No Show Ponies to Open for the Gourds at Threadgill's 5/28
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posted 5.25.10 by ben brown

The No Show Ponies have been invited to open for our friends and mentors, The Gourds, next Friday, May 28 at Threadgill's World Headquarters.

We have been lucky enough to work with Le Gourds in different capacities in the past—most notably on our album The End of Feel Good Music—and we're excited to be a part of this exceptional night of music. For those of you who have yet to catch a performance at Threadgill's World Headquarters, the venue offers one of the best outdoor atmospheres in Austin.

Tickets for the event can be purchased for $15 at the door or in advance at www.frontgatetickets.com.

Please join us and help make this a night to remember.

How to Make it in the New Music Business
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posted 5.25.10 by ben brown

For all aspiring musicians, you might find Mike McCready’s recent Huffington Post article interesting and noteworthy. Entitled “How to Make It As an Artist in the New Music Business,” the article touches briefly on how the business has changed and what steps emerging artists should take on their path towards reaching a larger audience.

McCready urges artists to take the time he feels is necessary to develop their product (look and sound) before knocking down every door.  “They call it a lucky break but "luck" is just the convergence of being prepared for success while you knock on every door trying to make it happen,” says McCready.

Healing Time Hits Austin
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posted 3.24.10 by ben brown

Josh Charles is a dangerous man behind a piano. He carries eighty-eight weapons of
mass seduction in his traveling arsenal. On March 17^th during the exposed heart of SXSW,
I had the pleasure of being introduced to his brand of ivory attack.

Appearing at SXSW for the E1 Entertainment artist showcase at Austin’s infamously
haunted Driskill Hotel, Josh Charles did his best to invoke the spirits of musical
inspiration and allurement.  Backed by an accomplished four-piece band,
Charles and Co. marshaled through a collection of songs from JC’s
new album Love, Work & Money.

Love, Work & Money features ten tracks of New Orleans-inspired piano room
stomp in the vein of James Booker and Charles’ mentor, Dr. John.  
Standout tracks include the album’s title track, a cover of Jimmy Cliff’s
“The Harder They Come,” and the Charles-penned post-Katrina composition
“Healing Time.”  Proceeds from “Healing Time” are being donated to the
Preservation Resource Center (PRC) of New Orleans.

Under the management of da Silva Artists, Inc., business management by
Worldwide Maniac, and with PR support from Shore Fire Media, it’s a safe bet
that the city of Austin will be hearing a lot more from this burgeoning new talent.

For more visit www.joshcharlesmusic.com

Some Words About James McMurty
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posted 2.24.10 by ben brown

Immovable.  Inexorable.  Inflexible.  Intransigent.  
Eccentric.  Quixotic.  Neurotic.  Transcendent.  
Boogieman.  Barman.  Backwoodsman.  Brahman.
Country Man.  City Man.  Texas Man.  Statesman.
Hero.  Hobo.  Gypsy.  Ghost.
Wisecrack.  Backchat.  Payback.  Riposte.
Bolder.  Stranger.  Deeper.  Freer.
Oracle.  Mystic.  Prophet.  Seer.  
Truth teller.  Storyteller.  Fortuneteller.  Sage.
Comedian.  Fool.  Bastard onstage.
Whiskey.  Smoke.  Rust.  Piss.
Dirt under fingernails.  Lightning.  Mist.
Cosmic.  Primitive.  Primordial.  Elemental.
Every Wednesday at Midnight at The Continental.

Jon Dee & Friend
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posted 1.20.10 by ben brown

I just got word about what sounds like a great weekly show in town.  Jon Dee Graham is performing an acoustic show every Sunday at The Continental Club Upstairs Gallery called “Jon Dee & Friend.”

The weekly show features Jon Dee and a singer/songwriter friend of his taking turns playing each other’s songs.   I’ve not caught one yet, but I plan to check it out this weekend when Jon Dee plays with Eliza Gilkyson.

BTW, Jon Dee appears as a special guest on No Show Ponies’ album “The End of Feel Good Music.”  He’s got the sweetness and the grace.

