My week was so full of a number of things...

February 28-March 5

What a week it's been. First of all, Betty's Summer Vacation got off to a rioutously funny start. That's always a relief -- when comedy is funny. Then.... I went to an estate sale and found myself a hat that once belonged to Ann Richards. How cool is THAT! The hat looks sort of like a two-layer cake covered in 7-minute frosting, only made of straw. I don't know how she got it over her big hair, but what the hey. I now have a new bad-hair-day hat. And... on Monday I pretended I was a college professor and substituted for an ACC instructor who'd had surgery. I was a little nervous about that, but it went surprisingly well. Also on Monday I got hired to do the costumes for ACC's next play, Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil. Does that sound like fun or WHAT! On Tuesday I went back to the endodontist who had done my root canal because -- silly me -- I was under the impression that after a root canal the tooth would stop hurting. Boy, was I wrong! Had an audition on Tuesday evening, and that went well (got a call back, woo hoo), and, And, AND..... I got a nap on Wednesday, which was probably the highlight of my week!

So now I'm just about ready for the weekend, only Mr. Ben is going to be in DC, so I'll be on my own. That means probably getting caught up on laundry and practicing the bassoon a lot. Ain't we got fun?

It's video time. Proof that humans are not the only dancers on the planet. Enjoy.



Thursday, February 28

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

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

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

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

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

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


Friday, February 29

Happy LEAP DAY!

Quebe Sisters
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm
Don't miss these cuties. Amazingly talented young ladies worth seeing for sure, for sure!

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

Irish Winter Night
Cactus Cafe / Texas Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $15
This wonderful Celtic event will feature the Brock McGuire Band, with Jeff Moore opening.

Austin Swing All Stars
Austin UpTown Dance North / 8868 Research Blvd / 8 pm; $7-$10.
Beginning swing/Charleston lesson at 8:15; live music starts at 9:00.

The Derailers
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar / 9 pm

James Hand
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788

Billy Dee
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm

The Eggmen
Hanover's Draught Haus / 108 E. Main (Pflugerville) / 10 pm


Friday - Sunday, Feb 29 - Mar 2

Betty's Summer Vacation
ACC Rio Grande Campus Main Stage / 1212 Red River / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 2 pm Sun.
Not recommended for the youngsters. But us not-so-youngsters will LOVE it! See you there? I'll be there opening night and on Saturday, too, as there are some folks coming in from out of town to see it.






Saturday, March 1

Explore UT
All over UT campus / 11am - 5 pm (family)
Everything from hands-on science experiments to live music and dancing. Click the link for the full schedule. Take a few minutes to plan your day because there's tons and tons and tons of stuff for you and the kids to do.

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

DJd Milonga
Esquina Tango / 209 Pedernales; 524-2772 /8:30 pm
This evening of social tango dancing will be a fund-raiser for KOOP radio.

Quebe Sisters
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm
What a treat! These three young ladies are amazing fiddlers AND singers, performing Texas Swing the old fashioned way.

Jon Emery
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm

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

James Hand
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm


Saturday & Sunday, Mar 1 & 2

Texas State Arts Festival
Across the street from the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum / MLK at Congress / 10 am - 7 pm Sat; 10 am - 6 pm Sun; $5; kids under 12 free (family)
This celebration of Texas Independence Day will feature such bands as That Damned Band (one of my newer favorites), Carolyn Wonderland, Cerronato, Grupo Fantasma and many more.


Sunday, March 2

Texas Swing Kings
Art Ribhouse / 2330 S. Lamar / 6:30 pm (family)

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, March 3

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

Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)


Tuesday, March 4

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

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

Dale Watson (aka Dean Bob Sinatra & Swang Thang)
Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6:30 pm


Wednesday, March 5

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

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017 / 9:30 pm

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

Roger Wallace
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm


ROAD TRIPS

Dallas, TX
Friday - Sunday, Feb 29-March 2
North Texas Irish Festival
Texas State Fair Grounds, Dallas
One word that makes it worth the trip: Altan. Simply THE best Irish band in existence. All the rest is icing on the cake -- and pretty darn tasty icing at that: The Battlefield Band will be there (waaaaaay excellent!); Brock McGuire; Brother and lots, lots more.

Granger, TX
Saturday, March 1
Ricky Calmbach
Cotton Club / 212 E. Davila; 512-859-0700/ 9 pm


COMING SOON

Sunday, March 9
Birthday Party Extravaganza
Buckholts SPSTJ Hall / TX 36 (US 190) in Buckholts, TX / 3-6:30 pm
That's right folks. You're invited to the coolest birthday party and field trip ever. The Chris Rybak Band will be playing, there's a huge, wonderful dance floor, AND... there will be cake. If you have a birthday in March, it's your party,too!

see ya on the dance floor,

chris

Dismembered penises can be funny!

