What's next? Who knows?

August 30-September 5

See what you missed? The minute my husband falls asleep I find a sailor's hand up my skirt. Sing it with me now: Girls (and older women) just wanna have fuh-hun, girls (and older women) just wanna have fun!

The beauty of theater is that you can get by with these little improprieties because the outcome is clearly scripted. The sailor doesn't give me any embarrassing diseases. The husband doesn't kill me. I just get to enjoy myself night after night with no consequences whatsoever because the script never changes. And that, my friends, is why I love theater so much. It's got reality beat all to hell!

But now it's over. I'm still in the let-down period. Tired, (really tired!) happy, missing the new friends I made this summer preparing for the show, knowing I may never see some of them again, being mostly okay with that because they have left the door open behind them for others to enter. Thanks again to those of you who have come to see it.

I have an amazing video for you this week. I've been trying to find things that people do really, really well to share with you. Well this time it's not so much the performers who are doing such a good job, but the filmmakers -- it's the ones you don't see who make this video so special. Enjoy.

Thursday, August 30

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

Heather Gilmer & Jeff Moore; Bayou Cajun Band
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 9 pm
A little Irish, a little Cajun brought to you by the Austin Friends of Traditional Music. BTW, my favorite Cajun songwriter was a guy with a distinctly Irish name -- Dennis Magee. Go figure.

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm
A little Thursday salsa when you're hot as the tropics.

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 7:00 pm
No cover, so please tip the band.

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

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

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

Thru Tuesday, September 3

Out of Bounds Improv Festival
various places / various times
This is a wild and crazy festival featuring stand-up comedy, improv, and miniature golf! Check out the website for times and locations. My favorite boy Jeff (from Dallas) will be performing tonight, so you can be sure I'll be there! See you there?


Friday, August 31

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

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm

Brave Combo
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 9 pm
How fabulous is this!!!! Sometimes you just have to get stupid and pay homage to the gods of heat and sweat. What better opportunity?

Texas Swing Kings
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 7:30 pm

Kat's Meow
Lambert's / 401 W. 2^nd; 494-1500 / 7 pm

The Eggmen
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 7 pm (family)
Come early because Ouch! (Ruttles tribute band) opens at 6.

Saturday, September 1

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

Nash Herhandez Orchestra
Donn's Depot / 1600 W. 5th; 478-0336 / 9 pm

Paris 49
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Labor of Love Festival
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 5 pm
Bob Schneider, Grupo Fantasma, and White Ghost Shivers. This event benefits the Heartgift Foundation, so click for tix.


Saturday and Sunday, September 1 & 2

BatFest
Congress Avenue Bridge / 2-midnight (Sat); 2-10pm (Sun) (Family)
Arts, crafts, food on sticks, and of course plenty of live music by such folks as Del Castillo, Papa Mali, Vallejo, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Seth Walker, and everyone's favorite -- MORE.


Sunday, September 2

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

Tex Thomas & His Danglin' Wranglers
Guero's / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / (family)

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

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

South Austin Jug Band
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 10 pm
Kinda late for a Sunday, but Monday is a holiday, so enjoy!

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


Monday, September 3

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

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


Tuesday, September 4

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

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

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

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

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

Lucky Strikes
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College Ave; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm


Wednesday, September 3

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

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

Erik Hokkanen
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm

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

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


ROAD TRIPS

West, TX
Friday-Sunday, August 31-September 2
Westfest
West, TX /15 miles north of Waco.
A Labor Day tradition (and a damn fine one, I might add). Lots and lots and lots of polka and pivo (including Brave Combo, of course).

COMING SOON

Friday, September 7
Arabic Hafleh
Sky Lounge (upstairs); 416 Congress / 8 pm; $18 in advance; $23 at door
Featuring belly dancing, Arabic food, a sheesha cafe, and of course live music by Zein al Jundi and the Saadi M'nawwar Band. Get tix here or try to win a pair next week.

Saturday, September 22
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 (Manor)

Sunday, October 28
Sinead O'Conner
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $35-$45.
Yeah, it's a little early, but so what? Click now for tix.


see ya on the dance floor,
chris

last weekend for 'flea'

August 23-29

Six shows are not enough. I want to be Darcy Snelgrave for at least a year. I've never loved a character the way I love poor Darcy, the lusty old tart. She has her issues, that's for sure, but you gotta admire anyone who can learn to say YES as well as she does.