Let the bad times roll…

Older & Shittier
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posted 1.14.10 by ben brown

“Older and shittier” is a term of endearment I like to throw around on weekends and holidays.  It generally refers to someone or something that has seen more than a few hard miles of road, but continues to traverse the universe with no apologies.  

“O & S” could apply to Sylvester Stallone in Rocky VI, or it could be used in reference to The Who’s 2006 milestone album “Endless Wire.”  One way or the other, we’re dealing with something that has been aged to perfection.

For your viewing pleasure, I submit two exceptional examples of “older and shittier.”

Bob Dylan’s “Must Be Santa”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVs6X9yIM_k

Willie Nelson’s “Shoeshine Man”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDtaJmrVfx8

Strange Darling
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posted 1.12.10 by ben brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypqym4Neoj8

We are not always prepared to discover greatness.  The sailor too long lost at sea rubs his eyes in disbelief when he first glimpses land.  Every so often, through the mire of glazed eyes and broken dreams, we encounter something that intercepts the flow of oxygen from the brain.  

I was squatted in the fourth row of the Paramount Theater when David Lynch introduced Chrysta Bell to the city of Austin, Texas and the rest of the galaxy.  Ms. Bell was in attendance as a special guest for the premiere of Lynch’s 2006 dream-noir-masterpiece INLAND EMPIRE, which crescendos around Ms. Bell’s performance of the song “Polish Poem.”

Like Odysseus in Homer’s epic poem, I urged my companions to bind me strongly to the ship’s mast, as I feared the seductively fatal song of the siren.  The bones of sailors past lay strewn about the feet of Ms. Bell.

Fast forward to November 4, 2009 at The Mohawk where once again the siren held court and called out to her incautious prey.  Ms. Bell had gathered her subjects to premiere songs from her forthcoming release, “Strange Darling,” which is executive produced by David Lynch.  Part Theater, part cabaret and part Danse Macabre, “Chrysta Bell presents Strange Darling” was an invocation to all things dark and beautiful.  Quite simply, it was the kind of engagement that Austin so regularly promises and so irregularly delivers.

Chrysta Bell’s music infuses jazz, torch song, bewitching blues, murder, betrayal, magic and loss.  She is the Mona Lisa as realized by Hieronymus Bosch.  Her teeth are sharp and her skin is smooth.  She is love and despair.  

Ms. Bell’s performance career includes time with Austin’s celebrated 8 ½ Souvenirs (euro-gypsy swing), Govinda (transglobal electronica) and Mass Ensemble (innovative performance art).  She has occupied the roles of model, actress, muse and native daughter of Texas.  That was just the beginning.

With “Strange Darling,” Chrysta Bell has reached out for something great and mysterious.  These are songs for the end of the night and the start of a decade.  An extraordinary hybrid of Odysseus and Calypso, Chrysta Bell is both dreamer and seducer of dreams.  

Visit www.chrystabell.com

Dream Girl
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posted 12.10.09 by ben brown

The Continental Club is the place to be TONIGHT at 10pm for a special performance by Chrysta Bell. Chrysta is my new favorite artist in Austin, and I will be profiling her on WITD in the coming days. Don't miss the opportunity to hear CB perform songs from her forthcoming release, Strange Darling, which is executive produced by another hero of mine, David Lynch. David Garza will follow with a performance at midnight.

For those who wish to "Keep Austin Weird," I suggest you make this evening a priority.

http://www.vimeo.com/channels/chrystabell

Sharing the Sky
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posted 12.10.09 by ben brown

On October 24, Same Sky Productions hailed the grand opening of its brand-new, cutting-edge Austin recording studio. I recently had the opportunity to visit SSP and spend time with the studio's Owner/Producer/Head Engineer, David Messier, and Assistant Producer/Engineer, Andre Cantave.

House in the heart of Downtown Austin, SSP offers state of the art facilities and all the accoutrements necessary for one's recording needs. What sets SSP apart is David Messier's desire to make the studio a destination for collaboration in the artistic process.

