Austin Music Journal (2024)

04/04/2019

Roots rock and roll, boogie woogie, blues - Henri Herbert plays it all. And he sings pretty good, too! Born in France, raised in England, he now lives in Austin. Let's all make him feel welcome and go to all his shows.

20/03/2019

Here's a round-up of some more music we heard around town.

20/03/2019

Hostess deluxe Rachael Ray has fed and entertained tens of thousands in the past 12 years at her free SXSW parties. This year's events at Stubbs and her Feedback House continued the tradition of good music, drinks, and food. Bleachers and Big Boi were the headliners this year, but 26 other bands also appeared, several of them locals. Rachael promised to be back next year.

18/03/2019

Lots of great bands played at Antones Record Store this past Saturday, among them The Soulphonics and Eve and the Exiles.

17/03/2019

It's a sonic match made in heaven. Rock and Roll's wild woman Linda Gail Lewis met alt-country's bad boy Robbie Fulks and there was a nuclear reaction resulting in an album ('Wild, Wild, Wild') and a series of highly acclaimed gigs. The duo's latest shows were right here in Austin this week. AMJ couldn't get enough and went back three times to catch the combustible combo (which included Redd Volkaert on guitar, Kevin Smith on bass, Chris Gilson on drums, and steel player Tommy Detamore) at the Broken Spoke, Yard Dog Gallery, and Licha's Cantina.

13/03/2019

SXSW Music may just be starting, but there has already been loads of great music, cool panel guests and parties this past week at SXSW Interactive. Some of the best events were hosted by Energizing Health, which featured music by Patricia Vonne and Miss Lavelle White, and Fast Company, which presented a panel with Phylicia Rashad and the team behind the TV show 'David Makes Man.'

12/03/2019

There's only one badass at SXSW this year who can claim to be name-checked at least half a dozen times by rappers. Who proudly displays at home a framed speeding ticket for driving 170 mph in a 45 mph zone. Who has won races in Formula One, Nascar, World Sportscar Championship, and IndyCar.
Who hasn't dreamed of driving like Andretti?
Mario Andretti made a very special appearance at SXSW to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his Indianapolis 500 win in 1969, and the release of a new documentary about him, 'Drive Like Andretti'.
The 79-year-old legend was joined at the Comcast NBCUniversal party by 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power, and NBC Sports broadcaster Leigh Diffey. They also brought the huge Indy 500 trophy with them.

06/03/2019

Where else but Austin can you find two world-class guitarists AND a member of one of rock and roll's first families sidled up to a bar on a Tuesday night? In the pic that's guitarist Danny B. Harvey, his wife Annie Marie Lewis, and 8 1/2 Souvenirs guitarist Olivier Giraud during the Souvenirs break at C-Boys last night. Lewis, a vocalist in her own right, is the daughter of rock and roll wild woman Linda Gail Lewis, and the niece of the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis. She is happy to report her uncle is recuperating nicely after suffering a stroke last week, and that her mother will be teaming up with Robbie Fulks for two gigs in Austin next week. Tonight (March 6) you can catch Danny B. and Annie at the Sahara Lounge. Giraud and 8 1/2 Souvenirs are in the fourth year of their Tuesday evening (6:30 p.m.- 9 p.m.) residency at C-Boys. Next Tuesday they will be showing-off their new pianist, Ben Brajkovich.

28/02/2019

Packed club, dancing feet, full heart. Austin loves Hot Club of Cowtown.

19/02/2019

We don't usually like competitive awards here at the Austin Music Journal (no sour grapes, honest!), but we sure had a good time at the Austin Music Industry Awards this past Sunday. It wasn't just because of the truly funny Masters of Ceremony, writer Kevin Curtin and musician Mike Wiebe (The Riverboat Gamblers), or the excellent house band, Berkshire Hounds, or the incredible after-party performance by Mobley, or the free BBQ and cookies for everybody. It was because AMJ just liked seeing some deserving people get a pat on the back for their talent and passion. People like Paul Minor (Best Live Sound Engineer), Laurie Gallardo (Best Radio Personality), and the folks at HAMM (Best Music Support Non-Profit).

14/02/2019

An interview and book signing with author Joe Nick Patoski drew a standing room only crowd Wednesday night to downtown Austin's Central Library. The book, a history of the city, is called 'Austin to ATX: The Hippies, Pickers, Slackers and Geeks Who Transformed the Capital of Texas'. Austin American Statesman writer Michael Barnes interviewed Patoski, while one of those aforementioned 'Pickers', local legend Jon Dee Graham, provided the tunes.

16/01/2019

Heartaches and Harmonies, an Everly Brothers tribute with Thierry LeCoz, Olivier Giraud and the Dream Band (Kevin Smith, Floyd Domino, Lisa Pankratz, and Brent Wilson) at Justine's 1/15/19.

16/01/2019

Heartaches and Harmonies, an Everly Brothers tribute with Thierry LeCoz, Olivier Giraud and the Dream Band (Kevin Smith, Floyd Domino, Lisa Pankratz, and Brent Wilson) at Justine's 1/15/19.

28/11/2018

A chilly, crisp evening and music provided by the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble, a children's choir, and Christian Wiggs and the Vintage 15 got most of us into the holiday spirit this past Sunday in Zilker Park for the lighting of the Holiday Tree. The 'tree' is 155 ft. tall and has 3,309 lights on 39 streamers emanating from the top of a moonlight tower. Only in Austin. It's lit nightly from 6 p.m. until midnight through Dec. 31.

