Do you feel sorry for me? I'm having a root canal.

November 29 - December 5

Hope your Thanksgiving was good and properly thankful. We had a quiet day in Arlington, VA -- until the 50 mph wind gusts hit. WOW! Fortunately they died down in time for our Friday morning return flight to Austin. It was fall here when we left on Monday and it was winter when we got back on Friday. How did that happen?

It's good to be back even if it did mean returning to have a root canal Thursday morning (that would be today if you're reading this on the 29th). (Incidentally, I once read somewhere that it's a good thing love is so painful; otherwise, all our popular songs would be about root canals.) I plan to spend the day in a drugged stupor feeling sorry for myself, so I'm posting this on Wednesday. There may be a few gaps, so check the Chron or the XLent.

As we approach the holiday season, there are always those perennial song favorites (not about root canals) from which we simply cannot escape. Handle's Hallelujah Chorus is one of them. Allow me to offer this rendition performed by "monks who have taken a vow of silence." Yeah, right. Enjoy.



Thursday, November 29

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

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

DJd Milonga
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 9 pm; $5

Dean Bob Sinatra & The Swang Thang
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 7:30 pm

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

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

Two Hoots & a Holler
Ego’s / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 11 pm

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm (family)

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
This will be an extra special, extra huge dance because it's the night before the Austin Lindy Exchange, a weekend of dancing, workshops and fun. I understand that registration is now closed the the event, but you can still attend the nightly dances, woo hoo.


Opens tonight - thru Dec 22

The Ultimate Christmas Musical: The Musical
Salvage Vanguard Theatre / 2803 Manor Road / 8 pm; $15
Believe me, this is NOT your grandfather's Christmas musical!!! You can trust me on this one. It will run Thursdays-Saturdays thru Dec 22. Recommended for ages 14 and over.


Friday, November 30

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

Red Stick Ramblers
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm

The Eggmen
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 7 pm (family)
Come early and stay late. Ouch! opens.

Kris Kamura Quartet
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm

Tangos
One World Theatre / 7701 Bee Caves; 32-WORLD / 7 & 9:30 pm


Saturday, December 1

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

Red Stick Ramblers
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm


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

Asleep at the Wheel; Carolyn Wonderland
Antone’s / 213 W. Fifth; 474-5314 / 9 pm

Two Hoots & A Holler
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300

Rajamani Ensemble
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 9 pm; $10
Nothing says "I'm ignoring the holiday blitz" like an evening of mesmerizing Indian gypsy music.

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


Saturday & Sunday, December 1 & 2

Wheatsville Art Festival
Wheatsville Food Coop 3101 Guadalupe / 10 am - 5 pm (family)
This is a smallish festival, but you'd be amazed at how much art and music they can pack into a relatively small space. Always fun. Live music by Hand Me Down, Django's Moustache and more. Click the link for full details.

Sunday, December 2

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

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

AIO
Gethsemane Lutheran Church / 200 W. Anderson Lane / 1-5 pm (family)
It's Jul och Lucia, a Christmas bazaar sponsored by the Swedish Women's Educational Association with a Lucia procession, activities for the kids, and Swedish food and dancing (with live music by AIO).

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

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


Monday, December 3

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

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


Tuesday, December 3

Planet Casper
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm; $5

Dean Bob Sinatra & the Swang Thang
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300 / 7 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

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


Wednesday, November 21

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

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300 / 6:30 pm


ROAD TRIPS

I'm sure there's a lovely road trip out there this week, but the only one I'll be making is to Lockhart for my granddaughter's first birthday.


COMING SOON

Sunday, December 16
Wassail
Ceremony Hall, Sri Atmananda School / 4100 Red River / 6 pm (family)
A chaos of mummers, music, magic and morris dancing. And a whole lot more. With a special appearance by St. George (the one from Crawford) and the Dragon!!!!! Yes, indeed. The dragon is almost almost almost finished, and I thank you all for your contributions of CDs and, in some cases, your assistance. We had our first mummers and dance rehearsals this week. The mummers are hilarious and the dancers are elegant. It's gonna be a GREAT show! Super family friendly. And proceeds benefits Kids for Kids, a charity organization in the Darfur region.

see ya on the dance floor,

chris