"I'd like to make Same Sky the place for collaboration," Messier says.

By providing the space, the tools, and the environment for creativity, Messier and Cantave are working to attract artists who are open to collaborating on material from the ground up.

"Ultimately, we're in pursuit of the next great recording," he says. "I want an artist to walk out of here with a product they can have total confidence in and treat as their business card."

In addition to the roles of producer and engineer, Messier and Cantave offer clients their services as songwriters and multi-instrumentalists with hopes to heighten the spirit of collaboration.

"As we say here," adds Messier, "we all share the same sky."

For more on Same Sky Productions, visit www.sameskyproductions.com.

A Glimmer of Hope
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posted 11.30.09 by ben brown

On November 6, I was invited to a notable fundraising event at the Long Center for A Glimmer of Hope Foundation. 
Founded by Donna and Phillip Berber in 2000, A Glimmer of Hope offers hope and help to those who suffer unnecessarily
from the injustice of poverty. More specifically, the foundation combines education, health care, water, and income creation
initiatives to achieve a deeper level of development for the rural poor of Ethiopia.

I was on hand to witness how residents of Austin, "The Live Music Capital of the World," were helping to raise money to
develop the Northern Ethiopian village of Burbax, which is considered the birthplace of Ethiopian music.

Thanks to the generous donations of our community, A Glimmer of Hope, exceeded its extraordinary fundraising goal of
$250K to benefit Burbax.

I'm happy to sing my praises to everyone at A Glimmer of Hope Foundation for their hard work and their dreams for a better world. Helping those in need is a tune that never goes out of style.

For more information, visit www.glimmerofhope.org.

The House of Songs
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posted 11.18.09 by ben brown

Thanks to Ms. Julie Warenoff for a tip about what sounds like a cool evening of music this Friday night at Café Medici on Guadalupe (7:30-11 p.m.).

"The House of Songs" is a one-year partnership between Danish songwriters guilds (including the DJBFA and DPA for contemporary composers) and songwriters and producers based in Austin (including Kacy Crowley, Matt the Electrician, Johnny Goudie, and David Garza) and is the latest effort by the Danish government to grow and preserve the creativity of its arts and artists. It operates other similar artist residency programs in New York, Los Angeles, Spain, Portugal, and Greece.

These visiting Danish artists spend nine to twelves days in our fair city, living in a funky little house in Travis Heights, equipped with Gibson guitars and a Baldwin piano (and some bikes for exploration) while working on new material, collaborating, co-writing, and performing with some of Austin's finest.

For more information, check out www.thehouseofsongs.com.

Drinking and Dreaming at Fun Fun Fun Fest
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posted 11.13.09 by ben brown

I'm not quite sure how it happened...

At some point during the evening of Sunday, November 8, "Whistling in the Dark" could easily have been renamed "Drinking in the Rain." Perhaps it would be best if I start from the beginning.

What words can be used to recount the weekend that was November 6-8 in Austin, TX? To begin, how about fanatical, frenetic, frenzied, fanciful, formidable, fitful, footloose, filthy, foamy, funky, fervent, flippant, frightening, fragrant, foul and not to mention...

FUN. FUN. FUN.

Things began ceremoniously on Friday evening at The Mohawk, where the Austinist team hosted its "Local Music is Sexy" pre-party for FFFF 2009. The weather was perfect, the attendance was exceptional and the venue's balcony was buzzing with debate about what bands would turn the most heads. At this point, please let the record show that I made no attempt to hide my excitement about the fact that Danzig was headlining the festival. (There, I said it).

Quite simply, Friday evening was a blast. Some highlights included a great conversation with Allen Chen from the Austinist, who was kind enough to grant us media credentials for the weekend, and another exchange with a guy from Rome, Italy who owns a violin shop on South Congress (future WITD material, perhaps?). I should also mention that I spontaneously accepted an invitation to a wedding in India. Now that's a good pre-party.

