shadows, dragons, hats and more

September 27-October 3

I have to cross the pedestrian bridge over Dean Keeton when I walk to work in the mornings, and I always head for whatever shade there might be, which is precious little since it's over the street and there are no trees. Still. The side of the bridge always offers a litle strip of shade, so that's where I go. I noticed this morning that, unlike in the middle of summer when the shade is just a little strip on the eastern most edge, the shadow now extends across the entire bridge. It's happening. Fall is coming. My favorite time of year!!!! YIPPEE!!!!

I'm really, really, really busy these days. Procrastinator that I am, I find that having multiple projects going at once is the only way I can get anything done. I can work on one project, for example, and that gives me time to not work on the others. Then when I get tired, I switch, work on something else and procrastinate on the one I was just working on. Rather than focus on what I'm getting done, I can luxuriate in all that I'm not accomplishing. Reverse psychology at its best.

Anyway, right now I'm seriously building my dragon (call for assistance here -- I need about 400 CDs for scales, so if you have any used, damaged, chipped, or no-longer-favorite CDs or DVDs that you don't need any more, please let me know and I will help you recycle them.), creating the sound design for Far Away, and helping the Far Away crew build hats for the production. Many, many hats of a very fantastical nature.

So... the other night while I was procratinating on all of the above, I found this video which I think is rather stunning. Things that make you go hmmmmm. Enjoy.

Thursday, September 27

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

Two Hoots & A Holler
Ego's / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 11:00 pm

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

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

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

Johnny Gimble
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 6:30 pm (family)

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

Thursday-Sunday, September 27-30

Ballet Austin
Paramount Theatre / 713 Congress / 8 pm Th-Sat; 3 pm Sun
The season opener is A Midsummer Night's Dream. Click here for tix.

Friday, September 28

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

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

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

Two Tons of Steel
Nutty Brown / 12225 Hwy 290 W; 301-4648 / 7:30 pm $7 (family)


Friday-Sunday, September 28 - 30

Aztlan Dance Company
Santa Cruz Theater / 1805 E. 7th; 524-4278 / 8 pm (Fri & Sat); 2 pm (Sun); $10-$13 (family)
Aztlan Dance Co presents their fall performance, always fun.


Saturday, September 29

A Celebration of India
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / noon (family)
If I'm not mistaken the event starts at noon, with live music starting at 4:30 featuring Carnatic music (South Indian classical music) followed by Oliver Rajamani's Indian gypsy music at 6:30.

Will Taylor with Strings Attached Sgt. Pepper Show
Nutty Brown / 12225 Hwy 290 W; 301-4648 / 7:30 pm $20 (family)
Yup, they'll be doing the whole album.

Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums Birthday Party
Mother Egan’s / 715 W. 6th; 478-7747 / 6 pm

James Hand; Dale Watson
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; 12 midnight

Roger Wallace
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm

The Brew
Texas Union Ballroom / 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $10
This is offered by Texas Union Informal Classes. You can register for a salsa class at 8 & stick around for the dance at 9 by clicking here. (Class number
1405.301). Or you can just show up at the door and buy a ticket for the dance. I believe that's how it works.


Saturday & Sunday, September 29 & 30

Old Pecan Street Festival
6th Street / 11 am (family)
Click for the full entertainment line-up which includes White Ghost Shivers, Combo Mahalo, Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies, and a whole lot more.


Sunday, September 30

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

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

Dale Watson
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 4 pm


Monday, October 1

Django's Moustache; Dale Watson
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30pm; 10:00 pm

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


Tuesday, October 2

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

Dr. Zog
Alligator Grill / 3003 South Lamar; 444-6117 / 6 pm


Wednesday, October 3

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

Hand Me Down
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750 / 8:00 pm

Denia Ridley & Marc Devine
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 7:00 pm


ROAD TRIPS

Elgin, TX
Red Ravens
Elgin SPJST Hall / 702 Hwy 95 in Elgin; 512-285-3100 / 3 pm
Show of hands please... how many of you have been to the Elgin SPJST hall for a Sunday afternoon polka dance? That's what I thought. Just pitiful. Well all I can tell you is you're missing out on a good time.


COMING SOON

Thursday & Friday, October 4 & 5
A Ride With Bob
Paramount / 713 Congress / 8:00 pm; $31.50-$57.40
Bob Wills rides again. This show will definitely put a smile on your face and a tap in your toe. Click here for tix.

Friday-Sunday, October 5-7
Lindy Workshop
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
This workshop has two tracks -- for the beginner ($40) and for advanced ($100-$115). So, whatever your level, this sounds like the right place to be. Click here for full details.

Sunday, October 7
Devendra Barnhart
La Zona Rosa / 612 W. 4th, 472-2293 / 8 pm
I'm not sure exactly how to characterize this music except as sort of Brazilian/Latin/indie/folk. But take a listen and see if you don't agree with me that this should be a lovely evening.

Friday-Sunday, October 12-14
Festival Acadiens
Lafayette, LA
This is one of the good ones, and definitely worth the trip. More info here.

Friday-Sunday, October 12-14
International Accordion Festival
San Antonio, TX / La Villita
This is one of the good ones, and definitely worth the trip. More info here. Wait. I just said that, didn't I? Well, it's true. In fact, I got this e-mail from Mr. Ben this week: "Have you checked out the Accordion Festival lineup? Pretty amazing! The Polkasonics, Ridgetop Syncopators, and Santiago will play, plus a really great array of other bands that play Argentine chamame, Bulgarian wedding music, N. Italian, Canary Islands, Irish, French Canadian, chicken scratch, Tex-Mex. Plus the disciples of Canray Fontenot and Bois Sec are playing, and there's some crazy band from SF with 4 accordions using effects pedals (plus bass and drums). I wanna hear everybody!" I personally have been wanting to hear chicken scratch (Native American polka assimilation) for years. Definitely! Like, totally, definitely.

Sunday, October 28
Sinead O'Conner
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $35-$45.
Click now for tix.

RIP Gary Primich. Another Austin great lost to us in this past week.

see ya on the dance floor,

chris