February 21-27

There are some things you probably shouldn't laugh at. Child abuse, rape, family dysfuntion, and dismembered penises come to mind. But if you're a playwright named Christopher Durang, these things are extremely funny. And if you're ME, you're thrilled to be part of ACC's production of Durang's play Betty's Summer Vacation, which just happens to be about those very things, and which opens tomorrow night, and which is outrageously funny.

My work for the show is pretty much done. All I have to do now is sit in the audience and pray that the person operating the sound board hits all the cues. That's the downside of being a control freak -- you can never truly relax when someone else is playing your cues!!!

In other news, I got a bassoon teacher!!!! I start lessons right after spring break, and I'm so excited! I've amazed myself at how much I've remembered/re-learned. But there are still some rough spots that need some help, so I've decided to hire someone to help me over them. I'm stoked.

And this week's video. Ah yes. There's a band coming to town this weekend (Golem) -- tonight, in fact; and I don't know if you know them or not yet, but you should. So I'm playing a short video from them this week to entertain you and to introduce you to them. Enjoy.

Thursday, February 14

Golem
The Parish Room / 214 E. 6th / 9 pm; $10
Didja like the video? I LOVE the music!

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

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

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Coldstream Guards
Frank Erwin Center / 1701 Red River; 477-6060 / 8pm $25-$45 (family)
I never get tired of men in kilts. Sigh. Click here for tix.

Hot Club of Cowtown
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm

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

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

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

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

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


Friday, February 22

Salsa Dance Fest
Texas Union Main Ballroom / 23rd at Guadalupe / 9 pm
This is an annual salsa event that is offered through Informal Classes. You can register online here. You'll want class no. 1405.601. It's $10 if you preregister. Or, if you don't want to be bothered, you can pay $15 at the door. Mini salsa lesson at 8, followed by The Brew at 9.

Texas Swing Kings
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 7 pm
But wait! There's more. I'll let Howard Kalish tell you about it. Take it away, Howard: In addition to the Texas Swing Kings, we’ll have 3, count ‘em 3, bands playing on the bill with us. Why are we having this special show? Well, as you may recall, the TSK played the Country Rendezvous Festival in Craponne, France in 2006. This week Georges Carrier, president of the festival, and his wife Jocelyn will be in Austin scouting bands for the 2009 festival. There were some bands we wanted them to hear that weren't already booked that weekend, so we set up a showcase for them at our Patsy's gig. The 3 bands are The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, The Doug Moreland Band, and the Matt Skinner Band. The music will start a 7pm and each band will play a selection of songs as an audition for Georges. Afterwards, the Texas Swing Kings will start up our regular show and have some guests artists from the various visiting bands join us as well.

R. Carlos Nakai and Udi Bar-David
One World Theatre / 7701 Bee Caves Rd; 330-9500 / 7 & 9:30 pm; $30-$71
Aaaahhh. Native American flute and cello. Doesn't that make your alpha waves happy?

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

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


Fridays - Sundays, Feb 22 - Mar 2

Betty's Summer Vacation
ACC Rio Grande Campus Main Stage / 1212 Red River / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 2 pm Sun.
Not recommended for the youngsters. But us not-so-youngsters will LOVE it! See you there? I'll be there opening night and on Saturday, too, as there are some folks coming in from out of town to see it.



Saturday, February 23

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

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

Brave Combo Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 9 pm (family)
I plan on being there after Betty's Summer Vacation is over. See you there? I have suggested to Jeffry Barnes (of Brave Combo) that he learn to play the Japanese War Tuba, pictured at right. I don't know if he's done it yet.

Third Saturday Contra Dance
St. Paul's Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm; $5-$8 Live music by the Rising Gorge Boys. mailto:Boys.croth@austin.rr.com for more info.

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


Sunday, February 17

Fabulous Polkasonics
Mother Egan's / 713 W. 6th; 478-7747 / noon - 3 pm
A little Polish, a little Irish, a lot of fun.

Texana Dames
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 5 pm (family)

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Momo's / 618 W. 6th / 8 pm

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


Monday, February 18

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

Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)


Tuesday, February 19

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

Planet Casper;Johnny Cash Bash
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm; 9 pm
The Johnny Cash Bash is a fundraiser for KOOP radio and features Dale Watson, Rosie Flores & more.

