Austin – End of week #1

“It’s a big beautiful day....” Bob Schneider    Austin night

Settling in, well sort of, can’t seem to master the concept of Central Time. Brian Williams (NBC) at 5:30? That is just wrong for someone who is coming from our Nation’s Capital, where Brian airs at 7 pm!

I bailed on three 2 nights ago: Charlie Robison, who has a brilliant new CD out, Ramsay Midwood and Friends, and James McMurtry at midnight at the Continental Club, his last Wednesday evening before his international tour. I know, poor me....only going out for the next four nights in a row.

Then there was the surprise call from Miss Shilah on Monday asking if I wanted to attend the Elvis Costello taping of Austin City Limits. I know a lot of people who dish on Nashville, but EC’s band The Sugarcanes was everything that is RIGHT with Nashville, Jim Lauderdale, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton, Jeff Taylor, and Dennis Crouch....and then Patty Griffin got on stage for a few. A joy to hear Elvis’s classics “Every Day I Write The Book,” “Red Shoes,” and “Peace Love And Understanding” rendered by this finest of fine string bands, but also great to hear songs from the new album Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, - then we were graced by two BRAND new songs, one of which had been written only three days before. It was a “center of the universe” moment.

Later that evening, caught Jeff Plankenhorn and then George DeVore and Matt Powell (AKA The Twalls) at the Saxon, and then shot over to The Continental for Dale Watson, always a joy. Mike McClure next. I WILL report back!

- Jessie -

Elliot Randall & Gina Villalobos Music Fog left coast tour schedule

The tour kicks off in Sacramento on the 11th before heading back to Randall's home base of San Francisco for a show on September 12th at Bottom Of The Hill. It will then move south withRandall Band stops in Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, San Diego and Villalobos' home, Los Angeles on September 19th at the The Bootleg Theater, culminating with a show in Ukiah. We have the dates and ticket info.Gina 2

Elliot Randall "Take The Fall" - Here's Jessie

As we await a brand new release and the tour getting started, we are revisiting the album that turned us on to Elliot Randall at X Country, Take The Fall. San Franciscan Randall has a sweet voice, a keen eye, a deft hand with lyrics, and a great command of production dynamics. By the way, a couple of bonus tracks have been added since the original release! What a good album this is! We can hardly wait for the third one! My recommended tracks for you POD-ing pleasure:

 

Cut 1 "How To Get Old" -  great hook as country meets rock meets popElliot Randall album cover

Cut 3 "Second Time Around" - a modern classic

Cut 4 "Take The Fall" - Luscious, brooding

Cut 5 "Everything Reminds Me of You" -  countrified singer songwriter fare

Cut 6 "Don't Give Up On Me" - tuneful, sentimental, and driving

Cut 9: "We Don't Talk Like We Used To" - gentle, aching

Cut 10: "Leaving This Town" - pure fun- hands in the air

Cut 11 "Red Velvet Curtains" - new bonus track - cogent, relatable, rockin'