Friday Night Lights

November 9-15, 2006

Well, folks, it's been weeks since I've indulged in any shameless self promotion. But - ta da - the wait is over. I spent yesterday on the set of Friday Night Lights, the new TV series about Texas high school football. And O.M.G. I had my own trailer -- with a star on the door and my name on it. Of course, the name was on masking tape so that it could easily be removed for the next person, but for the moment it was mine. And I came to realize that trailers are really nothing more than glorified kennels. They're simply a comfortable place to put the actor so (s)he

• won't devour all the food on the kraft table;
• won't be in the way of the folks who actually do the work;
• can be found when you need him/her.

But if you put a star on the door, (s)he'll think (s)he's mucho importante and will stay put.

I know you guys are probably too busy going out dancing and stuff to sit around and watch TV, but if you should happen to be at home when this episode (no. 11) airs (a Tuesday night in late December or early January), you might want to turn the telly on to NBC and see me being a hospital caseworker for about a minute. It's a small scene; but by gum, it's my scene, y'know? With lines and everything! I had total fun yesterday and wonder why the hell I didn't get into this, like, around 30 years ago.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; Austin Swing Syndicate / 8 pm ; no cover

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Glovertango
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8-10 pm

Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:15 pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10

Seth Walker; The Lucky Strikes
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:45 pm / no cover
Come celebrate the 10th anniversary of Four on the Floor with a huge dance in the beautiful Fed ballroom. Here's what $7 buys you: beginner classes (swing and Charleston) at 8:15 (or a DJ in the ballroom if you wnat to dance while the beginners are learning); Seth Walker at 9:30; Lucky Strikes at 11: dancing till 1 am. What a night! Congratulations to Matt and Laura who have contributed so much to the Austin dance scene over the years.

Austin Singers
University Presbyterian Church / 2203 San Antonio / 8 pm; $15/$12 students & seniors
'Better is Peace.' That's that they're calling this program, and they'll be doing two outstanding choral works: 'The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace' (composed in 2000) and Arto Pärt's 'The Beatitudes'. Now ANYtime you get to hear a work by Arvo Pärt, you need to stop what you're doing and just listen. So. Put this one on your calendar for Friday.

Acme Song Company -- CANCELLED
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8 pm
A lovely venue, and they move the tables so you can dance.

DJd Milonga
La Tazza Fresca / 37th at Guadalupe / 9 pm; no cover

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 10pm
Peter Schwartz will be sitting in. He's been a busy guy lately. Nice to have him back on the stage.

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
ROSS’ OLD AUSTIN CAFÉ / 11800 N. Lamar; 835-2414 / 7 pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Art Party
Art Amici / 78 San Marcos / 8 till late; $10-$40
You guys need to know about this one. My pals at Yellowtape Construction Company are throwing a party complete with dinner, wine, art auction, performance art and live music. I will be helping them out in the role of 'Gracious Hostess' (or possibly 'Restroom Attendant'), so come help me support them. Those of you who have seen their work know that they are THE up and coming arts company in Austin.

The Eggmen
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
Austin's own 'strornry fine Beatles tribute band.

Nash Hernandez Orchestra
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Gulf Coast Playboys
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 3-6 pm (family)

The Red Elvises
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $6

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13

Paris 49
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 6:30 pm

Erik Hokkanen's Laboratory
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750 / 8:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Seth Walker
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm

ROAD TRIPS

Taylor, TX
FRIDAY, NOV 10
Czech Melody Masters
Taylor SPJST Lodge #29 / 7:30 pm

San Antonio, TX
SATURDAY, NOV 11
Gulf Coast Playboys
Hermann Sons Hall / 525 S. St. Mary's St. / 7:30 pm; $7

San Marcos, TX
SATURDAY, NOV 11
Veteran's Day Dinner Dance
Commerative Air Force Hangar / San Marcos Airport / 6:30 pm; $30 (includes dinner)
The fabulous Sentimental Journey Orchestra will be playing for this one, so you know it will be good. Click link above for full details.

New Braunfels, TX
THRU SUNDAY, NOV 12
Wurstfest
Oompa oompa, it's that time of year again. This would be an excellent choice for your pre-holiday aerobics overkill. All ya gotta do is polka till you drop.

Salado, TX
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, NOV 10-12
Salado Highland Games
Downtown Salado / west of IH 35, across from the Stagecoach Inn / family
Music, dancing, games, food, libation and men in kilts.

COMING SOON

Friday-Monday, NOV 17-20
Madame Butterfly
Bass Concert Hall / 7:30 pm Fri, Sat, Mon; 3 pm Sun / $19 - $109
Sigh. What is opera without tears? And what opera is more tragic than Puccini's 'Madame Butterfly?' I've seen it half a dozen times and it tears me up every time. Poor Cio-Cio-San never learns, does she! If I were staging this opera, I think I'd have her finally wake up to the fact that Pinkerton is, like, a TOTAL lout; and in the final scene, I'd have her kill him rather than herself. Now THAT would be OPERA! YEAH! Of course I have yet to be asked to direct an opera, but I'm open to it if anyone wants to stage it right quick. In the meantime, click here for tix.

See ya on the dance floor,

Chris