Sunday, 21-March-99While driving around Austin, I heard a song by a local singer named Jeff Klein on the radio, and it sounded really good. Unfortunately he did not play a showcase during SXSW99, only a private ASCAP party. Another item for my shopping list...
Toni Price @ Laughing at the Sun
I own her CD's. People had told me about her. I had read about her. I had seen videos. But after so many trips to Austin I finally managed to Toni Price play live, along with Casper Rawls, Champ Hood, and the omni-present "Scrappy" Jud Newcomb. Toni played this art gallery, surrounded by paintings of naked women. There was free beer and assorted snacks, too, making this a ideal way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Oh, and Toni IS great. But y'all knew that already…
Pine Valley Cosmonauts @ La Zona Rosa
Mmmh, a little too Country for me. Jon Langford & Pine Valley Cosmonauts presented a series of singers (including Kelly Hogan, a very drunk Chip Robinson and Alejandro Escovedo) to perform songs from their latest release"Salute the Majesty of Bob Wills: King of Western Swing, Pioneer, Traditionalist, Avant-Gardist, Magician".
Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra @ La Zona Rosa
This was the end: the last SXSW showcase of the year. Alejandro previewed a few songs from his upcoming CD "Bourbonitis Blues" and the Tosca strings joined the orchestra for a few tunes. No real surprises, but the solid high-quality set I have come to expect from Al.
Show count: 61
Afterthoughts
Top 10 shows (in alphabetical order)
Jeff Black The Brooders Continental Drifters Joe Henry Trish Murphy Naked Barbies Mojo Nixon The Pinetops Slobberbone Todd Thibaud
Top 3 disappointments (in alphabetical order)
Furslide Patty Griffin Richmond Fontaine
The end.