Dale Watson (aka Dean Bob Sinatra & Swang Thang)
Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6:30 pm

Dale Watson & the Lone Stars
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm
Yup, you can catch Dale twice on Tuesdays.


Wednesday, February 28

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017 / 9:30 pm

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


ROAD TRIPS

Thursday - Sunday, Feb 21 - 24
Carmine, TX
Big Joe's Polka Show
Big Red Barn / on Hwy 237 between Round Top and Carmine / noon each day (family)
This is a four day taping session for the Big Joe Polka Show featuring a zillion polka bands (including my personal favorite, Brave Combo). Taping starts at noon each day, and we're all invited to come be part of the polka dancing live audience. Tix are $15 per day in advance, or $17.50 at the door. Click the link to see the phenomenal line-up of non-stop polka bands! WOW!!!!!

Elgin, TX
Saturday, February 23
Austin Lounge Lizards
Kingfisher Fine Art & Music / Ave. C & Depot St.; 512-281-5724/ 7:30 pm
Not only will you get to have some Lizard fun, you'll be helping support Elgin Parks.


COMING SOON

Friday, Feb 29
Irish Winter Night
Cactus Cafe / Texas Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $15
This wonderful Celtic event will feature the Brock McGuire Band, with Jeff Moore opening.

Saturday & Sunday, Mar 1 & 2
Texas State Arts Festival
Across the street from the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum / MLK at Congress / 10 am - 7 pm Sat; 10 am - 6 pm Sun (family)
This celebration of Texas Independence Day will feature such bands as That Damned Band (one of my newer favorites), Carolyn Wonderland, Cerronato, Grupo Fantasma and many more.

Sunday, March 9
Birthday Party Extravaganza
Buckholts SPSTJ Hall / TX 36 (US 190) in Buckholts, TX / 3-6:30 pm
That's right folks. You're invited to the coolest birthday party and field trip ever. The Chris Rybak Band will be playing, there's a huge, wonderful dance floor, AND... there will be cake. If you have a birthday in March, it's your party,too!

see ya on the dance floor,

chris

Time travel

February 14- 20

Happy Valentine's Day. Will you be mine? I think I've recovered enough now from The Seasonal Sickness that there's no health risk in saying yes, so please by my valentine.

Even though we were both still hacking and coughing last weekend, Mr. Ben and I made a pilgrimage to the Buckholts SPJST hall for the monthly dance of the Cameron Dance Club. Due to said hacking and coughing, we didn't dance much, but that didn't stop us from having a wonderful time. And...we learned that NEXT month's dance just happens to fall on MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! SO.... I'm issuing an invitation to every single one of you to join us in a field trip Sunday, March 9 (dance is 3-6:30; if you leave Austin around 1:30 you'll make it just in time). The Chris Rybak Band will be playing, so you know it will be good. The dance floor is much larger than I remembered (and smooth, smooth, smooth). The average age of the membership is right around 80, but they LOVED having us youngsters there.

Here are some charming things we learned/observed:

• The hall pictured above is the THIRD Buckholts SPJST Hall. The first one was destroyed in a storm. The second one was burned to the ground by some bank robbers who robbed the Buckholts bank while the citizenry was putting out the fire at the dance hall (let's get our priorities straight, after all!). This third hall -- the one in the picture -- was built by 5 men in 3 months, and we had an opporunity to talk to Frank Tomascik, the only one of the five still living (and father of one of my high school friends).


• They have just had a Texas historical marker approved and will be dedicating it in June.


• They have a raffle drawing for door prizes at their dances. Members donate prizes such as a box of Fiddle Faddle; a package of cookies; a small box of Valentine chocolates. Mr. Ben (pictured at right dancing with our granddaughter Little Princess Luluchild) won a coffee mug with hard candies in it. One of the regular members won a box of Pepperidge Farms cookies and did her part to make us feel welcome by generously sharing with us. I plan to take something to contribute to the raffle next time.


• My youngest grandson now has a new grandmother, "Grandma Virginia", who took over watching him all afternoon long so my daughter could dance.

It really was like stepping back in time. My invitation to you is genuine -- not just to help me celebrate my birthday, but to share this little slice of the past. These places are dying out and I'd love for you to take this opportunity to see a little piece of history and find yourself some dance joy.

If we're lucky, Schroeder's Place in Thorndale will be open and we can stop for a kick-ass hamburger on the way home. We were fortunate enough to be able to that last Sunday, mmmm. I hadn't been there since I was a kid when we used to buy fish bait, beer and burgers on weekends. They've dropped the bait; but other than that, the menu has not changed.

