Far Away is closer than you think!

October 18-24

Hope you enjoyed the International Accordion Festival (or the Festival Acadiens, whichever one you chose last weekend). Mr. Ben and I made our annual pilgrimage to San Antonio where it was too darn hot this year (so hot they had to take Santiago Jimeniz Jr. away in an ambulance, I'm sorry to report). Nevertheless, we had a fabulous time. The thing about this festival that always amazes me year after year (you'd think I'd learn; as Mr. Ben would say, I'm old but I'm slow) is how surprised I can be. I look at the schedule and decide, ooh, I want to hear bands X, Y, and Z for sure for sure. And that's probably about all I'll have time for. Then I stumble on bands A, B, and C that maybe didn't look that interesting on paper, but man they knock your socks off when you hear them! Like, who would listen to a band called Brandan? Boring! Till they start playing. Holy moly! I don't guess I had ever heard music from the Canary Islands, but MAN! And then there was Chango Spasiuk from Argentina not playing tangos. WOW! And I finally, finally, finally got to hear (and dance to) some chicken scratch, which I'd been wanting to hear for years while my kids were living in Arizona but never got to. It was a day well spent and once again I was reminded why it is a two day event. You simply can't do everything you want to do in one day.

But that was last weekend. What's up for this one? Welllllllll, since you asked...

Far Away opens tomorrow night, yow! Needless to say I am totally psyched and totally exhausted. Tech week is really tough when you're one of the techies! It's so much easier as an actor to just stand on the stage while the light guy focuses the light or the sound guy tries to adjust the levels. But I created the sound design for this one, so I've spent lots and lots and lots of hours in the studio tweaking and in the booth teaching the operator the cues.

BUT...

That is not a complaint. That's just how it is. Tech rehearsals are long and tedious but they are never boring. They are tiring, and I could use some sleep, but as you all know, sleep is for wimps and I am not a wimp. The bottom line is, we have a beautiful show to show you, so please come (full details below).

And I have a video for you this week. You may have seen it before, but it's one of those that bears repeating, so here 'tis.




Thursday, October 17

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

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

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

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 9 pm (family)
DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
Read all about the Austin Swing Syndicate and their activities.


Friday, October 19

Chirgilchin
First Uniterian Church / 4700 Grover; 535-1927 / 7 pm; $15
Man, this is so where I would be if it wasn't opening night, listening to these Tuvan thoat singers. Please note the start time is a litter earlier than standard.

Studebakers
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 7 pm (family)
Come out and celebrate the release of their new CD!

Two Tons of Steel
Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail; 266-2442

Texas Swing Kings
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm
Come celebrate the 92nd birthday of former Bob Wills drummer Johnny Cuviello.


Friday - Sunday, October 19-21

Austin String Band Festival
Camp Ben McCullough
Click the link for full details. Looks like there will be performances, dances, and workshops on Friday and Saturday and a gospel sing on Sunday. Live music by such folks as Twangzilla, Mexican Roots Trio, Corey McCauley & Evangeline Aces, Danny Barnes, and more, more, more.

Fridays - Sundays, October 19-28

Far Away
ACC Rio Grande Campus / Gallery Theatre; 1212 Rio Grande; 223-3343 / 8 pm (Fri & Sat); 2 pm (Sun) $6 / $3 seniors & students
'Far Away' is a gripping play about the world we treasure and the horror we have made of it. Not a comedy!


Saturday, October 20

The Fabulous Polkasonics
Mother Egan’s / 715 W. 6th; 478-7747 2:30 pm
A little Saturday afternoon Oktoberfesting.

Third Satudray Contra Dance
St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm
Live music by Squirrelheads in Gravy (mmmmmm). info@austincontradance.org or 512-453-8936 for more info.

Cerronato
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 6 pm (family)
It's another CD release party!

Jessie Lee Miller
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm

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

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

Russian American Peace Festival
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 7 pm; $12
Wow, has it been 20 years already since the cold war ended? Dang! Well, come celebrate with Flying Balalaika Brothers, Strong Medicine, Blind Vandal (on tour from Russia), Everyone Peace Orchestra, and Repa (Russian/Austin rock group)

Marcel Khalife
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe (sort of) / 8 pm; $10 (students); $26-$55 (real people) Click here for more info.


Saturday and Sunday, October 21

Maker Faire
Travis County Expo Center / 7311 Decker Lane / 10 am - 6pm Sat; 10am-5 pm Sun (family)
This looks like waaaaaay fun. AND... 999 Eyes will be performing. Click the link for full details.

Sunday, October 21

Los Pinkys
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 3 pm (family)

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $6
The Brew
Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail; 266-2442


Monday, October 22

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

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


Tuesday, October 23

Planet Casper
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30pm

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

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

Two Hoots & a Holler
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300 / 7 pm


Wednesday, October 24

Elana James
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30pm

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

DJd Milonga
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 8 pm

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


ROAD TRIPS

Elgin, TX
Sunday, October 21
Fritz Hodde & the Fabulous Six
Elgin SPJST Hall / 702 Hwy 95 in Elgin; 512-285-3100 / 3-7 pm


COMING SOON

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


see ya on the dance floor,

chris