Flanfire

Brennen Leigh is growing up. Catching her set at Beck's on Congress on Wednesday evening, I noticed first off she was wearing a stylish black dress for her solo outing .. no longer in blue jeans, and no longer hiding her own songs under a bushel. Despite the drip drip of spitting rain, Brennen sang the songs that have come straight from her heart and very active (and very old-timey) mind - mostly from her last two CD's, both made here in Austin. Do check out our recent review of the new CD, "Devil on My Trail," and catch Brennen (and some tasty vittles) at the Evangeline Cafe on Brodie Lane on Tuesdays at six.

Even better news later that evening was seeing the incredible Eleanor Whitmore (no longer in dreads, and with her curly hair a lovely shade of red) on fiddle backing sister Bonnie on stage at Beck's -- again, outdoors despite the raindrops that were miraculously held back from steady flows until later in the evening. Eleanor has moved back to Austin and full-time work as a musician ... and that will surely make studios and singers (including Slaid Cleaves) happy.

Friday night I slipped out to TC's Lounge on Webberville Road to see the debut of bassist Vance Abeyta with Tahni and the Toneheads. The joint was already rocking when I walked in and was ordered to the dance floor by the emcee for the evening, the lovely and lovable Yolanda. The sound was a little rough (things were behind schedule, so no sound check), but the energy was very high as Tahni, Vance, and drummer Neal Hampton blasted out songs from her new CD, Sweet Spot, and her earlier CD "Back Again." Best of all were the harmony vocals by the Hot Chocolates - sisters Tina and Carissa Allen (who later, I am told, were to sing backup for the soulful Phillip Alexander). Tina also sang one of her own originals and brought down the house - and Tahni brought up Ed Patterson for the duet on "Back Again" - this song is pure R&B as it asks the age old question, "Am I Losin' You?" I had to leave early, but Phillip gave me a demo pressing of his forthcoming CD, "Deep Young Bump."

Phillip's dad Kirk Alexander was the drummer for The Crimson Tide, some of whose members joined together with members of the singing group The Embers to form Amnesty back in the late Sixties - and later Amnesty reformed as a funk powerhouse (their biggest hit, "Everybody Wants To Be Free"). Phillip, however, will be known for his hunky vocals and smooth jazz-funk sound. He is playing at TC's again sometime in April.

Then on Saturday, I went to Ego's to catch a set by the Canadian Bryce Clifford, and stayed to hear some old-time honky tonk from James Intveld, who blew into town for a week of performances at the Continental Club (with Dale Watson), Ginny's Little Longhorn, and Ego's ... Intveld has been the lead guitarist for the Blasters, Dwight Yoakum's upright bassist, and an actor (dubbing Johnny Depp's singing parts for Cry, Baby, and costarring with Billy Bob Thornton in the upcoming film, "Chrystal." In the house for the gig were guitar biggies like Rosie Flores and Kenny Vaughn (currently lead guitarist for Marty Stuart, known in Austin for his work with Lucinda Williams and many others).

With a band that included the legendary Billy Dee on bass, Intveld banged out originals and classics while the large, boisterous crowd danced and twirled and whooped and hollered (as they had done for Clifford earlier - his set was very well received, including by a whole host of Canadians down for SXSW). Originals from his two CD's (a new one is on the way) included Somewhere Down the Road, Stringin' Me On, and Remember Me, and Perfect World. Classics included one of my very favorites - Stop the World (and Let Me Off) and many others. Intveld gave props to his band members, encouraging Dee and lead guitarist Rick Shea (once with Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men) to sing one of their own originals and plug their own CD's.

With family (from my 94-year-old still partying mother Eluida to our newest - born February 9 - red-headed grandson Abraham) in town, this was a very quiet SXSW week for me ... but what it was, was outstanding. More to come soon ....

ADDENDUM

It was back to Canada at Ego's on Sunday night (rain and all) for a set by singer-songwriter Andrew Walker (who lived in Austin for a while and is in town for another week this time) and then a special treat - Canadian Juno Award (winners to be announced April 2) nominees Elliott Brood, which started off as a duo, Casey Laforet on guitar and Mark Sasso on guitar and banjo and ukulele but added drummer Steve Pitkin after he served as engineer on their debut CD. Songs include "Cadillac Dust" and "Alberta" - very Canadian stuff. These guys play what they call "death country" - dark, gritty folk music built around whiskey-drenched vocals and lyrics evoking images of love, loss and murder. Legend has it that the original Elliott Brood was an unfortunate man whose murderer stole his songs after killing him - yes, things get a little hairy in the deep north woods.

Walker was backed by fellow Canuck (but emerging Texan) Kim Deschamps on pedal steel (and on a 1930 lap steel made in Alberta, Canada, that is quite an instrument) on a dozen songs, starting with a cover of a Mance Lipscomb classic (all the other songs were his own). "Drivin' Out of Texas" is one of his new ones (not on his 2003 CD Floating Shift), and it features his harmonica playing, but "Devil Angel" shows by its very soul that this is a man who knows the loneliness of the vast expanse that is our neighbor to the north - a songwriter on a par with Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor. On "The Long Way," Walker says he "can't believe that I just stuck around here half my life...." Another song, set in eastern Montana in 1910, tells of "homesteading on the Milwaukee Road" and reminds me oddly enough of Jimmy LaFave singing about "On a Bus to St. Cloud." Walker's music is quiet and reflective - he was very glad to have picked up a copy of Sam Baker's amazing 2004 release, "Mercy," one of the most beautiful collections of songs I have ever heard. When you look him up on the web, go to andrewwalkermusic.com and myspace/andrewwalkermusic (because there is a guy from West Virginia by the same name)....