Saturday morning it was off to Waterloo Park for day one of the main event. Once again, the weather was impeccable. One could not have asked for better festival weather, which is a fact that may surreptitiously jinxed us all for day two. I was initially excited to check out the Moonlight Towers, All Leather, and Crystal Antlers—mainly because my dream is to open a bar called Moonlight Towers that would be adorned with crystal antlers and frequented by patrons all dressed in leather.

In all seriousness, on thing that's great at FFFF is the fact that many of its artists are up-and-coming, which makes for a great opportunity to experience a wide variety of new music.

Based on the shows I attended, Saturday's most memorable performance came from Foot Patrol (greatest number of people on stage); MC Chris (greatest number of profanities used per capita); SSION (greatest outfit...was that Jesus wearing a Jedi uniform?); Death (they're not dead); Les Savy Fav (greatest stage-dive...was that guy wearing a wedding gown and an alien mask?); and Face to Face (simply great).

Day two (or "Day of Danzig," as at least on W.I.T.D. blogger was concerned) brought a new element to Waterloo Park, as rain turned the festival grounds into a more "liquid" consistency. Liquids were in fashion in the media tent as well, where I spent time chatting with artists, publicists, and a number of local and national music bloggers. I'd like to extend an extra special thanks to Mr. Adi Anand for his tireless work in this arena. We shared more than a few laughs together.

My exploits in the media tent were interspersed with some impassioned performances by the Black and White Years, Youth Brigade, Lucero, Mission of Burma, Buraka Som Sistema, GZA/Genius and Gorilla Biscuits. All of these performers pulled out great sets for a crowd that was there for 'fun fun fun' rain or shine.

More to come from Ben's adventures soon...

Requiem for a Dreamer
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posted 10.30.09 by ben brown

Momo’s on W. Sixth was host to the celebration of a great Austin dreamer this week.  George O’Dwyer, who passed away on October 4 after a fourteen-month battle with brain cancer, was honored Monday by friends and family at the “Concert for George O’Dwyer.” 

Executive Producer and Owner of 501 Post in Austin, O’Dwyer was loved and celebrated by many, including Dale Watson who performed at Monday’s event. A known lover and supporter of Austin’s music scene, O’Dwyer helped Watson through hard times several years back during a low point in his career.

In a 2005 interview with Michael Corcoran of the Austin American-Statesman, Watson said, "The thing that really got me was when George O'Dwyer said that I had a rare gift that was not mine to throw away.”

O’Dwyer had a rare gift as well and he will be sorely missed.

Dancing About Architecture
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posted 10.30.09 by ben brown

There is a quote regularly attributed to Elvis Costello, which reads, “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.”  In truth, writing about music is a fool’s errand; it can only really scratch the surface of things.  How can one accurately and exhaustively describe the marriage of sound and ideas that forms a great musical piece or performance?

Perhaps the best one can hope for when faced with this task is to stumble upon the words that most clearly articulate his or her personal impressions of the experience.  With that said, this claim brings two additional quotes to mind.

“The critic has to educate the public, the artist has to educate the critic.”

“Taste is the enemy of art.”

What we’re dealing with in music criticism is a medium that pursues definition and meaning (writing) from another medium that pursues definition and meaning (music).  If a musician could articulate in words what he or she strived to articulate through song, he or she would be a novelist.

Lest you feel I’m making a case for the irrelevancy of music writing, I do believe this vocation has a purpose and necessary function in society.  Great writing is arguably as important as great music because great writing is a conversation; the best writers help and encourage you to think about issues that might have fallen from your immediate radar.  In other words, great writers can help others find great music.

The idea of writing this blog is attractive to me because I hope it will help me discover great music, which I then hope to share with you.  Tongue firmly in cheek, the blog is truly mightier than the sword…

Speaking of dancing about the architecture, people were dancing from the rafters last night at Ian McLagan’s weekly happy hour at Lucky Lounge.  For those of you whom are not familiar with “Mac” and his music, he was a founding member of the seminal English rock band Small Faces with Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane and Kenny Jones.  After Marriott left to form Humble Pie, the remaining Small Faces were joined by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, at which point they became known simply as The Faces.

