Compiling the “best of Austin 2009″ into a single disc is no easy feat but the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau has managed to do so, picking 14 genre-crossing songs from artists like Del Castillo, Jimmie Vaughn, Willie and the Wheel, Sarah Jarosz and The Daze.
At the CD launch at the Gibson Guitar Showroom we caught up with The Daze whose song “Blizzard Woman Blues” was included on the record.
The musical community of Austin is always ready to lend a hand when one of their own needs a little help, usually by way of a benefit show with an incredible line-up like the Monday night show at Antone’s benefitting Will Sexton who had a mild stroke in December. While he can still play guitar (he even played at the show), remembering songs (including his own) is still difficult and he’s been instructed to take things “a little slower.”
There’s no question, Carolyn Wonderland can put on a fantastic show and her pre-Valentine’s day gig at Antone’s was a small demonstration of the talent that’s earned her dozens of awards including best female vocalist and best blues band in the 2009 Austin Music Awards.
With banjos, accordions, clarinets and even a gut-bucket bass in town, Canadian band Po’ Girl stopped by Momo’s Club Friday night as part of their “No Shame” tour.
Playing a sampling of new tunes from their upcoming record, “Follow Your Bliss” (due out in May) as well as some “oldies” the four-piece band with Allison Russell, Awna Teixeira, Benny Slidelinger (guitars) and Mikey “Lightning” August (drums) charmed the audience with their blend of folk, roots and originality.
Canadian folk group Po’ Girl will be touring February and March to raise money to benefit two child abuse prevention organizations, the National Children’s Alliance in the USA and Little Warriors in Canada.
The Villains, a rocking debut and independent label DCM release, is an evident labor of love from a six-piece group of musicians each bringing an elemental different style yielding the creation of a refined collaborative release. The diversity within the band is the secret ingredient.
In essence, The Villain’s solid corner stones are six great musicians, well-written lyrics — written and co-written by Dan Call, finely honed harmonies, and terrific melodies.
Patty Griffin never expected to make a gospel record. In fact, she figured that “Wiggley Fingers” from her 1998 release Flaming Red effectively ruined any chance she might have had; after all she is a self-described “lapsed Catholic.”
But with Downtown Church, her new collection of spiritual standards (and a couple of originals) she proves she has the soul and the pipes to dabble in the music of Sunday morning services and stained glass windows like the ones in Nashville’s beautiful Downtown Presbyterian Church where she recorded the album.
After spending more than a decade in Central America, Grant Peeples returned to the States to record his record Pawnshop, an alt-country album that he’s selling on the “trust system” which means listeners send him $15 after they receive their copy from his website.
He recently took a few minutes to answer some of our questions by email about his music and inspiration.