Thanks to those of you who have come to the show. I've seen some of you, and I expect others of you were there as well. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, this weekend is your last chance. Make a little time for it. It will be time well spent.

The Chronicle gave it a fabulous review here, and I'm still shaking from the excitement of it all!

And I have exciting news. I wrote the music for the show, and now there's a medieval ensemble called Heralds and Minstrels that wants to play it in their concerts, along with some of my other compositions, yee haw! I love, love, love it when one project sparks another. The minute the show is over, I will be hard at work arranging music for them. (You can hear two clips from the show here.)

Now here's a little something you might enjoy. Nothing medieval about this one. It's two French dudes doing a Lindy routine with some hiphop moves thrown in. Amazingly talented dancers!

Thursday, August 23

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

Seth Walker
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm

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

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm
A little Thursday salsa to heat up your summer nights.

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm
No cover, so please tip the band.

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

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

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

Thursdays-Saturdays, thru August 25

One Flea Spare
Dougherty Arts Center / 1110 Barton Springs / 7:30 pm; $12
"One Flea Spare is built to provoke, not to distract, and it doesn't surrender its meanings easily. But the play's powerful sexual subtext and its beautiful poetic surface reveal an original theatrical imagination." (John Lahn, The New Yorker). There are only six performances, and we're expecting full houses for each one, so make your reservations now. Call 512.708.1893 or email reservations@gobotrick.org. (and please note that the performance is at 7:30, not 8 pm.) [for some reason I'm not seeing the beautiful graphic on certain browsers, so just click on it and it will open in a new window.]

Friday, August 24

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

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 7:30 pm

Slavadillo Vocal Quartet
Triumph Cafe / 3808 Spicewood Springs / 7 pm

The Derailers
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 7 pm; $7 (family)

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

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


Saturday, August 25

Italian Festival
Laguna Gloria / 3809 W. 35th; 345-8941 /5:30-11 pm. $10; $5 for kids (family)
Food, wine, fashion, Ferraris, live music & dancing.

An Irish Summer Night
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 7:30 pm; $15 advance/$20 at door
Featuring legendary Irish fiddler James Kelly, along with Gregory Grene with Andrew Harkin and Darren Maloney. Also starring Gregory Grene with Andrew Harkin and Darren Maloney. Also starring...The Tea Merchants, Jeff Moore, Mairtin De Cogain. Click here for tix.

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

The Eggmen
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail 266-2442 / 7 pm


Sunday, August 26

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Waterloo Park / 12th and Red River / 11am - 5:30pm (family)
Featuring live music by The Hydmen; Anthropos; Buttercup; Two Hoots and a Holler; The Mother Truckers. Admission is free with three non-perishable food items for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.

Irish Noon Concert
Walsh Ranch on Brushy Creek / noon-2 pm
Same line-up as the Cactus show on Saturday. Click here for full details & tix.

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

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

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Wooldridge Park / 9th & Guadalupe / 7:30 pm; free (family)
This is the season finale and will offer a mixed program.


Monday, August 27

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

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


Tuesday, August 28

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

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

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

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

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


Wednesday, August 29

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

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

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

South Austin Jug Band
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 10 pm

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

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


ROAD TRIPS

Fredericksburg, TX
Saturday, August 24
The Derailers
Gillespie County Fair / Hwy 16, 2 miles south of Fredericksburg / 9 pm
Click here for a full calendar of events.

Gruene, TX
Tuesday, August 28
Two Tons of Steel
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 9:00 pm $12

Gruene, TX
Tuesday, August 28
Two Tons of Steel
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 7:30 pm $4

COMING SOON

Friday, August 31
Brave Combo
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 9 pm
How fabulous is this!!!!

see ya on the dance floor,
chris

opening night tonight

August 16-22

One Flea Spare opens TONIGHT, aaaaaaaggggghhhhh! Are we ready? Why does it never FEEL like we're ready until the house lights go out and the first actor utters the first word? And then, BOOM! It's over, and the evening has flown by like a whirlwind. (Einstein was soooooo right about that relativity thing he did.)

Pictured above are the two men in my character's life -- the husband and the sailor. Now I ask you: why in the world would an aging -- er, that is to say, mature -- woman choose a young virile sailor over a foppish old prig? What would you do, given the choice?

I'm excited and nervous and excited and worrying about all the things that could possibly go wrong and excited and a little panicky and excited and obsessing about my new zit and excited and, and, and, well, excited, y'know?

