Fredonia! A new band in town

A friend of ours plays bass in this new band that was playing at Parker a few weeks ago. They got their name from an old Marx Brothers film. Christopher Cross is the leader.

South by San Jose

These horn players were part of a band playing in the parking lot outside Hotel San Jose during South by Southwest.

Uranimum Savages rise again

This band, named Uranium Savages, was a popular act here in town back in the seventies. They got together for a reunion show at Waterloo Records a few days ago. The singer is Kerry Awn.

Dale Watson Entertains

Local talent Dale Watson and his band played for the crowd at Wooldridge Square Park's recent reopening.

Horns and Hooves

You may have to click on this photo I shot Sunday morning to understand the context here. This "World Gone Mad" band was serenading the runners in the Capitol 10,000 race. They were playing some excellent tunes!

Dale Watson Entertains ACVB

We were invited to a Austin Convention and Visitor's Bureau Client Appreciation at the Velocity Lounge at the Circuit of the Americas last night. (FFP is on the board where his position is listed as 'patron of the arts.') Dale Watson and his band entertained with a panoply of country tunes. Great fun. This was the first time we'd been to the track.

SPEAK to me

Last Sunday we wandered away from downtown (which was filling up with St. Patrick's Day celebrants) and went to the backyard of Lenoir where Todd Duplechan was serving up wine, beer and such taste treats as beet salad and lettuce wraps with cabrito. He'd invited in bands and one of them, about to kick off a new tune in this picture, was SPEAK, featuring Troupe Gammage in the foreground. Troupe has an authentic musical legacy...he's the son of two musician friends of ours. Austin is such a lovely place sometimes with wonderful low-key events in the wake of big, often maddening ones.

Sunday Morning Sounds

The E-Flat Porch Band was doing some serious picking at the Hair of the Dog Brunch Sunday morning.  It's nice to be able to walk three blocks to a party.

I Love a Parade!

These horn players from the Bowie High marching band were having a good time marching in the Independence Day Parade up Congress Ave. I was in the band from grade school on through the University of Texas and loved every minute of it.

Rockin Sidewalk Blues

These guys were pickin' and grinnin' at 6th and Congress today.  Hey, we're the "Live Music Capital of the World," y'all!

Easter Pet Parade: Bunny and the Band

The Best Best Best Friends band led the Easter Pet Parade on Soco and the bunny enjoyed it!

Music Festival

No, SXSW ended the weekend before this last one. But last weekend HonkTX Community Band Fest took place around town. They had a small parade culminating in performances at Republic Park on Sunday. These bands have crazy instruments and costumes, but they do swing. I believe these guys were from Massachusetts. Yes, here they are. The local Minor Mishap Marching Band was the host for all this madness, I think, and the Austin Bike Zoo showed up, too. Minor Mishaps have been featured on this blog and the Bike Zoo, too.

Minor Mishaps Celebrate the New Year

We took a walk on New Year's Day. We were thinking of going to Book People but it's less than a mile away so we went across the lake to Auditorium Shores and back across the Pfluger bridge to stretch our legs. Back on the north shore we encountered the Minor Mishaps Marching Band out to help people celebrate 2012. New Year has been without mishap so far for us. If we (or you) encounter mishaps this year I hope they are minor.

Thirty-Some Years Ago

Time flies when you are having fun. Clifford Antone opened the eponymous Antone's thirty-six years ago yesterday. They've been in several locations, Clifford has passed on but his sister and others keep the funky, blues-focused joint going in its current Fifth and Lavaca location. Last night we saw the first set at the anniversary show, the Marcia Ball band (above). In November it will be thirty-six years since FFP and I had our first date. It was at the Armadillo World Headquarters and guess who we heard? Yes: Marcia Ball! (No relation but now a friend of ours.)

Stonehoney

On Sunday morning, we attended a "Hair of the Dog" party at Star Bar, a neighborhood favorite. It was an event for South by Southwest invitees put on by Austin Film Festival. Here you see a photo I shot of the band that entertained-- Stonehoney. They played some terrific original tunes and they also did an old favorite or two. Great tamales, pastries and other noshes, plus free Bloody Marys. Hey, what's not to like?

Honkfest

This band had come to Austin all the way from Providence, RI to participate in Honkfest. It's a gathering of cool and crazy bands that coincides with SXSW. This group stopped for a quick concert before moving to the Dell Children's Museum to play with similar musical groups. We met a local lady who said that she was putting the whole band up at her home. Right here, they were playing "Sing, Sing, Sing."

Football Season

Football season is underway all across the U.S. Austin is no exception with its University of Texas Longhorns. FFP got to see the Wyoming game from a club box. He enjoys seeing the band as much as anything. This is the half-time show with the U.T. logo.