Happy New Year!

January 4-10, 2007

Happy New Year, everybody. Hope your entire year is as good as the beginning of mine: After a Christmas week that was less than euphoric (put my mother in a nursing home; spent three days with my ex-husband helping our son move and being reminded every minute why the man is my EX husband; spent two days driving from Phoenix with a cat that never stopped yowling, even in the hotel room when he should have been sleeping [the Benadryl didn't work])...so...after a Christmas week that was less than euphoric, Mr. Ben met me at my son's new home in Lockhart and drove me back into Austin at exactly midnight on New Year's Eve where we were welcomed home with a glorious display of fireworks on all sides (which, of course, I was convinced were all for me and heralded my triumphant return). Man, Austin never looked so good! Then on New Year's day, I spent the entire day sitting in front of the fire reading, drinking hot drinks and dozing. January 2 brought much the same. Yesterday my episode of Friday Night Lights aired (didja see it?), my pals in Mundi had a spot on "All Songs Considered" (didja hear it?), and I started rehearsals for my next project, a play called I am Not Tartuffe. What a lovely, wonderfully auspicious beginning to the new year.

Now it's back to the grind -- for 28 more days, woo hoo, and then I retire! Maybe there will be more time for...

Thursday, Jan 4

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

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9 pm
Visit the Austin Swing Syndicate site for full details about this great organization.

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

Jim Stringer & Karen Posten
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813
Part AM Band, part Crystal Pistols. This should be a good one.

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm

Friday, Jan 5

Cornell Hurd Band
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

Acme Song Company
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8-10 pm
No cover, but you know what to do.

First Friday Contradance
Carpenters Hall / 400 Josephine / 8 pm; $8
Live music by the Band of Renown. sealantsby5@aol.com, 512-970-4919 for more info.

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm


Friday & Saturday, Jan 5 & 6

Elvis Birthday Bash
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 7 & 11 pm; $20
Featuring Ted Roddy & King Conjure Orchestra, along with Shaun Young and the New Blue Moon Boys.


Saturday, Jan 6

The Fabulous Polkasonics
The Big Kolache Bakery / Oltorf at Congress / 11 am (family)
What better way to start your Saturday than with fresh kolaches and live music! The Big Kolache Bakery is in the strip mall on the sidewalk across from Bank of America.

The Eggmen
Hanover’s / 108 E. Main, Pflugerville; 990-0559 / 10 pm
Wow. Remember back in the day when Hanover's used to have lots of good bands? And they they sort of went all karaoke on us? Well maybe the good old days are coming back. One can only hope.

Los Romanceros
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Albert and Gage Band
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm


Sunday, Jan 7

Monster Big Band
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 7 pm (family)

Texas Swing Kings
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 6:30 (family)

Dale Watson
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813

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


Monday, Jan 8

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)
Erik Hokkanen will be sitting in with them this week.

Elvis Birthday Tribute
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 9 pm
Lots and lots of featured artists for this huge party -- Dale Watson, Ray Benson, The Derailers, Wayne Hancock and tons more.


Tuesday, Jan 9

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, Jan 10

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017
A little Wednesday night salsa dancing never hurt anybody.


ROAD TRIPS

Granger, TX
Saturday, Jan 6
Ricky Calmbach / The Cotton Club / Downtown Granger /


COMING SOON

Friday & Saturday, Jan 12 & 13
American Repertory Ensemble
McCullough Theater / UT campus / 8 pm; $10-$20
I had a chance to see this group last summer before they went to Edinburg, Scotland. I will not miss a chance to see them again. The ensemble consists of dancers from several different companies around the US, accompanied by Tosca String Quartet and Michelle Schumann on piano. Do NOT miss them! You can buy tix here or by calling 477-6060.

Saturday, Jan 13
AFTM Midwinter Festival
Dougherty Auditorium / 1110 Barton Springs / 11:50 am - 11 pm; $7-$15
A full day of performances by such folks as Mark Gilston; Heather Gilmer & Jeff Moore; Zydeco Blanco; Charles Thibodeaux and more, more, more. AND...workshops in contradancing, Irish fiddle, Balkan singing, harmonica, mandolin and (need I say it?) more, more, more.

See ya on the dance floor,

chris