Flanfire

Mary Cutrufello; Chuck Fleming.

What kind of heaven is Austin anyway, when you can go out to Momo's early on a cold Wednesday night and catch an amazing acoustic set from the likes of Mary Cutrufello? But you know what's weird? This A-List performer was practically providing this writer with a private concert. Have we all lost our taste in music, or is everybody just that poor?

Let's just start with the voice -- pure gravel and grit -- that matches the gritty toughness of Mary's lyrics -- from "American Rain" to "Black Maria" to the seldom heard "8-Second Lives," which was written for the documentary, "Chase the Dream," but cut from the soundtrack by a jealous major label that failed to understand that they would have sold MORE records by granting the extra exposure to this wonderful performer. Mary also pulled out the chestnut, "Tonight's the Night," but as a ballad instead of the uptempo version she recorded years ago. But it was Mary's guitar work on songs like "Johnson Motel," "Sonic Girls," and the set finale "Out of the Fire" that showed why this woman is a cut above most of her peers.

Not since Mandy Mercier has Austin been so blessed with a singer whose vocals were shaped by Connecticut winters. Mary spent a decade or so in Houston, made her reputation as an alt-country singer and guitar gunslinger, went to Minnesota for the mosquitoes and snows and lost her voice for years -- but she's back in Texas with even better songs (many on her recent release "35") and a maturity she has paid a price to achieve. Catch her with the Havoline Supremes at John Conquest's NOT SXSW at Opal Divine's Penn Field on March 13th or with her own band at Austin City Hall on March 28th -- but it is well worth the drive to Hondo's on Main in Fredericksburg this Sunday to catch the SOLO MARY show (not to mention the drive itself).

Now for the roundup. Before Mary at Momo's there was Victoria Hammill and a revamped Zeta Five featuring San Antonio piano man Marvin Mitchell (man, that cat can PLAY!) and West Coast gunslinger Phil Brown on guitar (with Mike Howard on bass and Craig Guerin on drums and Ed Hammill on rhythm guitar) -- lots of fun and a great rendition of Neil Young's "Down by the River." Later, I stopped by the Hole in the Wall to catch the debut performance by Chuck Fleming (drummer for the Lonesome Heroes) as a singer-songwriter backed by "The Infamous They" -- Hope Irish on harmony vocals, Seth Gibbs on drums, and Peter Stafford (The Archibalds) on bass. Chuck, who promises product soon, sings about "dancing in the rain," getting his "walking papers" (Read Em and Weep), and being "forsaken by my dreams." And did I really hear him sing, "my girl's a fish"?? Hope (known for her theatrics in her own band) was an absolutely wonderful singing partner for this gentle spirit with the big smile. Read: WARM!

Tuesday featured a quick trip to Momo's to catch Will Dupuy's new venture, La Tampiquena -- with Matt Lara on keyboards, harmonica and accordian (playing Freddie Fender and Flaco songs too) and fellow Lubbockite Spencer Murchison [photo] on mandolin -- plus drums and guitar. Will debuted this band last November with Willie Pipkin sitting in, and the lineup has changed, but what you get is the songs Will made famous in the South Austin Jug Band and more of the same from the sleepy-eyed bass player -- "Doghouse" (hmmm!), "Mountain Whiskey," "Summer Sunset," and lots more. Sort of a combination of whiteboy Tejano and Hill Country hilarity. And, oh yeah, this band is so much fun they even get drummers [Jeff Botta and Nina Singh generating a ball of fire and blue heat] up to dance!

Then it was over to the Scoot Inn to fulfill a promise to Hilary York to catch her cousin's band who had come up from Conroe -- but what a surprise. "Three Fantastic" features cousin Charles Peters on (sometimes screaming, often provocative) vocals and guitar, a writhing Kelly Doyle [yes, he cleaned up the Scoot's dance floor with his back] on lead guitar, David Taschery on drums, and Truman Cox on bass. Can I say, "quirky" -- and yet powerful! Violinist Leah Zeger of the Austin Symphony (okay - her own jazz group is at the Elephant Room on Monday) says this is one of her favorite bands (and that Doyle is a fantastic jazz guitarist, too!). Their "mascot" speaks of "their invention of a scale that uses only 3 notes," "their new time signature 8/8," and "David's unbelievable ability to play sixteenth notes." [That's Leah hanging out with songwriters Gordy Quist and Chris Brecht as they all enjoy the Three Fantastic quartet! And, yes, the date is phony -- stems from laziness.]

SATURDAY MARCH 1

10:00 am Gina Chavez

11:15 am Buttercup

12:30 pm Shotgun Party

1:45 pm Sunny Sweeney

3:15 pm Carolyn Wonderland

4:45 pm The Black and White Years

6:00 pm American Graveyard

SUNDAY MARCH 2

10:00 am Sahara Smith

11:15 am Amy Cook

12:30 pm Nakia with his Southern Cousins

1:45 pm Ray Wylie Hubbard

3:15 pm Future Clouds & Radar

4:30 pm Cerronato

5:45 pm Grupo Fantasma