Lots of life

June 14-20

What a week it's been! My emotions have been all over the map. First of all, excitement and suspense as I waited to learn whether I had been cast in one of the best plays ever written -- "One Flea Spare" by Naomi Wallace. Worst case scenario: I would be doing sound design for the show, so that got my musical wheels turning, which brought forth joy at the creation of a new piece of music this week, and sadness because it's such a heartbreaker.

Then on Monday I learned that a dear friend was killed in a car accident over the weekend. The sad, sad irony was that having survived a cerebral aneurism and subsequent brain surgery, and having her husband selflessly devote himself to her recovery and care for the past four years -- he was the driver of the car involved in the accident. He escaped with minor injuries. You have probably heard of him, or at least his work -- he's the carilloneur in the UT tower, and I go up with him once a week to play duets. Well, it was my sad duty yesterday to play the bells alone -- a tribute to his wife just before the funeral.

Then I learned that I did get the part, woo hoo! I'll be playing a woman quarantined in a house with three other people during the plague in London in1665. Good times, eh?

And then...and then...and THEN...

At 10:47 last night I was putting the final touches on today's calendar -- the one you're reading right now -- and it COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. What you're reading is a hasty re-creation, so if I've left anything off, please forgive me. (Add anger and frustration here.)

Yes, life has been emotionally messy this week. Life, death, joy, sadness, loss, creation. But you know something? I feel so much more alive when it's all there. And I'm grateful that I'm alive to experience it.

In view of my rather contemplative state of mind this week, the video I'm sharing is one of exceeding quiet beauty. Enjoy.

Thursday, June 14

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

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm

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

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress; 479-5002 / 10 pm

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm Read all about the Austin Swing Syndicate and their activities.

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

Bayou Cajun Band
Cypress Grill / 4404 W. William Cannon / 6:30 pm
With guest fiddler Peter Schwartz.


Thursday-Saturday, June 14-17

Constellation
Federal Courthouse Buildings / 300 E. 8th; 288-1929 / 9 pm; $15
Sally Jacques' newest ariel dance installation starts this weekend. They'll be performing next weekend, too, if you miss it this time around.


Friday, June 15

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

DJd Milonga
La Tazza Fresca / Guadalupe at 37th (519 W. 37th); 453-0403 / 9 pm

Slavadillo Vocal Quartet
Triumph Cafe / 3808 Spicewood Springs / 7 pm
Come out and hear some Macedonian, Bulgarian, Greek & Albanian music in a Vietmese cafe. Ain't diversity grand?

Two Tons of Steel
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

Old Fashioned Square Dance
St. Paul's Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm; $8
Allemande left and dosey-do, swing your partner and away we go! Live music by Double Eagle String Band. 453-8936 for more info.

Two Hoots and a Holler
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 10 pm

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

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

Los Super Vatos
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm
Bubba Hernandez, we love you!

Jessie Lee Miller
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 7:30 pm

Norah Jones
The Backyard / 13101 Highway 71 West / 8 pm
Click for tix.

Saturday, June 16

Derailers
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

Double Contra Dance
St. Paul's Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 2pm; 7:30 pm
The afternoon dance is for advanced contradancers. All are welcome, regardless of skill level, at the evening dance. Happensdance will be providing live music for both. 453-8936 for more info.

Sarah Dinan Band
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 9 pm; $7
There's never a bad time for a healthy dose of Celtic music.

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

Texas Swing Kings
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 7:30 pm

Roddie Romeo & the Hub City All Stars
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm
I have not heard this group myself, but I have it on very good authority that they play that fabulous Louisiana dance music we all love, aaaaiiiieeeee.


Sunday, June 17

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Wooldridge Park / 9th at Guadalupe / 7 pm; free (family)
The summer symphony in the park series has started. This week they'll feature their brass ensemble with a Father's Day theme.

Austin Symphonic Band
Zilker Park Hillside Theater / 7:30 pm; free
Is your dad a closet band geek? If so, this is the concert for him! Take a blanket and a picnic and celebrate Father's day the old fashioned way.

An All Day Father's Day Juneteenth Afrocentic Celebration
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 12:30 - 9 pm
Live music by The Bells of Joy; Texas Eastside Kings; and Funk.

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

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

The Brew
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail; 266-2442


Monday, June 18

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

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane / 6:30 pm
With special guest Erik Hokkanen


Tuesday, June 19

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

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

Dr. Zog
Alligator Grill / 3003 South Lamar; 444-6117 / 6 pm
A little Tuesday evening zydeco.

Jitterbug Vipers
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm

The Lucky Strikes
Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6 pm
This is an every-Tuesday event.

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189
This show will shift back to its regular Thursday spot next week.


Wednesday, June 20

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6 pm
This is an every Wednesday happy hour.


ROAD TRIPS

Gruene, TX
Saturday, June 16
White Ghost Shivers
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 1 pm; no cover
Now that the hot weather's here, what could be better than an afternoon dance in a sweat lodge, er, I mean historic dance hall?

Gruene, TX
Tuesday, June 5
Two Tons of Steel
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 7:30 pm $4


COMING SOON

Thursday, June 21
Doc Watson
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 8 pm; $35
The one. The only. 477-6060 or TexasBoxOffice to charge tix.

Saturday, June 30
The Fabulous Polkasonics; Brave Combo
Moose Lodge / 2103 EM Franklin / 9 pm; $10 ($5 for members)
Mark your calendars now. Even Brave Combo has been enlisted to help save the Moose, so you know it's important!

AFTERTHOUGHT

UT is hosting a Joyce Conference this weekend with some interesting events scheduled (click here for full details). Full disclosure here -- I'm actually thinking about attending some of the events. Yeah, I'm a geek. Get over it. For those of you who are curious but don't feel you're really up on your Joyce, there's a wonderful refresher which I think I may have shared several years ago, but which certainly bears looking at again. It's "Ulysses for Dummies". Enjoy.

see ya on the dance floor,
chris