Since I've gone on so long today, I'll skip the video and move on to the dance ops at hand. But seriously, folks, please put March 9 on your calendar. I would be so, so happy to share this little part of my life with you. The Buckholts SPJST Hall is where I learned to dance many, many years ago, and it Looms Large in my Legend.

(BTW: I know that several of you have March birthdays as well [including my son-in-law, whose BDay is the day after mine; he and his family will be sharing the day in Buckholts] -- remember when we used to get together and have a group birthday party/dance? Wanna do it again this year in Buckholts?)


Thursday, February 14

Christine Albert's French Valentine's Show
Cactus Cafe / TX Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $15
All I can say is, I hope you've made your reservations, because this is an immensely popular way to treat your Valentine to something wonderful.

Valentine's Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
Dust off your semi-formal Valentine attire (something red probably, right?) and take your sweetie dancing. Emily Gimble & the Marshall Ford Swing Band will provide live music for this swing dance brought to you by the folks at Austin Swing Syndicate.

Glovertango
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 7 pm
They're baaaaaaackkk.

Hot Club of Cowtown; White Ghost Shivers Valentine's Massacre!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm; 10 pm

Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)
One can only imagine the Valentine mayhem Cornell will dish out.

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

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

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

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



Thru Feb 16

Frontera Fest
Various times/various venues
Short Fringe at Hyde Park Theatre; Long Fringe at The Blue Theatre; Mi Casa es Su Teatro at various venues. Click the link for all the details as this festival winds to a close.


Thru Feb 17

Ballet Austin's New American Talent/Dance Competition
Paramount Theatre / 713 Congress; 472-5470 / 8 pm Thur, Fri, Sat; 2 pm Sun; $15-$19
Sort of an American Idol format for dancers and choreographers. Hmm.


Friday, February 15

The Studebakers
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar / 7:30 pm (family)
The Studebakers invite you to extend Valentine's day into the weekend. Why not?

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College Ave; 443-4200/ 7:30 pm
Every night is Valentine's at the Treehouse.

DJd Milonga
Texas Union Quadrangle Room / 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm; no cover

DJd Swing Dance
Go Dance / 2525 Anderson Lane (in Northcross Mall) / 9:30 pm; $7 & $10.

Ricky Calmbach
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm


Saturday, February 16

Dead Sweethearts Ball
Ego's / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 8 pm
The Dead Sweethearts are comprised of some of Austin's finest -- Terri Joyce, Roger Wallace, Jim Stringer, Lisa Pankratz, T Jarrod Bonta and Kevin Smith. This is sort of the ANTI-Valentine's event we all sort of secretly crave, featuring songs of murder and loss.

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

DJd Milonga
Esquina Tango / 209 Pedernales; 524-2772 / 9:30 pm

Albert & Gage Band
Donn's Depot / 1600 W. 5th; 478-0336 / 9 pm

Ricky Calmbach
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

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


Sunday, February 17

Fabulous Polkasonics
Mother Egan's / 713 W. 6th; 478-7747 / noon - 3 pm
A little Polish, a little Irish, a lot of fun.

Ridgetop Syncopators
Central Market / 4001 N Lamar; 899-4300 / 12:30 pm (family)

Marshall Ford Swing Band; Warren Hood & The Hoodlums
Momo's / 618 W. 6th / 8 pm; 10 pm

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


Monday, February 18

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

Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)


Tuesday, February 19

Celtic Women
Frank Erwin Center / 1701 Red River / 7:30 pm; $42-$62 (family)
Oh man, you do not want to miss this!

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

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

Dale Watson (aka Dean Bob Sinatra & Swang Thang)
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300


Wednesday, February 20

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017 / 9:30 pm

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


ROAD TRIPS

Uhland, TX
Friday, Feb 15
Dale Watson
Club 21 / Hwy 21, Uhland, TX / 9pm
It's been a while since I've been to Club 21. Great place this time of year before it gets too hot.

Elgin, TX
Sunday, February 17
Vrazels Polka Band; Fritz Hodde & the Fabulous Six
Elgin SPJST Hall / 702 N. Hwy 95; 512-285-3100 / 2-7 pm

San Antonio, TX
Sunday, February 17
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Coldstream Guards
Lila Cockrell Theatre / Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center; 200 E Market St. / 7:30 pm (family) $20-$50
If you can't go to SA to see them, they'll be at the Frank Erwin Center on the 21st.

COMING SOON

Saturday, Feb 21-24
Big Joe's Polka Show
Big Red Barn / on Hwy 237 between Round Top and Carmine / noon each day (family)This is a four day taping session for the Big Joe Polka Show featuring a zillion polka bands (including my personal favorite, Brave Combo). Taping starts at noon each day, and we're all invited to come be part of the polka dancing live audience. Tix are $15 per day in advance, or $17.50 at the door. Click the link to see the phenomenal line-up of non-stop polka bands! WOW!!!!!

