Flanfire

Twas a Tom Stevens Christmas - at Maria's Taco X-Press to benefit the Christmas Bureau of Austin. Twas a chilly evening (even the Canadians were wearing warm coats), with Maria's outdoor heaters blaring and Christmas lights a blazing. Twas an evening of warm joy and great music. Opening the set (before we arrived) was Shelley King singing Silent Night with Carolyn Wonderland playing guitar. We arrived in time for short sets by Matt Williams (wearing a cool hat) and Peter Mazzetti on guitar - and got to see Matt Hubbard on trombone, Al Sato on dobro, Francie Meaux Jeaux on standup bass, and more. Then it was Eileen Alter doing two of her own songs solo and Eppy Epstein on harmonica, followed by Frank Meyer (also wearing a cool hat) who sang a few tunes that split our sides. After J. B. Henry showed us some of his harmonica tricks, and Al Sato let us know how Santa gets the blues and Rebecca Pitts did a Joni Mitchell sad Christmas song, Canadian import Andrew Walker (whose galpal Preeti was in the house, all the way from Ontario) sang one of his own songs and then an old carol his grandma had taught him years ago.

Then the place began to really heat up. Old Vermont Yankee Jon Emery sang a few carols, closing with Joy to the World, and then Hawaii emigre Jimi Lee (well, he did spend a few years there before coming back to Texas) brought up Carolyn Wonderland and Kole El-Salah for a delightful three-song set that featured his smooth harmonica and vocals and lots of keyboard and guitar licks from the mates. Somewhere in the mix was Matt Hubbard again - on keyboards and harmonica and some recorder-type instrument and later Matt and Kole joined Carolyn for another toasty set. We got cold and left just before Leeann Atherton and pals brought down the house to close the evening out.

So then we turn on the TV and there is Adam Sandler on Letterman - true, he and Dave had some banter, but what we want to report is Sandler's live rendering of Werewolves of London (complete with his hot guitar solo), from the new Warren Zevon tribute CD "Enjoy Every Sandwich" that also features Bob and Jakob Dylan, Springsteen, the Pixies, and Billy Bob Thornton and many more top stars. What a contrast to Operaman - perhaps my favorite Sandler routine of all time.

BIG BIG BIG BIG NEWS!!!!! Those awaiting with bated breath the sensational Sis Deville show at Antone's on Sunday night (December 19th, doors open at 8 pm) must now go out to the byways and backwoods to bring in all of their long-lost friends. Opening the evening will now be a special performance by ANN-MARIE AND HER CLOUD EIGHT EXPERIENCE featuring Ann-Marie Harrop on bass and lead vocals, Perry Drake on drums, and (Michael) Jackson on strange guitar and pimped-up threads. So Sunday night is a time to find appropriate clothing (suitable for dancing) and appropriate friends (anyone who likes to have a good time) and get on down to Antone's for the hottest show of this Christmas season.