October 4-10

What to write about this week? Not much going on in the life of Chris. Working on Far Away. That's about it. So this week's intro will be boringly short. The weather. I'll write about the weather. It's good. OK, that didn't take much wordage. Dig a little deeper, Chris.

They're promising us a cool front this weekend. I certainly hope they're right! With the cooler weather comes a (moderate) desire to get a little more exercise (I'm all about moderation, don't you know...especially when it comes to things like working out and sleep). I've always heard that jumping rope is a good form of exercise, so I think I'm gonna see if I can do what this guy does. Whaddya think?



Thursday, October 4

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

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm

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

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

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 7:00 pm

Reuben Ramos w/ Los Flames
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 & 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, October 5

DJd Milonga
Texas Union / 23rd at Guadalupe; Quadrangle Room / 8 pm
First Friday Contra Dance
Carpenter's Hall / 400 Josephine / 8 pm; $8
Live music by Billy Bob Roy. sealantsby5@aol.com or 512-970-4919 for more info.

B Scene
Blanton Museum / MLK at Speedway / 6 pm; $10 ($5 for members)
This is the monthly party that combines hanging-on-the-wall (or hanging-from-the-ceiling or parked-on-the-floor) art with live performance. This month it's my pals in Yellow Tape Construction Company doing a dance performance that is guaranteed to please because that's what they do.
White Ghost Shivers
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 10 pm

The Eggmen
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 7 pm
I have learned that if I want a seat at one of these shows I need to come early. Which is not a bad thing since Ouch! (Ruttles cover band) opens at 6 pm.

Cornell Hurd Band
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

Kat's Meow; Afrofreque
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm; 10 pm
Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm


Friday & Saturday, October 5-7

Mediterranean Festival
St. Elias Church / 408 E. 11th / 6 pm; $5 (family)
Yay! It's that time of year again, and this year the weather promises to cooperate! Greek band Ikon will be perfoming, as will Zein al Jundi. It's gonna be fun! I only wish Mr. Ben was in town to enjoy it with me.


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. And remember -- even if you can't attend the workshop, there will be two dances you might be able to make. Friday's dance will be DJd (8 pm; $5), and Saturday's will feature live music by the Lucky Strikes (8:30 pm; $10).


Saturday, October 6

Seth Walker
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
Dr. John; Rebirth Brass Band
The Glenn / 13101 Hwy 71 West; 263-4146 / 8 pm
This should be fun. Click here for tix.

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm

The Quebe Sisters
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 10 pm
To know these gals is to love them. Three very, very, VERY talented young ladies doing western swing the old way.


Sunday, October 7

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

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

Monster Big Band
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 7 pm; $7

Texas Swing Kings
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 6:30 pm (family)

Devendra Banhart
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/freak folk. But take a listen and see if you don't agree with me that this should be a lovely evening.


Monday, October 8

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)

Erik Hokkanen & The She Wolves
Momo's / 618 W. 6th; 479-8848 / 8 pm


Tuesday, October 9

John Lennon would have been 67 years old today had he lived. Happy birthday, John. I still love you.

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 11

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

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

Two Hoots & A Holler
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 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 7
Vrazel Polka Band
Elgin SPJST Hall / 702 Hwy 95 in Elgin; 512-285-3100 / 3 pm
Two weeks in a row for polka party ops. And another beautiful day for a short drive.

Gruene, TX
Friday - Sunday, October 5-7
Gruene Music & Wine Fest
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281
Wow. What a line-up. The Derailers. Elana James. Delbert McClinton. More. Full details here.


COMING SOON

Friday, October 12
Brave Combo
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 9:39 pm

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.

Saturday, October 20
Marcel Khalife Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe (sort of) / 8 pm; $10 (students); $26-$55 (real people)
Click here for more info.

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