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Flanfire (Duggan Flanakin) is bringing LIFE to Austin music -- and telling the world how sweet it is!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Kim Deschamps: Singer-Songwriter!
Canadians Kim Deschamps, Bryce Clifford, and
Andrew Walker and the Yellow Rose of Texas;
Calvin Russell with Kim and Andrew.
Most folks around Austin (Toronto, too!) who know transplanted Canadian Kim Deschamps as the pedal steel and dobro player for Charlie Robison, the Cowboy Junkies, Blue Rodeo, and what has become a parade of younger bands in the Austin area (the Mother Truckers, the Texas Sapphires, Bryce Clifford ... the list goes on of people whose music he has made better by his presence).
On Monday night, for the first time in a while (anyone remember Kim's band with Willie from the Jug Band and drummer Ram Zimmerman that played a few gigs at
Momo's well over a year ago?), Kim sat in with Austin outlaw Calvin Russell and fellow Ontarian Andrew Walker, who is back in Austin for several gigs in November (including the Edge City songwriter showcase on November 16 at the Alligator Grill, along with Abi Tapia and Adam Carroll).
On this night Kim was sandwiched in between Russell, whose songs (in Ram's words) hit you like "a left hook right in the mouth," and Walker, whose style is akin to Michael Fracasso and Jimmy LaFave. He offered a variety of his tunes ranging from the very jazzy "Night Crossing" (which is on his 1988 Canadian CD, "Take Me Away," to newer songs about Santa Monica, California, and the Land of Milk and Honey, and livened up the breaks with a variety of stringed tools from his playpen. Just for openers, on the 1988 CD Kim is credited with playing guitar, pedal steel and lap steel guitars, bottleneck slide, Greenfield Hawaiian guitar, baritone guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, harmonica, electric piano, and bass.
The bottom line -- it's about time for Kim to find the time to lay down tracks to showcase songs he has written since moving to Texas several years ago. He's gutty, gritty, and has a ton of stories. And, as usual, he did not take a single song off during the 2-hour set, contributing to Calvin's and Andrew's songs -- and to three songs from Bryce Clifford that were originally going to be done during the break (which never happened). Bryce, incidentally, played Andrew's Gibson acoustic - and the results were so good he may have to get one of his own.
As for Calvin Russell, let's just say he was very generous with the audience and his colleagues -- just as he is when playing before packed houses in European venues. It's kinda crazy -- the guy is a big star in Europe and yet only the "in crowd" seems to even be aware of his existence in his own hometown. Still with his jut-set chin and crackling wit, the maestro brought out oldies like "Rats and Roaches," "A Crack in Time," "I Want To Change the World," and the clearly autobiographical (as if the others are not!) "Country Boy" (even if there ain't no country any more). [Editor's note: LOTS of Austin musicians did come out to the show, many to see Calvin .. including my old pal (and fabulous jazz guitarist) Pat McCann and fellow Troubadillo Ron Erwin.]
Calvin kept looking intently at Andrew Walker during every song the youngster in the trio contributed to the set - some of which ("Old 81," for example) were from his 2002 Canadian release, "Floating Shift" (previously reviewed by Flanfire) and others were newer songs that Andrew has been laying down in the studio for a forthcoming release. Andrew will be sitting in with the Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers this Sunday and playing at Casbeer's in San Antonio on November 15, and crooning with Shelley King at Artz' Rib House on November 22 - and he is doing a show in the Waco area, too.
Last Saturday I went out to Jollyville City Limits - the brainchild of Austin musician Bourland and D. P. Dunn that began in 1995 and remains a project of some members of the Austin Songwriters Group - to see Rich Restaino both solo and with members of his bawdy bordello band, "The Late Fees." What can I say? After Rich entertained folks with his witty songs from the CD reviewed earlier by Flanfire, some guy named Fingers McKnuckles (Rich on guitar) and Jimmy Z (on vocals) and sidekicks Hunt Stillborn III and Wylie E. Peyote [yes, the band was missing its female members] eulogized the music of Dion and Bo Diddley and the prescience of Rocky V and the "virtues" of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. All kidding aside, my favorite tune of the night was Rich's live debut of his tribute song to Hunter Thompson (which is on his CD).
Mundi-Ful!
From the ridiculous backward to the sublime -- last Thursday I was invited by pal Ric Furley out to see Mundi, the neoclassical ensemble for which he plays percussion (his other big current gig is with Sabbath Crow, which is not that unusual since metal is after all loud and fast classical music). Music director Darrel Mayers plays guitar, with Carolyn Hagler on cello, Mario Gonzalez on bass, and Bruce Colson on violin. Mundi spent part of the past summer touring Spain and performing in ancient Spanish churches - which is doubly fine given that their repertoire includes cantigas composed in
Cellist Carolyn Hagler; violinst Bruce Colson.
honor of the 13th century Spanish King Alphonse (the Alphonse Suite) and two other centuries-old Spanish compositions -- plus the title cut, "The Book and the Flower," and many more awe-inspiring numbers (some of which are Mayers' own).
Best of all, the event was held at the Artisan Ballroom at the Barr Mansion (well, the Spanish tapas and wines were good, too!) - one of the most beautful venues I have ever seen (a 40-foot ceiling, a waterfall, a huge mural of Adam and Eve in the Garden, a wooden stage, and an all-glass front that opens out into the mansion's lovely gardens. I drive by the Barr Mansion many times a year (nice countryside out east of town) but never even knew this place existed -- but I want to hold my next festival there (once I inherit my fortune).
In music tidbits -- did I mention the brand-new Bells of Joy CD (available at Waterloo and online) that features the Original Bells of Joy with Kimmie Rhodes, Willie Nelson, Bobby Rush, Chip Taylor and Joe Ely? Folks, this HISTORIC compilation is the first NEW release in over half a century (and a couple or so of the ORIGINAL members are still "running for Jesus" on THIS recording). Bells of Joy (the record) includes ten standards (Willie joins in on "I'll Fly Away," and Joe Ely on "Sinner Man"), an original by A. C. Littlefield ("Any Way You Bless Me," featuring Bobby Rush), and Chip Taylor's "Son of Man" - plus the song "Bells of Joy" featuring Kimmie Rhodes (which she wrote with the band). Can we all give a BIG AMEN to Dialtone Records?
Ahh -- the problems of being a music lover in Austin! Friday night Momos Club opens at 8 with the beautiful Suzanna Choffel, and the boys in Black Water Gospel play at 10 (with Matt Mollica on Hammond B3 and Son Volt guitarist Brad Rice), but at the very same time the Welgerms (formerly Son Of Man - this band features the songs of Schulenberg native Ronnie Guentzel, cousin to the Ginn Sisters, and features the blazing sticks of Carter Acevedo and Moshe on bass) are on stage at the Hole in the Wall ( before Ricky Stein and his new mother-approved haircut).
