Then after some queso and a salad (they counteract each other... right?) I took a quick nap and headed to my happy hour set at Ginny's Little Longhorn. For the uninformed Ginny's is a must-see bar on Burnet Road; a shotgun sort of shack where they serve beer and wine (how old is that wine?) and you can buy set-ups if you bring your own liquor. Country music reigns here and Texas sports are always on the TV. On Sundays the venerable Dale Watson performs and hosts "Chicken Shit Bingo" where Ginny's prized pet chicken will walk around the covered pool table and crap on a number. If she craps on your number you win some cash. Good clean Texas fun. Back to the gig at hand...
Mike's show was easy and fun. I was still half asleep for the first hour but I was laying it down and the band sounded good. There was a large L.A. contingency to see Mike so that helped out. Afterwards I packed up and headed home for a little dinner and to change clothes for the upcoming Two Hoots show.
I got to Trophy's in time to see Nick Gaitan and Umbrella Man from HTX play. In all my time living in Hugheston and seeing Nick everywhere I never did see his band play. They were GREAT and I knew everyone in the group. Afterwards we set up and to my delight and joy John X. Reed was going to play with us. John is old school Austin, having played guitar with literally everyone. One of John's claims to fame is playing the guitar lick on Roky Erickson's "Starry Eyes". If you are unfamiliar then familiarize yo'self! John always plays the coolest stuff. Austin has plenty of guitar players that do amazing work but in my eyes and ears John X. Reed has that "something" that makes me smile from ear to ear when he plays. Sublime is good adjective to describe his style.
So we kicked it off with our incendiary version of "The Times They Are A Changin'" which is a crazy way to begin but we were excited to play and we were off to the races. We also included some new originals - "Halden" for the Norwegians and "I Cried and Cried (The Day Doug Sahm Died)" and, in true Rick Broussard fashion, a few songs by the Clash. Rick sponsored the event so I think he was glad to be finally playing and he was in great spirits. After we played I let Mike Buck (google him and see what sort of stuff he's done - wow) use my kit so I went and got some food and came back to hear the LeRoi Brothers tear it up. Grady Pinkerton was playing guitar and rocking the house - A tremendous night for music.
Today - Mike Stinson plays a 20 minute set (I know... what the hell?) at Maria's Taco X-Press on South Lamar. Last year we killed it so this year I expect that we will destroy. Then I am running to the opposite end of town to scarf down a burger at Rick's Norwegian Party before setting up shop BACK at the aforementioned Ginny's for a 3.5 hour show. Then we head to extreme south Austin to play at Sam's Town Point - 2 double wide trailers sewn together to make a bar/club.
Do you see the real side of the music scene now? Some folks think it's all rock n' roll and glam and free drinks and limos. I am trying to show the REAL side of things. Yes I used the bathroom at Trophy's and yes it is still a shithole, in fact it was worse than I remembered. I have washed my hands 30 times since last night. But then again I wouldn't change it for the world.
By the way here is the new drum head.... see you tomorrow. At 9:30 AM!!!
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