I could write an entire book on McLagan and his work; but, for the time being, here’s what you need to know.  McLagan, who is an Austin resident, has worked with everyone from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne to Paul Westerberg, Billy Bragg and Izzy Stradlin.   The man is absolutely lethal on the keyboards and he has enough soul and gravel in his voice and songwriting to make the hardest of us weep.  Along with his Bump Band, who performs a free happy hour at Lucky Lounge every Thursday, McLagan has the chops and the gravitas to take any “Bloody Mary Sunday” to the next level.

When you see someone who is exceptional in their field, you can’t help but long to join them on the mountaintop.  That’s what separates the great ones; they lift the rest of us up to a higher plane.  Ian McLagan does this because he knows that that plane belongs to everyone—and what more can a little blogger say?

For more on Ian McLagan: www.ianmclagan.com

City of Dreams
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posted 10.29.09 by ben brown

For your listening and viewing pleasure, I’m posting a clip of the song “City of Dreams” by one of my favorite bands, Marah.

No Show Ponies shared a bill with Marah in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania shortly before this song was released on their 2005 album If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry.  These guys are the real deal and this song could very well function as the theme song for this blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsX5d-y8-IE

City of dreams 
You don’t know what it means 
To only dream about it 
I know…

Mischief Night Serenade
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posted 10.28.09 by ben brown

The month of October offers what is quite possibly my favorite time of year.  To begin with, it contains the birthdays of
such notable musicians (and heroes of mine) as John Lennon and Jackson Browne.  I’ve also heard it rumored that
David Lee Roth has an October birthday; but, I’m not sure there is significant evidence that he was ever actually born.

The most important reason to celebrate the month of October is in regard to its most important holiday: Mischief Night.  For those of you not familiar with this timely occasion, Mischief Night falls on October 30, which is the night before Halloween. This holiday is a tradition created under the premise that we all have scores to settle in life and in the pursuit
of our dreams—and what better way to settle them than to play practical jokes and create “mischief” for loved ones, neighbors and those who impede our progress.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  Many of you likely regard Mischief Night as a juvenile, adolescent and vile affair practiced by teenagers, hooligans and those who meddle in the occult.  Those of you who labor under this apprehension are not incorrect; however, I believe there is a little wiggle-room on this one.

As long as one is not causing any person, place, property or thing any serious harm or damage, a little mischief can be quite cathartic and—dare I say it—beneficial.  While proper discretion should always be applied, what we have here is an occasion that provides us the unique opportunity to play an April Fools prank while wearing a Beetlejuice costume.  Any way you cut it, I say that’s a great holiday!

In all seriousness, I wish you all a Happy Halloween and I encourage everyone in the Austin area to go out and enjoy a little live music this weekend.  Ian McLagan and the Bump Band will be doing their free happy hour at Lucky Lounge this Thursday, October 29 (6pm).  This is easily one of the best shows in town and I encourage those of you who haven’t
yet made the journey to do so.  Come out, here some legendary tunes and help me dream up a little mischief…

Dream Weavers
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posted 10.21.09 by ben brown

“Live Music Capital of the World” is a heavy title.  The phrase itself carries a lot of weight.  It certainly caught my ear in 2005 when my brother, Jeff, and I were on the prowl for a new beginning and a fresh perspective. Upon our first visit to Austin that summer, I was immediately taken with the energy I felt looming in the air just outside of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.  This energy wasn’t coming from a jet engine, but from what I experienced as the collective efforts of a community of dreamers.

Personally, that’s how I’ve come to think of this city—as a composite of dreams woven together from all points on the map.  Austin is alive with the burden of dreams and it calls out to poets and idealists that might satiate its hunger.

