Passive-aggressive "art" project

November 8-14

I don't know how many unsolicited credit card offers I get in the mail, but it's a lot. After shredding the applications that have my name and address on them, I save the business reply envelopes for my own vile purposes, mwahahahha.Then when I've got a minute, I sit down and write a note, put it in the envelope and mail it back to them -- on their nickel, of course. For a while my notes were a little snarky -- something along the lines of "Don't you love getting unsolicited junk mail? I know I do!"

But this past weekend I was doing a little housecleaning and I found a whole stash of these envelopes -- 34 to be exact -- just waiting for a creative response. I gave it about two seconds thought and then came up with what I call "Passive/Aggressive Art". Each note was written in my own hand on the back side of a piece of recycled 8 1/2 x 11 paper whose printing gave nothing away of myself -- no addresses, no names, no phone numbers, no e-mail addresses -- just words, like the text of Beethoven's Ode to Joy or a picture of a woman in a 17th century costume. Each note started exactly the same way: Sorry I haven't written in a while but...

But each note was different. I can't remember all of them, but here are a few of my favorites:

Sorry I haven't written in a while but...

my cat died.
I've been touring with my band.
I'm out of prison now.
can we still be friends?
I've been partying WAY too much.
I lost your address.

I plan to keep this going for as long as the credit card companies keep sending me these things and I can keep coming up with reasons why I haven't written lately. Maybe some poor schmuck in the mail room will at least get a kick out of it. I invite you to join me and let's make this a nationwide art project, whaddya say!

And now on to our weekly fun. WARNING: This week's video is kinda long (15 minutes), but so, so, so amazing. Enjoy (when you have the time).



Thursday, November 8

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

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

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

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm

Jon Emery
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm

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

Friday, November 9

La Putain Avec Les Fleurs; Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 8 & 11 pm
Two shows with this vaudeville/melodrama troupe with dance music in between. Sweet!

Mundi
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
This is most definitely where I'd be if I didn't already have tickets for "Tuna Does Vegas." Mundi will be presenting a program of Celtic music with guest collaborator Erin Bobruk. Happy Birthday, Darrel!!!

The Studebakers
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 7:30 pm (family)

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

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


Saturday, November 10

White Ghost Shivers
Antone’s / 213 W. Fifth; 474-5314 / 10 pm

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

Tito Fuente, Jr.
Monarch Events Center / in Lincoln Village; 6406 N. IH 35 / 7 pm; $25 advance; $35 door
The legend lives on. Also featuring Salsa del Rio and Cienfuegos.
DJd Milonga
East Austin New Culture Club / 209 Pedernales / 8 pm


Sunday, November 11

Heralds and Minstrels
RedHouse ArtSpace / directions available with reservations / 3 pm; $10 (family)
This is a (central Austin) house concert featuring a wonderful Renaissance trio from Georgetown. Seating is limited, so call 923-2277 now to make your reservations and get directions to the concert (since it is in a private home, the address will only be given when reservations are made).

Monster Big Band
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 12:30 pm (family)

Gulf Coast Playboys
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 3 pm (family)

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


Monday, November 12

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

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


Tuesday, November 13

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 14

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

AIO
IKEA / 1 IKEA Way (Round Rock) / 6 pm
Listen to some world music and eat some Scandinavian food while you try not to buy everything in the store.

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

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300 / 7 PM


ROAD TRIPS

New Braunfels, TX
Thru November 11
Wurstfest
Wurst Hall
Click on the link for all the information you need to know -- from directions to schedule (like Brave Combo on Monday the 5th, for example).

Salado, TX
Friday - Sunday, November 9-11
Scottish Clan Gathering and Highland Games
Scottish shortbread; men in kilts (no connection between the two); and tons of fun for the whole family.

Taylor, TX
Friday, November 9
Czech Melody Masters
Taylor SPJST Hall / 5025 FM 619; (512) 352-9139 / 7:30 pm

Granger, TX
Saturday, November 10
Ricky Calmbach
Cotton Club / downtown Granger / 512-859-0700 / 9 pm

Elgin, TX
Sunday, November 11
Tony Janek
Elgin SPJST Hall / 702 Hwy 95 in Elgin; 512-285-3100 / 3 pm

COMING SOON

Opens November 29:
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 through Dec 22.


see ya on the dance floor,

chris