Flanfire

It is always interesting going to to a Natalie Zoe show - because just about every time you go she has different, and usually very interesting, players alongside her -- even if she has to drag them out of the audience. For example, rumor has it that Natalie pulled Kevin Hollingsworth away from his wife's birthday dinner party at Woody's South last Wednesday to join her onstage .. and he loved it. Tonight (Saturday) the perky one was playing outside at North by Northwest (NXNW), a cool bistro up in the Gateway area (360 at Stonelake - and remember this place!) whose claim to fame is their own home-brewed beers!

Her guest of honor was young guitarist (and we hear he plays just about everything else) David Scher, who is Berklee-bound (we have been told) next month. Joining the party was percussionist Peter Kaplan, a pre-Katrina New Orleans emigre to Dallas (can you believe it?) who was to be gigging with Scher later in the evening at Eddie V's (I think). Mind you, Scher is a longtime friend of the family (who may have coaxed the elusive Sasha - Natalie's sometime backup singer and fulltime daughter - to come out later than I was able to stay) -- but Kaplan had never even MET Miss Zoe until just before the show. Of course even winging it he was pretty much fun and added a lot to the show. Natalie gave Scher extra time to sing while she underwent a wardrobe change in mid-gig, and the lad took full advantage of the opportunity.

Scher was superb accompanying Natalie on songs that ranged from the Chet Baker jazz classic "But Not for Me" to the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday" but he really shone while performing his own compositions, including "What Is This World Coming To?" and "I Thought about You." It never ceases to amaze me first that Natalie runs across so many very different talented musicians and second that she gets them all to play on stage with her (well, now, that's not so hard a stretch!).

Had to leave the show early despite very good company (KK and Doc), but I was desperate for tamales and birthday cake ... and hanging out with old friends.... In other big news about Austin's young talent, The Steps are playing an afternoon show on Sunday, July 16, at Jovita's.