On October 12 I was lucky enough to find myself in the company of such dreamers.  That evening, Antone’s hosted an event honoring three individuals with the 2009 Bridging Divides Award from The University of Texas Project on Conflict Resolution (UTPCR).  Clifford Antone, Harold McMillan and Cyril Neville were the three luminaries honored for their contributions, which have helped build bridges between groups and cultures in the community.

clifford antone

Admittedly, I am traditionally skeptical of award ceremonies.  I’m all for celebrating great work; but, far too often these types of events feel cumbersome or stale.  On this occasion, I was surprisingly delighted to be in attendance.  I found myself tapping into a distinct energy—that same energy I felt for the first time in 2005.  To this effect I credit UTPCR Director and founder, Madeline Maxwell, for her ability to create an event that both inspired and entertained.  It’s not often that the regenerative, inspirational power of music is invoked and celebrated simultaneously. This event was, purely and simply, a celebration of dreamers and their ability to lift the rest of us with their dreams.

cyril neville

All three recipients embody the qualities I aim to highlight with this blog, which are a dedication to art, the ability to bring together and inspire others, and a belief in something greater than themselves.  With the exception of Antone who died in 2006, I intend to interview both McMillan and Neville with hopes to share a more intimate picture of their lives and work at a later date.  I also plan to hear the stories of others in attendance, including Ms. Maxwell.

harold mcmillan

The city of Austin is nourished and sustained by dreamers.  Its appetite cannot be satisfied or subdued.  How lucky we are that, in this instance, we all get a seat at the table.

-For more on Harold McMillan.

-For more on Cyril Neville.

-For more on Clifford Antone.

A few quotes about dreams…

“Fortune favors the bold.”
-Virgil

“I don’t use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough.
-M. C. Escher

“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.”
-Erma Bombeck

“Don’t dream it, be it.”
-Dr. Frankenfurter

“Only dreamers move mountains.”
-Fitzcarraldo

“Like all dreamers, I confuse disenchantment with truth.”
-Jean-Paul Sartre

“I am a writer because writing is the thing I do best.”
-Flannery O’Connor

“My cow is not pretty, but it is pretty to me.”
-David Lynch

WHISTLING IN THE DARK, an Austin music blog
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posted 10.20.09 by ben brown

“Whistling in the dark” is an expression generally used about a person who believes things will go well despite highly unfavorable odds.  “Rebecca seems fairly confident she’ll be able to smuggle the entire handle of whiskey into the football stadium,” someone might say. “While we wish her all the best, she’s probably just whistling in the dark.” 

I have always been interested in and attracted to dreamers—the types of people who are believed by many to be whistling in the dark.  What motivates people to pursue their dreams?  How do their dreams guide them?  These individuals and their stories usually make for great theater; and, more often than not, they provide some deeper context.  

As a result of this interest, the primary focus of this blog will be to highlight the lives and work of the dreamers in Austin’s music community.  Some entries might contain impressions of an Austin band’s live performance while others might feature a photo or a set of song lyrics that seems to resonate with the theme of the blog.  Others yet will include the stories and insights of individuals who make a music community possible.  Ultimately, my goal will be to share snapshots of a city that is fueled by dreams and their followers.  

As Mark Twain said, really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.  This blog will feature a mosaic of people who are in pursuit of truth and excellence.  In dreams, I walk with you…

it's not about business it's about personality...
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posted 10.14.09

Austin has experienced a rapid and dramatic change over the past two decades. A burgeoning design/movie/art scene has emerged to complement the live music, and urbanization and population growth have transformed a once-sleepy town into a nationally recognized metropolis. The unique factors that come from being one of the fastest growing cities in the nation present both challenges and opportunities for designers.

As a proud resident of downtown's Warehouse District for over 15 years, and with a resume of over 500 projects completed in the state of Texas, Dick Clark Architecture has been influential in revitalizing downtown and bringing smart growth to Austin. Our passion and commitment to this city led Tribeza to select us as their "Design" blogger; it's a tremendous honor that we're excited to embrace.

Design Post will showcase Austin's growing design community, cover development and city issues, and hold a collection of inspirational, local items. We're excited to embrace our role as the design voice of Austin and bring you weekly articles on products, people, places and, of course, the parties that represent our fantastically diverse and vibrant city.

Great design thrives in Austin and we're here to show it to you. Stay tuned.