An Outside Perspective

Perhaps this blog, noting the wondrousness of the Live Music Capital, is a touch biased. In my waste-of-time reporting classes, objectivity was always a topic covered, so I am going to put the professors and their tenured lessons to use. Phil Marshal, a singer/songwriter out of Yorkshire England, ladies and gentleman.

 

“It’s happening every night! Monday night, people are out and enjoying it!”

 

Phil called the music scenes in New York and London flooded with everyone looking to make a product out of the music. “New York, as London is, is a very fashionable place, so the sound and style formula is something they’re already looking for…. The thing about Austin is you’re just playing good music.”

 

He further said he’s moving to Austin in early 2009. I suppose it’s a the-grass-is-always-greener kind of thing…

Yorkshire, England

 

Phil’s acoustic strumming under a solid-pop voice has received radio play here in Austin, although, he has also recorded one of his albums at Abbey Road. So do not take it lightly when this lad says Austin is the place to be.

 

Stomping from Momo’s

Here’s the first “venue” to be covered by this blog, per say. With a regular cover at the door and larger and more successful acts (sometimes), Momo’s keeps the ceiling to its downstairs neighbor Katz’s flexing.

 

The best show I have ever seen here would be the night the “Katz’s Stomp” was invented by the South Austin Jug Band. For constantly towing the cars of Momo’s goers parked in spots Katz’s claimed his, the SAJB decided it was only fair if between every few songs, every person jumped and stomped and yelled for a period of time no shorter than ten seconds. I am oh so grateful my car was not towed that night, as I’m sure several were.

 

The stage is small and sweaty but there is a large dance floor to the side. Seating is competitive at the nine, three-seater tables, but if you don’t snag a chair there, the back porch is larger than the inside and perfect for cool nights—which we are having plenty of nowadays.

 

Upcoming shows include Patrice Pike on Halloween and a big Nov. 4^th Election shindig. But, of course… music seven nights a week.

“Why Can’t We Be [at] Friends?”

Monday night blues jams and a stage frequently played by Eric Tessmer, a local guitarslinger you must have heard of by now, Friends Bar sits towards the end of Sixth’s ‘strip’ between B.D Rileys, a great pub with every football game you could want, and Spill, a haughty metro bar. There really is everything down here, huh?

 

Between those extremes, Friends sticks to what’s simple: rock and blues. One of the most spacious stages in the area with a dance floor and bar tables in front, it seems Friends never gets too crowded. I say this as a good thing. It’s been around since I can remember. It’s a staple. Yet most always there’s room to move and always good music.

 

Of all these bars, Friends’s Web site keeps a music calendar the best. Right on their front page, you’re one click away from the month’s line-up.

Why must we listen to “Dont Stop Believing” AGAIN?

Everyone wants to hear that damn “Sweet Home Alabama” number, wants sugar to be poured on them for reasons they don’t understand…

 

Last night, wandering aimlessly through the various venues, here’s what was played, some more than once.

            -“If the House is a’ Rockin…”

            -“Last Dance with Mary Jane”

            -“Red House”

            -“Piano Man”

            -“No Woman No Cry”

            -“Hard to Handle”

            -“Sweet Child Of Mine”

            - and anything ACDC, Beatles

            -“Rock and Roll”

            -“Rockin in the Free World”

            - etcetera, etcetera, etcetera

 

And several requests for “Freebird”, none of which were granted.

 

The point being that all the above are recognizable by title alone. Everyone knows them. Everyone loves… er… enjoys them because they can sing along or at least known all the parts to which to hum along.

 

After another crowd pleaser began as I ordered a whisky (had to shout to make it a double over “I believe in a thing called love!”) a bar-end discussion came up regarding creativity.

 

“How come all these shit covers sound the same?” I won’t go further into this dead-end, but here are the best covers I’ve heard in town. A local blues band put “Love Hurts” (a terrible song) into one of their originals. Great idea. They also did a Journey medley (annoying but creative) with one verse from perhaps each of the four songs.

