Flanfire

Will Rich Restaino be Austin's version of Randy Newman? Just listen to his new CD, "Revisionary Man," and you will see what I mean. Rich is intellectual (he's on his way to becoming a certified history teacher) and funny (well, he has a song written from his dog's perspective - "Good Boy"), and well versed in the disconnects associated with too much drinking (must come from growing up in Brooklyn).

I ran into Rich (whom I know from his work with Kris Brown's reggae project - Mr. Brown, aka Family Sauce) at Melissa Mullins' weekly songwriter showcase at El Mercado on South First last week. Now Rich is also a member of the Boxcar Angels, and there is a guy who very much resembles Rich (Fingers McKnuckles) who is half of the punk-doowop duo Late Fees ... and they are playing April 21 at the Dirty Dog Bar -- but I digress.

Indeed, let me start all over. I have been slow in writing of late - lots going on at home and work, and I was out of town three days last week. I DID get out to see Houston's Miss Leslie and Her Juke Jointers on March 29 at the Broken Spoke - a very fine old-line country and swing dance band, as evidenced by my observations of long, tall Brennen Leigh on the dance floor (along with the lovely and talented Sunny Sweeney and various others). This band was good enough for Winker to get out his camera and take some shots of the action. They will surely return -- Miss Leslie (Lindley) can really emote - and she plays a little fiddle, too. Her hubby Randy Lindley plays guitar, and the band at times includes pedal steel player Ricky Davis (who is well known to Dale Watson fans). A lot of her songs are written by Rockdale banjo player Jake Jenkins, but the band includes a real upright piano and a small drum kit. It is good to see that Houston keeps pumping out fine musicians.

I did not get back in town for Saturday's show at Ruta Maya with Mark Ambrose and Steve Ulrich (and others), but did catch up with them last week at Trophy's -- where the extra added attraction was the revival of Duane's Burden (featuring Matt Silasky on bass and mean looks, Perry Drake on drums, and Brian on guitar and psychedelic looks. I missed Matt Williams' set, but caught him a few days later at Threadgill's Old No. 1 -- he has a lot of new songs (newer than those on his recent CD) and hopes to record in late summer after continuing to travel around the country (writing more songs, we suppose) and occasionally visiting friends and family here in Austin, in South Carolina, in New York City (where he picks up the PACE!) and everywhere in between. The young lad is quite the troubadour. As is Mister Ulrich, whose performances have taken on an extra air of professionality of late (could it have anything to do with his lovely spouse Elizabeth?). The Leadbelly and Me CD provides a real look into a man who has evolved from quirky songwriter (Swedes in Minnesota and other favorites) to serious commentator on the human condition. [But then many of his old songs were just disguised deeper thoughts on serious subjects - that sometimes went over some people's heads. One day people will discover Steve Ulrich and recognize just how profound he has become.