Flanfire

EliZa at Zilker ... in perfect weather. Can it get any better than this? My bud Kevin Hollingsworth had invited me down to Zilker Elementary School for their annual fundraiser and I felt compelled to go. Had NOTHING AT ALL to do with the fact that the lineup included Handy multi-winner Marcia Ball, Grammy nominee Eliza Gilkyson, the legendary Darden Smith, Leeann Atherton, and Misspent Youth (a band of youngsters whose reputation is growing fast about town and whose chops are increasingly excellent). Kevin had already jammed with Leeann by the time I got there, at the end of the Youth's set (they also played later at the Allilgator Grill, and I caught only snippets of that very hot set).

But there was long, tall Marcia Ball - all by herself on the big stage that parents and friends of the school built with proceeds from earlier annual soirees as part of an outdoor learning center. [Yes, the school, like many others in town, has plenty of temporary classroom buildings, too. And, yes, last year's headliners for the show included The Gourds and Dale Watson - at an elementary school party!] One cannot say enough about how Marcia gives it all to her audience. She encouraged the kids in the audience to stay in school and NOT to follow her example (she dropped out of LSU to move to Austin after what was it - one semester or one year? - but then introduced her short-term college roommate to a guy playing bass in her band at the time, and 30 years later that pair is still together and living in Austin). One dude in the audience mentioned that Marcia today may be better looking than she was 20 years ago. One thing's for certain - she can still kick those long legs around a piano and boogie woogie all night long (wearing out much younger drummers and other players, we are told). I believe she mentioned a new CD on the way very soon.

Also awaiting the release of a new CD (Paradise Hotel, due in August, from which she opened with the title cut), Eliza brought out her son Cisco Ryder as percussionist, along with guitarist Mike Hardwick (whose wife teaches at Zilker) and as added spice, guitarist Rich Brotherton (who told me he is just finishing up his production work on a new Robert Earl Keen recording). Eliza has two more Austin gigs (tonight at Threadgill's and Tuesday at the Cactus with Richard Thompson) before heading to Europe (Holland and England) with Jeff Plankenhorn for about a month - then it's Kerrville.

Eliza and the boys did songs like "Highway 9" and "Peace Call" off The Land of Milk and Honey and perhaps my personal favorite, "Beauty Way," from Hard Times in Babylon. Her performance came just as twilight was surrending to evening, and at the end of her set the entire crowd appeared to be comforted and warmed. Last I had seen her on stage was at Mike Fracasso's CD release, where she sang backup vocals along with fellow Grammy nominee Patty Griffin. Mike gets back today from his two week tour of Japan, and I am eager for some of his stories of that journey to be turned into songs.

Our evening did not end early, as we moved over to the Alligator to party with Rene Harmon and catch a little of the Shelley King Band set before turning into pumpkins. After all, it's a long SHAGGY day today.

Thursday evening I decided to take the frau out to NXNW for a draught brew and some wild duck and a few songs from the precious Natalie Zoe (with guitarist John Heagle, another Wisconsin import by way of New York City). Heagle played florets of notes on his Gibson electric as Natalie sang mostly other people's songs (Georgia on My Mind, by Hoagy Carmichael, Ruby Tuesday by the Rolling Stones, and a couple of Stephen Bruton numbers come to mind). The gal is recovering from carpal tunnel surgery on her strumming arm (with another arm to go), but is a trouper and did not want to miss the show. Last time I had been to their outdoor stage was to hear Shelley King back when the place had no real stage and absolutely no shade. Now they have the entire patio enclosed and covered with a tentlike structure to keep out the sun, the birds, and most of the other flying things.

Nat also mentioned that I should go see Beth Garner (who had introduced her to Heagle) and Harmoni Kelley (of the Gene Pool) at Ego's on a Monday night, and given that Harmoni is practically my own daughter's big sister (long story), I will certainly get down there. She also mentioned the soon opening of a new club, The 115, at 115 San Jacinto, where she will be hosting a songwriters' showcase starting sometime in May. Place is rumored to have some super sound.