 

The Player One set list is mostly originals but the covers played are ones you know and provoke that “Haha! Oh yeah!” For example:

            -Blending 5 songs together

            -A reggae version of “Sex and Candy”

            -Blending Styx with Led Zeppelin

            -Multiple versions of “All Along the Watchtower”

            – “Peaches” by the Presidents of the United States of America

            - etcetera, etcetera, etcetera

           

Come hear these at Carlos n Charlies on Friday Nov. 7. Player One plays all night.

The Thirsty Nickel Pulls an English Act

 

On a Monday night at the Thirsty Nickel, Phil Marshal from Yorkshire, England had his band filling the 9 to midnight slot. Separated from the small crowd by a waist high rod-iron fence and slammed in the corner, the stage still worked well for pulling in passersby because of its two large windows looking out onto Sixth street and Trinity.

 

Thanks to a list of two dollar drinks, the audience slowly grew accustomed to Phil’s accent and constant use of “Cheers” instead of “Thanks”. Backed by drums, bass, and a lead guitar, his acoustic strumming singer/songwriter pop rock was well-received. The English accent disappears when he sings, though.

 

Perhaps it’s his international status, but unlike many bands, well, all bands, The Phil Marshal Band played no covers. The bar staff did anything but complain. His radio friendly style was Thirsty Nickel friendly as well.

 

Player One has played the same stage and will vouch that it is a good time. Large TVs for everything from football to trivia, cheap(er) drinks, a great location and killer tunes might keep The Thirsty Nickel The Thirsty Nickel… it has changed names three times in the last couple years. But, located between the college crowded Aquarium and The Library and The Blind Pig and Maggie Maes, do check it out.

 

…So, Austin does have international bits and pieces like Phil Marshal to be able to cling to its title as the Live Music Capital of the WORLD.

Maggie Mae’s

 

There’s a downstairs stage and an upstairs stage. If there is a crowd downstairs, this is debatably the best live venue on the Sixth strip. There is plenty of room to dance, sit around a table or order a drink from one of two bars and still see the stage on the first floor.

 

It’s cooler upstairs, literally. The open air second story is a large deck that wraps around the top of the stairwell and looks over their neighbor’s second floor deck. The band doesn’t get a stage upstairs. It seems more like an audition for the spacious rock and blues venue below. Nonetheless, some quality bands have played to patrons spilling drinks and dancing, or relaxing and looking down onto those stumbling on the street. Thursday through Saturday, the roof will be shoulder to shoulder in most places.

 

Back downstairs… There has been hip-hop, reggae, blues, and rock and roll on any night of the week. Mondays often act as a blues jam session and you’ll see guys and gals walk into Maggie Maes with their guitar case slung on their back.

 College rock is usually on the roof. Cheaper drumsets and more shots being consumed by the band play to their peers who keep the shots coming. Tenacious D covers and Sublime-esque hip-hop reggae throughout the weekend.

Maggie Mae’s is at 323 E. Sixth Street. Cheers.

A review of Beso Cantina… from the stage.

 

A beautiful bar with an accurate cantina-light-brown hue grazing between the taupe and rustic brick walls– se presento Beso Cantina. From behind the mics, the tall bar runs across from the leather couched tables and the clientele sits either with an arm along the back of the couch or properly upright—all with a drink made –most likely – by the bar manager Leo, a good guy.

 

Player One will regrettably admit that they often sacrifice the quality of the sound on stage for quality for the crowd. The acoustics of most venues inhibit great sound stage unless everyone packs a custom-mix monitor. At Besos however, we could hear ourselves better than ever. Given the brick walls and two-story ceiling, sound waves were finding new routes off of every brick and bouncing back in a tasty manner. Tasty. Joe, at one point between songs, looked around 360 degrees then at the rest of the band to say, “I feel good. I mean, really good.”

 

The venue caters most directly to the club scene. By the end of the set, the bar was near full-force with  women in slick shiny one-pieces and fellas in coats or at least something vintage. Nonetheless, Player One in their name-tagged T-shirts, somehow fit in.

 

In the back of the bar there is a second story, still inside, but with different music and available for private parties. This is a great stop for a night out on 5^th street. Besos is next to Whiskey Bar near 5^th and Lavaca.