There are two places on this earth where I feel absolutely, completely at home, perfectly centered. One is on the dance floor, and the other is on stage. What an odd place to be so comfortable, but what can I tell you? There it is. And I hope you'll be there to see my beautiful dress.

Check out the preview article in the Chron!

Now here's a little something you might enjoy. It's called "Music for One Apartment and six drummers."


Thursday, August 16

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

Cerronato
Dona Emilia's / 101 San Jacinto; 478-2520 / 7 pm

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm
A little Thursday salsa to heat up your summer nights.

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 7:15 pm
No cover, so please tip the band.

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

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

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

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

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

Thursdays-Saturdays, thru August 18

The King and I
Arts on Real / 2826 Real / 8 pm
No, this is not the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical extravaganza. This is the Forklift Dance Works dance extravaganza. It has already been through two iterations and is now even bigger and better than ever. It is worth the cost of a ticket just to see the dancers making fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches! AND... there are 20% more sequins in this new expanded version. Full info here.

Thursdays-Saturdays, thru August 25

One Flea Spare
Dougherty Arts Center / 1110 Barton Springs / 7:30 pm; $12
"One Flea Spare is built to provoke, not to distract, and it doesn't surrender its meanings easily. But the play's powerful sexual subtext and its beautiful poetic surface reveal an original theatrical imagination." (John Lahn, The New Yorker). There are only six performances, and we're expecting full houses for each one, so make your reservations now. Call 512.708.1893 or email reservations@gobotrick.org. (and please note that the performance is at 7:30, not 8 pm.) [for some reason I'm not seeing the beautiful graphic on certain browsers, so just click on it and it will open in a new window.]

Friday, August 17

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

South Austin Jug Band
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 10 pm

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

The Eggmen
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 7 pm (family)

Redd Volkeart
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

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

Dale Watson; The Derailers?????
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9pm

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm


Saturday, August 18

The Killdares
Fado / 214 W. 4th; 457-0172 / 10 pm
This is a really good Irish band out of Dallas.

Third Saturday Contra Dance
St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm; $5-8
Live music by the Lost and Nameless Orchestra. Beginners welcome. No partners needed. 453-8936 for more info.

Two Hoots and a Holler
The Oasis / 6550 Comanche Trail 266-2442 / 7 pm

Dale Watson
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9pm

Tribute to the King
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $20
One show only this year, featuring the usual suspects: Shaun Young's New Blue Moon Boys and Ted Roddy's King Conjure Orchestra.

Sunday, August 19

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

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

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Wooldridge Park / 9th & Guadalupe / 7:30 pm; free (family)
The Sunday evening concerts in the park continue. This week they'll feature the brass ensemble.


Monday, August 20

My friend Mike's birthday! Happy birthday, Mikey.

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

Princess Bride
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 8:30 pm (family)
Last free Central Market movie of the summer.

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)
Fiddler Peter Schwartz will be sitting in again this week.


Tuesday, August 21

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

DJd Milonga
Cuba Libre / 409 Colorado / 9 pm
Cancelled due to water damage.

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

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

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


Wednesday, August 22

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

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

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

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

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


ROAD TRIPS

Fredericksburg, TX
Saturday, August 18
Hangar Dance
Hangar Hotel / 155 Airport Road / 830-997-9990 / 8 pm; $20
With live music, of course. By The Flashbacks. (And yes, the hangar is air conditioned, aaaah.)

Gruene, TX
Tuesday, August 21
Two Tons of Steel
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 7:30 pm $4


COMING SOON

Something pretty damn spectacular, I would expect, but I haven't found it yet. Stay tuned.


see ya on the dance floor,
chris

It's almost showtime!

August 9-15

One Flea Spare opens one week from tonight, and those butterflies are starting to make slow circles in my tummy. Or maybe it's the fleas this time, ewwww. As always, there is much left to do and seemingly not enough time.

We did publicity photos the other night, so I'll be sprinkling them liberally throughout this week's list, doing my best to whet your appetite for some amazing theater. Like this for example.

Or if pedophiliac foot fetishes are not your thing, maybe you prefer something like just plain old violence. Or a September/May love affair? Whatever your taste in perversity (not perversion), this play should satisfy it. When I was first cast, I selfishly gloated that I had the very best role in the entire play. Then I realized that every single one of the actors could say the exact same thing and every single actor would be right.

Four people quarantined in a house in London during the plague of 1665. Who will die? Who will survive? And how?

But...

