It's showtime (on so many levels)

March 15-21


Tonight is opening night, yee haw! After nearly blowing my knee out dancing at rehearsal on Monday, I have found better shoes and am feeling confident that everything is once again copasetic. (Modern dance in high heels on concrete [at an advanced age] -- not a good idea.) The coolest, coolest part of my involvement in this particular play, however is not the dancing. It's not the character that I play, it's not the witty dialogue. It's not even the pretentious modern dance/San Francisco art collective aesthetic we've worked so hard to achieve. Nope. What I love about this one is all the fighting. I slap people around. I bite their legs. I push them and shove them and roll around on the floor like a maniac. I get dragged offstage by a ravening French person. Then I finally die. What could be more fun than that?

Seriously. When's the last time you were allowed to wrestle? I'll bet you were in elementary school (or maybe high school if you're a guy). It's tremendously fun and therapeutic, and it's a great workout. I highly recommend it. Just put on some raucous rock music and have at it.

In other news, this is the week for live music and crowds. And wristbands if you have one. I prefer not, and there is a plethora of wristband-free events -- the showcases at Waterloo Records, Hole in the Wall, Mother Egan's, Emo's, and Cheapo Discs, just to name a few. Then there are the "SX" knock-offs: North by No Wristband; Noise by No Wave; Free by No Charge; South by South First; South by San Jose; XSXSW; SXSouthArtz; the intintriguingly named named Yeast by Sweet Beast (??? sounds like a gynecological disorder). And more, more, more, of course. Basically, all you have to do over the next few days is just go somewhere and you will probably hear live music. Hell, even the band (Peel) in I am not Tartuffe played a SXSW showcase last night!

Just don't expect a lot of dance space this week. Or parking space. Still, it's out there if you know where to look. I'll help out as best as I can.


Thursday, March 15

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; http://www.austinswingsyndicate.org/ 8pm
Always room to dance here!

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

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:00 pm

Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)
Word to the wise: this is part of SXSW ('Twangfest'), so expect larger than usual crowds and smaller than usual dance space.

Two Hoots & A Holler
Ego’s / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 11 pm

The Hummingbirds
Carousel Lounge / 1110 E. 52nd; 452-6790
I believe this is the early show.

Ted Roddy
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-8313

Thursdays-Saturdays, March 15-31

I am not Tartuffe
Play! Theater / 1204 Cedar Ave (just north of E. 12th St). / 8 pm
Yup, that's me in the background standing next to Captain Jesus in this stunning photo by Wylie Maerklein. Watch our faux French Art film (featuring Louis XIV in an amazing costume made entirely of fast food wrappers); or listen to Arts Eclectic on KUT, then make your reservations here. On opening night, dubbed "Escape from SXSW night" you will receive complimentary chocolate mousse, how verra nice!


Friday, March 16

Cornell Hurd Band
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 7:30 pm; $5 (family)

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

The Lucky Strikes
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm

Nashville's Worst Nightmare '07
Brentwood Tavern / 6701 Burnet Road / 4:30-10:30 pm; $5
What a line-up! Roger Wallace; The Hummingbirds; Jim Stringer's AM Band; Twang Zilla; and more, more, more.

James Hand
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

The Weary Boys
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Jean Pierre & the Zydeco Angels
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586


Friday & Saturday, March 16 & 17

Last of the Breed -- SOLD OUT
The Backyard / 13101 Hwy 71 W; 263-4146
A fabulous, fabulous line-up featuring Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price. With Asleep at the Wheel. Hope you got tickets because this puppy is sold OUT.


Saturday, March 17

The Fabulous Polkasonics
The Big Kolache / 2407 S. Congress / 11 am

Red Stick Ramblers
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10:30 pm
Simply one of the best bands for dancing whatever you like to do. The question is: will there be space (since this is one of the 'sanctioned' shows)?

The Tea Merchants; The Lost and Nameless Orchestra
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 5:30; 8:30 pm (family)
SXSW isn't the only party in town this weekend. It's also St. Paddy's Day on Saturday, so bring the family out for some lively celtic music.

St. Patrick's Day Throwdown
Mother Egan’s / 715 W. 6th; 478-7747 / noon-midnight; $10 (family)
This is apparently THE St. Paddy's Day celebration with music and dancing all day long. PLUS -- uber cool Irish vs. American musicians pitted in hand-to-hand (or fiddle-to-fiddle) combat. Should be great fun!

St. Patrick's Day Celebration
The Dog & Duck Pub / 407 W. 17th / 11 am - 11 pm
This is apparently the OTHER St. Paddy's Day celebration with music all day long.

St. Paddy's Day Street Festival
Fado / 214 W. 4th St. / 10 am - 11 pm
But wait! There's MORE! More music and partying all day long.

St. Patrick's Day Festival
Opal Devine's (Penn Field) / 3601 S. Congress; 707-0237
I don't have the times on this one, but I can guess it would be most of the day.

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

Third Saturday Contradance
St. Paul's Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 7:30 pm; $5-8
Live music by the Flaming Kilts (yow!) and some Irish Ceili dancing thrown in for fun. AND a dessert potluck, so bring your best Irish whiskey cake. 407-9425 for more info.

Cerronato
El Sol y La Luna / 1224 S. Congress, 444-7770 / 7:30pm

The Recliners
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336
Aaaaaah. A haven of sanity during an otherwise insane weekend!


Sunday, Mar 18

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


Monday, March 19

Paris 49; Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm; 10 pm ($5 for DW)

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm
With special guest Howard Kalish.


Tuesday, March 20

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:45 / no cover
Free dance after Four on the Floor’s classes. http://www.fouronthefloor.com

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


Wednesday, March 21

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

The Battlefield Band
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $18
It's always a treat when this fabulous Scottish band comes to town.

Annoying Instruments Orchestra
Enchanted Forest / Oltorf & S. Lamar / 6 pm (family)
This AIO performance is part of the 'Grow Austin Weird' event which goes from 5-8 pm. If you've never been to the Enchanted Forest, you're in for a treat. One of Austin's best kept secrets.


ROAD TRIPS:

San Antonio, TX
Friday - Sunday, Mar 16 & 1- 18
Alamo Irish Festival
Arneson Theater and La Villita / 5 pm on Fri; noon on Sat & Sun (family)

Helotes, TX
Saturday, Mar 17
Reckless Kelly
Floores Country Store / 14492 Old Bandera Road; 210-695-8827
Frankly, this seems like an ideal weekend for a little road trip, know what I mean?


COMING SOON

Thursday-Sunday, March 22-25
Conspirare
various locations, various times
I'll give you more details next week on this exciting program of eclectic music featuring Paul Crabtree's 'Tenebrae Responsories on Songs of Bob Dylan' among other exciting works. Or if you want the info NOW, then click here or call 476-5775 for reservations. Believe me, these folks should not be missed.

Friday, March 23
Colors of Rajasthan
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe; 471-1444 / 8 pm; $29-$38 (family)
Folk music and dance from the desert region of Rajasthan. Sounds like fun!

See ya on the dance floor,

chris