancers jumped up on the stage (see photo) -- and yet the highlight of the evening may have been later when Jeff Johnston and Li'l Cap'n Travis encouraged Hilary (and Kullen) to join in on "Wichita Lineman." Hilary was simply radiant .. we MUST have MORE of Hilary with a full band.

As for the Breathers, my introduction to Claire Hamilton was through Eldridge Goins, who produced the band's 2003 album, "Work and Sleep." But that was with an entirely different band (Landis Armstrong on guitar, for example) -- these days Claire has the Gary Newcomb Trio (with Billy Doughty and Brandon Gonzalez) with Gary playing his Fender, not his pedal steel -- and blowing away an audience full of guitar players. Claire and the boys did songs from their 2006 CD, "I'm Still Curious," and some newer songs, including my favorites "One Is One" and "1,000 Million." Good Grief! PLEASE play more gigs and get some new product out!

I have to mention Blues Mafia, playing in the wind at Nuno's North (just look at Sasha's hair!), getting ready for their Ireland trip, and the B Sterling Band, with some new members, rocking the house at the Carousel. Mister Archer may be the tallest lead singer in Austin since Luke Axtell -- but there are OTHER reasons to look up to him. I also got out to the Hole in the Wall the other night for Leo Rondeau -- who FINALLY has a fiddle in his band! And it's not Missy Beth (shown here with Izzy Cox, with whom she will be playing some shows at the Carousel and at Beerland on November 18th). What a hoot THAT will be -- the queen of the murder ballad joined with Alaska's gift to fun and frolic!