Flanfire

As one who has been the recipient of much love from a benefit concert, I do what I can to get out to concerts aimed at benefitting others in need. Friday night at Ruta Maya was no exception -- Jen Marchand was hit by a car driven by an uninsured motorist and required extensive surgery (she looks GREAT again!). So naturally, many of her friends showed up to help out -- from Carolyn Wonderland (and others whom I missed) to Fastball (as an acoustic duo), the Murdocks (punk-pop trio, great set!), the Summer Wardrobe (without John Leon, but with producer-guitar god Mark Addison showing great chops and higher energy on a white Epiphone guitar that looked a lot like the one Jon Sanchez uses too), the Alice Rose (first time I have seen them), Chili Cold Blood, and the tower of power Amplified Heat (lots of ancient Fender amps, double bass kicks, and lots of hair on the Ortiz brothers).

But I started off the evening at Austin Java (out in the c-o-l-d) with Gina Chavez and Austin newcomer Matt Maye. Now here is a New Yorker (upstate!) with a nice vocal style and good songs -- like "Burning the Exits Tonight,"The Desert in Her Heart," "Halfway There," and "I'm Right Beside You." I'd love to hear this guy with a band with a piano -- lots of poetry in his lyrics that just beg for music that reflects the colors and tones he is laying out there. "Please Stay" opens with some chords reminiscent of Neil Young's "Razor Love," while the desert song reminds one of Glenn Frey and the Eagles. Halfway There cries out for a jazz guitar solo. This guy is of the Andrew Walker school of songwriting -- maybe it's that cold-weather winter thing. Matt plays January 27th at the Dirty Dog and in February at Cafe Caffeine and the Irie Bean. Gina, meanwhile, was her usual radiant self -- brought up a friend visiting from New York City to sing harmonies on several of her songs .. including the newbie, "Don't Let Go" (title guess!).

Then it was over to Jovita's to catch a shortened set from Mandy Mercier and Marvin Dykhuis with Tommy Taylor on drums and Andy Salmon on bass. Folks -- our pal Mayo is not well but of course refuses to let anyone lock up the place so he can get a little rest. But seven songs was enough -- Mandy opened with "Get There," which she just sang for my Nancy last Saturday, then did a song she wrote "a long time ago" with Andy -- "Break My Heart." Later Mandy took up her fiddle on two songs Marvin sang -- "White Horse" and (written by John Hartford's son Jamey) "Good Things Happen When You're Around."

Just a few words about the Ruta Maya doings. I had never seen Miles and Tony singing as an acoustic duo -- but man that was good! Summer Wardrobe has been in the studio with Mister Addison working on a new CD. I had heard some of the songs they did (all new music) at the Hole in the Wall a while back, and already knew all of the words to (for example) "One Longtime Feeling," but Mark and Jon just TORE IT UP on the guitar solos. Addison was all over the stage and having more fun than a guy "his age" is supposed to be able to have without a LOT of liniment the next morning. One song was about switching graves , and there was another brand new one about being dead. Jonny also does great work tuning pianos ... and be sure to catch him and John Leon on stage with Roky Erickson (and Billy Givens) on Austin City Limits this week.

On another note, I have been meditating a lot lately about the absolute necessity that everyone in a band must remember that what they do as individuals -- good or bad -- might impact the entire band. What brought this to mind was a story told last Saturday about my wonderful Nancy -- how she insisted on learning Spanish and getting her Spanish teacher to come to the office for group lessons for her co-workers. That little bit of extra effort turned into a major contract with a Mexican women's domestic violence group that Nancy's boss says will be helping women in Mexico for years to come.

SO I got to thinking about how when most band members are taking lessons, growing in their craft, and others are just stagnating, living off yesterday's gifts, the whole band's energy can get off a little, and then a little more .. same thing when one or two members show up late, stoned, or otherwise unable to play at their highest skill level. Confirmation? Just ask Jim Morrison's bandmates from The Doors how much money -- and respect -- they lost because of his on- and off-stage drunkenness. [Most of you could find examples much closer to home!]

Two thoughts -- If you ARE the person who is screwing around while your mates are working hard, you could opt to let them find someone else more committed (without a nasty fight) or change your own behavior and make them much happier partners in music and life. If you are in the other shoes, well - one band I know fired a bass player briefly and that led to a lot more honest discussion and some real changes that improved the whole band as well as the members' interpersonal relationships. Main point is -- do not let such differences, real or just perceived, fester because that can lead to ugly blowups. Second point -- remember that in a band, what one member does impacts every other member (not to mention their families and friends). So being on the same page -- or at least compatible pages -- matters a lot.

End of "sermon."

Flanfire -- Bringing LIFE to Austin music.