Trees good, pollen bad

April 5 - April 11

I love trees. A lot.

But why is it that when trees make whoopie I get sick? After a week and a half of losing my voice, being unable to sleep, coughing up stuff that looks like it came from a swamp in hell, and having all my food taste like it came out of that same swamp, I finally cried 'uncle' and hauled myself in to see the doctor, got on some antibiotics and am rejoining the human race. It's nice to be (almost) back.

I made it through the final weekend of I am not Tartuffe, but just barely (the show must go on, you know; and about half the cast was in the same condition as me). Now I'm focusing all my attention and energy to finishing the music for Sycorax, and at the risk of sounding immodest, I must say I have outdone myself. Holy moly! The show goes up a week from tonight, and it is going to R.O.C.K. If you don't get to see it this time, I'm sure that it will show up in a theater near you eventually. This is a most extraordinary play, and I feel very very pleased to be a part of it. Wow.

It occurred to me that after April 15, I won't have any deadlines hanging over my head. I've got some time off from theater, and I am so ready to hit the dance floor. YAY!!!!!!!!! And it just so happens that Mr. Ben's birthday is shortly after the 15th, and there will be a HUGE dance party, to which you're all invited (see 'coming soon' section).


Thursday, April 5

Heybale!
Cedar Street / 208 West 4th, 495-9669 / 9:30 pm
This is a relatively new first-Thursday-of-the-month gig. Open air dancing, yay!

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)

Elizabeth McQueen and Jason Roberts
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 8 pm (family)

Lucky Strikes
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm


Friday, April 6

Clandestine
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 9 pm; $12

B Scene
Blanton Art Museum / MLK at Speedway / 6 pm; $5 members; $10 non-members
This will be a great evening as the Blanton spotlights Argentina. There will be a DJd milonga AND live tango music by Glover Gill. What a wonderful, wonderful venue for tango!
First Friday Contradance
Carpenter's Hall / 400 Josephine / 8 pm; $8
There's a newcomer's session at 7:30, so if you've never contradanced before, you don't have to be afraid to try. Live music by Jerry Hagin & Friends. sealantsby5@aol.com or 512-970-4919 for more info.

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

White Ghost Shivers
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

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

Seth Walker
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788 / 8 pm; $7

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Boathouse Grill / 6812 FM 620; 249-5200
I'm thinking this may be an early show, so call before you make your plans.

Friday - Sunday, April 6 - 8

Ballet Austin: The Taming of the Shrew
Bass Concert Hall / UT campus / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 3 pm Sun; $20-$64 (family)
This is supposed to be really funny -- not a word you often use in the same sentence with 'ballet'. Click here for tix.


Saturday, April 7

Hand Me Down
Waterloo Ice House / 1106 W. 38th / 8 pm (family)
Austin's newest acoustic/bluegrass/gospel/singer-songwriter group will ALSO be at Boggy Creek Farm for the Easter Strawberry festival on Saturday morning at 9 am.

Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums
Scholz Garden / 1607 San Jacinto, 474-1958; 6 pm
Come celebrate National Tartan Day! (I remember when Mr. Ben and I first met, he described the Johnston family tartan as 'dark and gloomy with a streak of yellow'. Fourteen years later, it's still funny!)

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

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd / 6:30 pm
This is a newish venue with a small dance floor.

Seth Walker
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 9:30 pm

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

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


Sunday, Apr 8

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

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


Monday, Apr 9

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


Tuesday, Apr 10

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

Glovertango
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $10


Wednesday, Apr 11

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017


ROAD TRIPS:

I'm sure there are some great road trips out there this weekend, but I didn't find any. Shoot, just get in the car and drive out to see the wildflowers. As a matter of fact, Amanda W, a faithful reader of this list, sent me a link that will show you the wildflower hot spots. Take the camera!


COMING SOON

Thursday - Sunday, April 12-15
Sycorax
UT Dept. of Theater and Dance / WIN 2.180 (Winship Bldg) / Th 8 pm; Fri 2:30 pm; Sun 11 am; FREE
This is part of the Cohen New Works Festival, where you will see new works (many still in progress) in dance, theater, music, film and various combinations thereof. 'Sycorax' is April 12, 13 and 15, and I'd love to see you in the audience so you can see and hear what I've been working on so hard the past two months. Click the Festival link for full details and schedule.

Saturday & Sunday, April 14 & 15
Austin Fine Arts Festival
Republic Square Park / 4th & Guadalupe / Sat 10-5; Sun 11-6; $8 (family)
This one always appeals to me because Brave Combo always plays. Art and nukular polka. Can you think of a better combination?

Saturday, April 21
Mr. Ben's Birthday Party
Moose Lodge / 2103 EM Franklin (between MLK & Manor) / 9 pm; $10
I would so love to take credit for the planning of this one, but I have to admit I simply got lucky. Mr. Ben is having a ('significant') birthday on April 21, and Bradley Jaye Williams just so happens to be hosting the perfect party. So...This is your invitation to come out and celebrate with Mr. Ben and to help Bradley and friends do what they can to save the Moose Lodge that is in danger of being 'developed', since it's so near the old airport and is in a prime urban development location. This will, undoubtedly, be THE party of the century!

See ya on the dance floor,

chris