 

P1 has the week off and will be rockin Carlos n Charlies on Lake Travis next Friday Nov.7

Review: The Dizzy Rooster

 

What a wound-up farm animal has to do with a bar, I cannot say. If you can say, please do share. My only theories tangent from animal rights activism or Deliverance— both puzzling in their relationship with consuming alcohol. Nonetheless, alcohol consumption exists in the plenty. Perhaps the only logical explanation for the name is alcohol.

 

Before DJ Veg climbs into his booth above the black tile stage/dance floor, 6 nights a week there is a band on the black tiles. An electric rock band or a singer/songwriter or some country bee-bop boringness, all is there. Be it a genre you like, the music is good and starts at 8pm, running til 11 at the latest.

 

Made more famous by MTV’s reality show, The Real World, The Dizzy Rooster is as good a bar as any if you’re looking for a boozefest and women on the bar – actually I’ll say the caliber of the bar beauties is better than most here—underneath a severl neons, one reading NO VACANCY. Sense doesn’t seem to be up on the Rooster’s list of priorities.

 

Back to the music. As a venue, it is mediocre, but decent for 6^th. Ten times longer than it is wide, visually it’s like seeing a band playing at the other end of a tunnel, a tunnel with a pool table just out of reach of any lead singer. So, don’t go to play pool before 1030 because you’d just be ‘that jerk playing pool in front of the band’.

 

Musical highlights: Monday nights usually don Matt del Rossi and Saturdays, Hollie Halloway. I advise hearing both ASAP.

“… til her daddy takes the T-bird away.”

 

You won’t be famous tomorrow. This is the music business, yes, and it is a business, but for the same reason you wanted to fly to the moon when you were five, make music because you love it, because its fun.

 

And show that you’re having fun.

 

Eric Johnson once opened for Joe Satriani at the Paramount here in Austin. So all patrons are seated and overly dressed for a rock n roll show to begin with, when out comes Eric Johnson only to sit on a stool for the first half of the set. Do not get me wrong, the jazz wondrousness from the opening song silenced even the ushers. However, when they moved into the heavy stuff, I guarantee the audience was talking about a number called “Rocktopus” moreso than the crazy scales from the beginning. When Satriani finally came out, although Eric’s music was the highlight of the evening, Satriani’s show was more fun because he was having fun – smiles highlighted by the lights reflecting in his shades and off his bald head, crowd interaction, yelling and singing along with his guitar solos…

 

Point being: Player One has that element. The shows are fun because the guys are jumping, singing, laughing, and telling jokes while interacting with the audience. But, behind the scenes is no different. Conversations at practice include NERF guns, funny doormats, choreography ideas, and impromptu singing of songs that no one knows the words to.

 

Player One plays Thursday at 8pm at Besos on West Sixth.

The Lady to Know

The Lady to Know

 

She may hate this. Tammy Miranda, sorry. But, your pertinence is a topic among the navigation of Austin Texas music.

 

Now hold on a second. All you band members, yes, she could help your band, but her job description doesn’t include making you posters and telling you how to become (or she herself making you) famous.

 

Maybe you’ll know of her, but she finds you.

 

The sole Talent Buyer for all of Wes Womack’s clubs— Dizzy Rooster, Chuggin’ Monkey, Molotov Lounge, The Mark, and Thirsty Nickel— and a Booking Agent for several other clubs, Tammy books around 45 shows a week and works with several bands to fill those slots. But when she has cancelations (and she says there are many) she refers to the top of her list to fill the gaps. If she gets to the bottom of the list and there are still slots to be filled… enters opportunity.

 

Tammy’s suggestions for as to get onto her hot-ticket list:

·        Your Myspace page is better than your Web Site because everything she needs to see is on one page – calendar, audio, friends, places played, photos, etc.

·        Play everywhere.

·        Announce your shows – texts, bulletins, flyers, whatever it takes

·        Remember this is a business, an entertainment business. Having a pretty girl walk around with your tip jar will most likely make you more money.

·        Have an email list. You need a fan base to make what you want happen.

·        Take care of your equipment and yourself. “Stay fit and look clean!” are Tammy’s exact words.

·        Smile!

·       Your biggest money maker is merchandise. Have it. Advertise it.

 

Check out the Player One Podcast for more clips of Tammy’s interview.
http://
podcast.communication.utexas.edu/courses/j331/fall2008/Jeff/podcast.xml