Gobotrick Theatre Company is not the only talent in the universe. Check out these junior high school age dancers. Totally, TOTALLY awesome.

Thursday, August 9
Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Damian Green Band
Alligator Grill / 3003 South Lamar; 444-6117 / 6:30 pm

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm
A little Thursday salsa to heat up your summer nights.

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 7:15 pm
No cover, so please tip the band.

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

Buck Owens Birthday Tribute
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 8 pm $15

Ted Roddy
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813

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

Thursdays-Saturdays, thru August 18

The King and I
Arts on Real / 2826 Real / 8 pm
No, this is not the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical extravaganza. This is the Forklift Dance Works dance extravaganza. It has already been through two iterations and is now even bigger and better than ever. It is worth the cost of a ticket just to see the dancers making fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches! AND... there are 20% more sequins in this new expanded version. Full info here.


Friday, August 10

Freedom Fest 2007
The Backyard / 13101 Hwy 71 W. / 7 pm; $52-$62
Featuring two of my faves: Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel. Y mas, of course. Get your tix here.

Seth Walker
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

California Guitar Trio
One World Theatre / 7701 Bee Caves; 32-WORLD / 7 & 9:30 pm; $30-$56

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

Two Tons of Steel
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9pm

Lucky Strikes
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; no cover

Friday & Saturday, August 10 & 11

The Austin Lounge Lizards
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $18


Saturday, August 11

Angels Knocking at the Tavern Door
Texas School for the Deaf Auditorium / 1102 S. Congress / 7 pm; $15/$30/$50
This is going to be a wonderful evening of music (Mundi and Kourosh Taghavi) and poetry (Coleman Barks and Robert Bly). If you missed Coleman Barks when he was here a couple of years ago, you really, really, really missed something. Get tix here.

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

Rumbullion
Flipnotics / The Triangle; Guadalupe at Lamar / 9 pm

James Hand
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813

Jessie Lee Miller
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 7:30 pm

Cornell Hurd Band
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 7:30 pm; no cover (family)

Albert and Gage Band
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm


Sunday, August12

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

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

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Wooldridge Park / 9th & Guadalupe / 7:30 pm; free (family)
The Sunday evening concerts in the park continue. This week they'll feature the woodwinds and brass ensemble playing pop favorites.


Monday, August 13

Paris 49; Dale Watson
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30pm; 10 pm ($10)
It's that Elvis time of year again, and Dale Watson will be doing his Elvis tribute show!

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)
Fiddler Peter Schwartz will be sitting in again this week.


Tuesday, August 14

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

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

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

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

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Wednesday, August 15

Dress rehearsal is Wednesday night. Yoiks! The clock is ticking very, very fast! (Or is that my heart?)

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

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

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

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


ROAD TRIPS

Granger, TX
Friday, August 10
Johnny Dee & The Rocket 88s
Cotton Club / downtown Granger / 512-859-0700

Gruene, TX
Friday, August 10
The Gourds
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 8 pm $10

Gruene, TX
Tuesday, August 14
Two Tons of Steel
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 7:30 pm $4


COMING SOON

Thursdays-Saturdays, August 16-25
One Flea Spare
Dougherty Arts Center / 1110 Barton Springs / 7:30 pm; $12
"One Flea Spare is built to provoke, not to distract, and it doesn't surrender its meanings easily. But the play's powerful sexual subtext and its beautiful poetic surface reveal an original theatrical imagination." (John Lahn, The New Yorker). There are only six performances, and we're expecting full houses for each one, so make your reservations now. Call 512.708.1893 or email reservations@gobotrick.org. (and please note that the performance is at 7:30, not 8 pm.) [for some reason I'm not seeing the beautiful graphic on certain browsers, so just click on it and it will open in a new window.]


see ya on the dance floor,
chris

Please, may I go on vacation now?

August 2-8

Mr. Ben is back, my toothache continues to slowly abate (why is this taking so long?!?!?!??!), rehearsals are right on track for One Flea Spare, the new Harry Potter book was very satisfying, and it has stopped raining. Yup, life is pretty good.

Still. I get restless and antsy in the summer, and I've got a free airline ticket burning a hole in my pocket. I'm feeling the need for a vacation. (Vegas doesn't count; that was just a weekend jaunt). I need a real live vacation. Didn't get one last summer due to the trip to NYC which was anything but relaxing; and this summer is nearly gone and I haven't taken any time off. Where can I go? I've got two empty weeks at the end of August/beginning of September and I want to run away!

