Flanfire

I got a call earlier this week from my pal Seth Hulbert. Said he and Brennen (Leigh) were playing Happy Hour at Patos Tacos on 38-1/2 Street (just east of the Fiesta Mart). Now THAT was interesting to me, as I had not realized that Patos Tacos had fully rebuilt and reopened after the disastrous fire there a couple of years ago. So, naturally, I HAD to go and visit an old haunt that was always a fun place to be back when I would go and hear Harmoni Kelley's old band WorkHorse and nibble on some tasty morsels and shoot some pool with buds and just relax. In THOSE days, Patos had a front room and such, but the real action was out on the patio and in the back room where the stage was. Nowadays, the totally rebuilt emporium has a big stage in the main room - and the pool tables are off to the side to the right. On a nice day, many folks are sitting out front on the patio, where they are not able to hear the music. Right now, there is live music mostly from Thursday through Sunday.

Today, it was just Seth and Brennen, but on occasion you can hear Chadd Thomas and the Crazy Kings (a real rockabilly treasure) or Jim Stringer in various renditions - including the three part harmonies of Stringer, Karen Poston, and Susanna Van Tassel as The Hummingbirds. Karen has asked ALL of her fans to come out to Patos on Sunday, October 17, for her birthday party - complete with cake (but bring more!) - for the gig that starts at 6 pm. Do come hungry and thirsty - and bring friends. Patos has been open for a few months, but in reality they are still touching up the paint out front and have been continuing to rebuild since they reopened. They have yet to have a full-fledged grand reopening party. Perhaps the October 17 Hummingbirds show will be such an occasion - Please bring party hats.

There IS a tie-in between the Hummingbirds and Seth and Brennen - I ran into all of them at the Carousel Lounge tonight when I went to hear Maria Mabry (and friends). The Hummingbirds had the early shift, and Maria went on after nine with Seth on bass, Brennen on fiddle and vocals, Mike Cherry from Dark Holler on dobro and vocals, North Dakota emigre Leo Rondeau (an old friend of Seth's and DONT ASK BRENNEN!) on acoustic guitar, and Maria on drums. Over half of their set was gospel music, from The Old Rugged Cross to The Sweet By and By, as requested (we are told) by the management at the Carousel. A real highlight was the two-girl duet on Hello Stranger. But, folks, this was the first time this quintet (playing as Kalin Rose) had played together in public, and they were a little rough - but always fun to watch.

This coming Sunday holds forth lots of promise -- the fourth anniversary HOOT party and fundraiser at Antone's from 4 till 8, featuring Tom Stevens and a host of players from the club and then Ted Roddy and the King Konjure Kombo --- and then at six, out at Westlake United Methodist Church, Ruthie Foster and Cyd Cassone will be performing in a benefit for the Clavier-Werke School of Music - for details, call 512-328-5777. My connection is that good pal Kerry Polk teaches KinderMusik to my grandson at Clavier Werke. Jenny Reynolds also teaches guitar at the school.

Speaking of Jenny, she will join the Queen of South Austin music - Miss Shelley King - at Artz Rib House for a song swap session on Saturday, October 16. Be there and cheer on Jenny's and my Red Sox in their hopefully continued quest for a World Series victory.