Flanfire

I have been lamenting the death of soul music (James Brown has passed!) -- and the fact that both African-American AND Caucasian youngsters have seemed much more interested in such art forms as hiphop, rap, and, well, what I call musical self-destruction. Where are the Doo-Wop groups, where is the power of horns backing tasteful guitars and great backup vocals? Where are the SONGS (not rap poems)? Where is the PASSION, the angst, the mystery of soul? Or to put it another way, who are today's young Arethas, Wilson Picketts -- heck, where are the new Platters and Clyde McPhatters? Where is the MUSIC?

But, Austin -- there is not only a GOD -- there is honest, real, genuine (albeit white-boy) soul music and you can find it at Antone's (where else?) for at least the next two Mondays. [If I were Catholic, I'd be saying a BUNCH of Hail Marys!] But how could this happen? Austin DID of course launch the great career of the legendary Bobby Blue Bland -- whom I sincerely hope will join these lads on stage some day (in my presence, to be sure). But two white kids (Tim and Sam -- see below) from western Massachusetts? With a dream and a prayer they showed up in Austin a few months ago and began rounding up players.

I learned of T-Bird from my beloved Sasha (Ortiz), who with her lifelong BFF Stephanie Hunt forms the female vocal wing of this 10-piece (maybe 11 one day) ensemble that just blew the doors off Antone's on Monday night in what was only their sixth gig ever as a band. But not just vocals -- these two women dance the entire show with their own choreographed moves that have also inspired the horn section to work out their own dance steps (including twirling the trumpet while boogeying). Houston Rawls (nephew of Casper Rawls) is on tenor sax, Scotty from Seattle (just moved here two months ago) is on trumpet, and Matt is on trombone.

Then there is the rhythm section (Cody Furr from Lubbock on bass, Mark Lionetti from San Francisco on drums) -- and the twin guitars -- Sam Patlove and John Allison. But what makes T-Bird tick is lead singer Tim Crane who just never stops moving on stage and belts out classics (like "Tobacco Road" from War or Wilson Pickett's Funky Broadway) and originals (Sunday on My Own, Take Time, or Plenty of Soul). And I think even the drummer is dancing on stage. Certainly large portions of the sizable crowd (flanfire included!) spent much of the night on the Antone's dance floor -- and there were numerous promises to come back next week with half a dozen friends. Maybe you?

As one who has seen lots of music here in the "capitol of the world," but nothing even close to this -- and put together so quickly too. Which means the band has just begun to find out what it can do as a unit. Again, this was their SIXTH SHOW EVER! We haven't even SEEN the daring duo strut away from their falling-off-the-stage posts (band right!) to dance right in the middle of the stage with the lead singer -- and/or belt out a soul power duet. Word on the street is the boys (and gals) are still looking for a keyboard player. Heck, they are just getting around to writing songs together -- and finding their place in the sun here in Austin while trying to organize to go on the road once their debute recording is in the can. We are just waiting for the band to break out into classic James Brown -- complete with Sasha and Steph bringing out the cape. And lest anyone think to be a purist, imitation is the SINCERIST form of flattery -- but these kids have gone beyond imitation to innovation. BRAVO!

Now, this IS Austin, so the opening act tonight was - well, better than Turkish delight. Bruce James I met when he was playing with Sunny Sweeney at the Poodle Dog and later at Jovita's with his own band. Somehow I never got his still-new CD, Junkyard Soul (a problem now fixed -- look for a belated review!), but I had heard most of the songs as belted out through Bruce's gravelly voice. Tonight Bruce had the wonderful Chris Trafton on drums, Jim Spivey on bass, and Austin newcomer David Jimenez (who hails from Harlingen by way of Berklee School of Music) on very satisfying lead guitar. A real find! I loved Bruce's "Superstar," "Snow on Sunset," and "Darker Days" (in particular) as well as his renditions of classics like "You Are My Sunshine" and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" Bruce is playing at III Forks and other places around town. Great to see him.

Again, this IS Austin -- and as noted many of the T-Bird band members "flew in" from all across the country just to meet up here to start their project. But they are hardly the town's only newsomers -- talking with DJ Ruben (who spun some tunes in between sets tonight), I learned he is in a band called Natural Soul whose lead singer, Rhapsody, just moved down from Mendocino -- and I THINK she is so young she had no idea who Doug Sahm is. But she loves funk, soul and reggae (and she is also in for a big surprise when she sees the MauMau Chaplains) and their band has spots of each of these art forms. They're playing out at Ruta Maya soon.

And, as noted, this IS Austin -- so Sunday night we trekked over to Momo't to catch a set from Warren and the HOODlums -- compleat with new Fabulous Thunderbird member Mike Keller. Earlier, we had dropped by the Dirty Dog (where a brand new music scene is beginning) to catch a set from Strumero -- a trio formed recently by singer-songwriter Mike Romero with Michele Garcia on keyboards (she also writes for the band) and percussionist Neal Shotwell (who was very good indeed!). Nice songs in the set to be sure -- and a good feel. Strumero was the first of a number of performers at the Shut Up and Sing! showcase that just moved over from Club 115 (which died a second death last month). Robert Cooperman and Monte Peck (both from American Sideshow) host the weekly series, which includes interaction with songwriters (which means the hosts ask them questions about their music).

And since this IS Austin, earlier on Sunday I was at Maria's Taco X-Press to hang out with PJ Lyles and his Gospel Project -- featuring Jessica Shepherd and Deanne Smith on vocals, Kyle Judd, Will Dunlap, and Tom Cobb on guitars, Lee Vickers on bass, and Tom Dunnam on drums. PJ was still celebrating the story in the Statesman on Christmas Day about their helping provide food and longjohns to the city's homeless. PJ used to sing in the South Austin Gospel Choir, and so when they did a couple of old Choir numbers, he brought up director Renee Fuqua and the irascible Sparky to sing along. What a time of joy for me, as Nancy and I met half of Austin by starting with the Choir.

Well, there's ALWAYS more -- for example, next Sunday Belleville Outfit will play Momo's at eight before the Hoodlums, while the Marshall Ford Swing Band, which played at eight last Sunday, will be back on around midnight next week. What a lineup! Dance all night, dance a little longer. Sing all night, sing a little longer. And blow your troubles away!

Flanfire -- Bringing LIFE to Austin music.