Maybe do something as wild and crazy as the folks in this week's video. NOT! I like my feet firmly planted on the ground, thank you very much. But I do have great appreciation for what these folks are doing. (The little individuals you see floating by [separate from the group] are actually camera operators; the event was filmed from four different angles.)


Thursday, August 2

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

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm
A little Thursday salsa to heat up your summer nights.

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm
No cover, so please tip the band.

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

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

Wayne's World
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 8:30 pm (family)
Another fun movie night at Central Market.

Ted Roddy
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813

Kris Kamura Quartet
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 7:30 pm

Thursdays-Saturdays, thru August 18

The King and I
Arts on Real / 2826 Real / 8 pm
No, this is not the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical extravaganza. This is the Forklift Dance Works dance extravaganza. It has already been through two iterations and is now even bigger and better than ever. It is worth the cost of a ticket just to see the dancers making fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches! AND... there are 20% more sequins in this new expanded version. Full info here.


Friday, August 3

Lost Bayou Ramblers
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / midnight

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

Cerronato
Dona Emilia's / 101 San Jacinto; 478-2520 / 8 pm

Johnny Dee & The Rocket 88s
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 7:30 pm; $5 (family)

The Swingsters
Ross' Old Austin Café / 11800 N. Lamar; 835-2414 / 8 pm (family)

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm

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

DJd Milonga
Quadrangle Room / Texas Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe / 9 pm
There will be a free class at 8, so come early and pick up a few moves.

First Friday Contra Dance
Carpenter's Hall / 400 Josephine / 8 pm
Beginners welcome. No partner needed. Live music by Josephine's Secret. mailto:Secret.sealantsby5@aol.com or 512-970-4919 for more info.


Saturday, August 4

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies; Texas Swing Kings
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 5 pm (ARSJB); 8 pm (TSK)
This is an early show, a great way to get your Saturday night started.

Rajamani Ensemble
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 9 pm; $10

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

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm; no cover


Sunday, August 5

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

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

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Momo’s / 618 W. 6th; 479-8848 / 8:30 pm

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

Austin Symphony Orchestra
Wooldridge Park / 9th & Guadalupe / 7:30 pm; free (family)
The Sunday evening concerts in the park continue. This week they'll feature the big band music of Count Basie and Duke Ellington.


Monday, August 6

Paris 49; Justin Trevino
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30pm; 10 pm ($5)

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)
Fiddler Peter Schwartz will be sitting in again this week.


Tuesday, August 7

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

Lucky Strikes
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300 / 6 pm

Kris Kamura Quartet
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 7 pm

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

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

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

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

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

Ruben Ramos
Pan Am Hillside Theater / 3rd at Robert T. Martinez / 7:30
I only just learned about this summer concert series and this is the last one. Should be fun. Catered food and soft drinks available.


Wednesday, August 8

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017

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

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

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


ROAD TRIPS

Gruene, TX
Tuesday, August 7
Two Tons of Steel
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 7:30 pm $4


COMING SOON

Friday, August 10
Freedom Fest 2007
The Backyard / 13101 Hwy 71 W. / 7 pm; $52-$62
Featuring two of my faves: Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel. Y mas, of course. Get your tix here.

Saturday, August 11
Angels Knocking at the Tavern Door
Texas School for the Deaf Auditorium / 1102 S. Congress / 7 pm; $15/$30/$50
This is going to be a wonderful evening of music (Mundi and Kourosh Taghavi) and poetry (Coleman Barks and Robert Bly). If you missed Coleman Barks when he was here a couple of years ago, you really, really, really missed something. Get tix here.

Thursdays-Saturdays, August 16-25
One Flea Spare
Dougherty Arts Center / 1110 Barton Springs / 7:30 pm; $12
Set in seventeenth century London during the Plague, we find four people forced to exist with each other while trying to survive one of the deadliest epidemics in English history. Who will survive? And how?
"Our lives are just a splash of water on a stone. Nothing more. Then I am the stone on which they fell. And they have marked me. So beware. Because I loved them, and they have marked me." So says Morse in 'One Flea Spare'.There are only six performances, and we're expecting full houses for each one, so make your reservations now. Call 512.708.1893 or email reservations@gobotrick.org. (and please note that the performance is at 7:30, not 8 pm.) [for some reason I'm not seeing the beautiful graphic on certain browsers, so just click on it and it will open in a new window.]




see ya on the dance floor,
chris