Friday, Feb 22 - Sunday, Mar 2
Betty's Summer Vacation
Main Stage / ACC Rio Grande Campus; 1212 Rio Grande / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 2 pm Sun
I'm doing sound design for this outrageously over-the-top comedy about a summer vacation gone horribly wrong. If dismembered penises and gratuitous explosions are your cup of tea, then this is the play for you! Not recommended for kids. (El Jeffie -- I expect you'll love this one.)


see ya on the dance floor,

chris

Sexy Sadie dead at 91

February 7-13

So long Sexy Sadie, the latest and greatest of them all. Yup, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died yesterday at age 91.

And for the past week I've pretty much felt like my number was up as well. Something I can only call The Sickness has struck my department at work and I finally succumbed to it after spreading myself a little too thin on a huge project. Still recovering, but at least I am recovering.



Thursday, February 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Thru Feb 16

Frontera Fest
Various times/various venues
Short Fringe at Hyde Park Theatre; Long Fringe at The Blue Theatre; Mi Casa es Su Teatro at various venues. Click the link for all the details as this festival winds to a close.

Friday, February 8

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

DJd Milonga
La Tazza Fresca / 37th at Guadalupe / 9 pm

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


Saturday, February 9

Austin Friends of Traditional Music Midwinter Festival
Dougherty Arts Center / 1110 Barton Springs / noon - 11 pm
Wow, what a great line-up this year: Fabulous Polkasonics; Djembabes; Studebakers; and more, more, more. Workshops. Performances. Cool stuff!

Trout Fishing in America
Cactus Cafe / TX Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe / 6 pm, $12; 8:30 pm $17
Two shows -- the early one for kids and the later one for the big kids. Ain't we got fun?

The Eggmen
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm (family)

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


Sunday, February 10

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

Mashall Ford Swing Band; Warren Hood & the Hoodlums
Momo's / 618 W. 6th; 479-8848 / 8 pm; 10 pm


Monday, February 11

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

Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)


Tuesday, February 12

Planet Casper; Charles Thibodeaux & The Austin Cajun Aces
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm
Verrrrrrrrry Interestink! Reliable sources confirm that each of these bands is playing the Tuesday happy hour at the Continental Club. That's probably not going to happen. The good news is, though, that either one is the right choice!

Dale Watson (aka Dean Bob Sinatra & Swang Thang)
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300

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

Jim Stringer & The AM Band
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm (family)


Wednesday, February 13

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017 / 9:30 pm

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

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

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


ROAD TRIPS

Kendalia, TX
Saturday, Feb 9
Zydeco Blanco
Kendalia Hall / Kendalia / 8 pm
Click here for a map.

Buckholts, TX
Sunday, Feb 10
Melody Five
Buckholts SPJST HALL / Kendalia / 3 pm
Oh my, I hope Mr. Ben and I are well enough for this on Sunday afternoon! Believe me, it is worth the drive to see this dance hall. One of the few "round" ones left, and it's not used that often any more. Click here for a map.

COMING SOON

Thursday, Feb 14
Christine Albert's French Valentine's Show
Cactus Cafe / TX Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $15
This is a hugely popular show, so you'd better make reservations if you want to impress your Valentine. E-mail cat@albertandgage.com TODAY.

Thursday, Feb 14
Valentine's Semi-Formal
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
Emily Gimble & the Marshall Ford Swing Band will provide live music for this swing dance brought to you by the folks at Austin Swing Syndicate.

Saturday, Feb 21-24
Big Joe's Polka Show
Big Red Barn / on Hwy 237 between Round Top and Carmine / noon each day (family)This is a four day taping session for the Big Joe Polka Show featuring a zillion polka bands (including my personal favorite, Brave Combo). Taping starts at noon each day, and we're all invited to come be part of the polka dancing live audience. Tix are $15 per day in advance, or $17.50 at the door. Click the link to see the phenomenal line-up of non-stop polka bands! WOW!!!!!

Friday, Feb 22 - Sunday, Mar 2
Betty's Summer Vacation
Main Stage / ACC Rio Grande Campus; 1212 Rio Grande / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 2 pm Sun
I'm doing sound design for this outrageously over-the-top comedy about a summer vacation gone horribly wrong. If dismembered penises and gratuitous explosions are your cup of tea, then this is the play for you! Not recommended for kids. (El Jeffie -- I expect you'll love this one.)


see ya on the dance floor,

chris