14/10/2018

Paul McCartney at Austin City Limits Fest 10/12/18. By the way, McCartney rocks harder on 'Back in the USSR' and 'Helter Skelter' than most men half his age. So there!

14/10/2018

We haven't had a really nice brain pic in quite a while, so here's one with the very cerebral David Byrne at the Austin City Limits Fest. The former Talking Heads front man delivered a mesmerizing set of new and classic old songs this past Friday, including an incredible version of 'Burning Down the House'.

29/09/2018

Has it really been almost 50 years since Wayne Kramer and his band the MC5 first electrified audiences and gave parents heart palpitations with their musical anthem 'Kick Out the Jams M...........' ?
Kramer, 70, and looking almost as limber as he did doing back-bends on stage while playing in the 1960s, pondered all that and more this past week in Austin as he chatted with fellow musician (and fan) Alejandro Escovedo at Book People. The occasion was the release of Kramer's autobiography, 'The Hard Stuff.'
Read the book and then give the MC5 a listen. Their music still sounds fresh and relevant today. And Kramer was and still is a hell of a guitar player!

09/08/2018

Kathy Kiser Benayoun, lead singer for 8 1/2 Souvenirs, joined forces with multi-instrumentalists The Point (Jack Montesinos and Joe Roddy) for an evening of classic tunes and surprises. The biggest surprise was the trio began collaborating only two days before. Roddy (trumpet, keyboards, guitar) age "almost 16" and Montesinos (guitar, bass) age 16, have been playing together for almost four years. Benayoun began singing with the Souvenirs almost 24 years ago. But all age differences melted away when the trio sailed through such gems as 'Mack the Knife', 'The Girl From Ipanema', 'Black Trombone', and 'A Night in Tunisia.'

10/04/2018

Shaun Young & The Three Ringers at Jo's Coffee 4/7/18.

10/04/2018

How cold was it last Saturday night when Shaun Young & The Three Ringers played Jo's Coffee? So cold Ringer Todd Wulfmeyer slapped that bass with gloves on!

20/03/2018

Salt and Pepa, The Cringe, and country crooner Joshua Hedley were among the many performers at Rachael Ray's Feedback parties during SXSW 2018.

20/03/2018

Count on Rachael Ray to throw the best parties every year at SXSW. This time around she outdid herself bringing in supergroup Dr. Pepper's Jaded Hearts Club Band (composed of members of Muse, Jet, Nine Inch Nails and more) to entertain the public for free at Stubbs this past Saturday. The seven piece Beatles tribute band, headed by Matt Bellamy of Muse, didn't just regurgitate Fab Four hits, they lovingly re-energized them while remaining true to the originals. It was enough to bring tears of joy to the eyes of diehard Beatle fans.

06/12/2017

Hey! Even Santa deserves a night off! And when he does hit the town he, apparently, heads for C-Boys and 8 1/2 Souvenirs' Tuesday evening residency.

20/11/2017

Gallery 84 held it's final party of the 2017 East Austin Studio Tour with Continental Graffiti (Olivier Giraud and Luke Hill) providing the music this time around. Among the artists exhibiting their work at the pop-up gallery for the past two weekends were Caroline Wright, Eric Debris, Helen Mary Vanston Marek, David Garza, Melanie Hickerson, Rhea Pettit, Valerie Chaussonnet, and Jennifer Chenowith. Congratulations to host, chief dancer, and true patron of the arts Larry Vanston for organizing such an enjoyable series of events for this year's studio tour.

13/11/2017

Gallery 84 opened the 2017 East Austin Studio Tour in grand style with the natural combination of art, music, and dance at its preview party. Among the artists exhibiting their work at the pop-up gallery were Caroline Wright, Eric Debris, Helen Mary Vanston Marek, David Garza, Melanie Hickerson, Rhea Pettit, Valerie Chaussonnet, and Jennifer Chenowith. Providing the music were solo cellist George McQuade, followed by Juliana Sheffield and friends, featuring David Garza, Mark Williams, and Jeff Johnston. Host Larry Vanston and friends kept the dance floor packed.

30/10/2017

Jon Langford at ABGB 10/28/17.

16/09/2017

Continental Graffiti pics from last Wednesday at Opa on South Lamar.

16/09/2017

Eastside Kings Festival After Party at Justine's Brasserie.

14/07/2017

What better way to celebrate Bastille Day than with French pastries, hot jazz, and dancing in Triangle Park this past Saturday, all courtesy of Alliance Francaise d'Austin. Kicking the music off was vocalist Parcilla Badhwar, followed by Hot Club of Austin. Julie Slim and Rendez Vous wrapped up the festivities.
We'll have the chance to celebrate the French holiday (officially, today, July 14) all over again on Saturday when Texas Keeper Cider in Manchaca presents its own salute with Hot Club of Austin and Julie Slim. The party is free and starts at 2 p.m.

10/07/2017

You never know who (or what) you'll see at 8 1/2 Souvenirs' Tuesday evening residency at C-Boys Heart & Soul. 'Tex' and his rider, Samuel Grey Horse, trotted down Congress Avenue recently to visit their buddy, Souvenirs drummer Robb Kidd, at the club. The band's Fellini-esque festivities continue this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

25/06/2017

The Robert Kraft Trio became a septet last night at C-Boys Heart & Soul to celebrate the release of the band's new CD, 'North Bishop Ave.' Joining vocalist Robert Kraft, guitarist JD Pendley, and bassist Lindsay Greene were special guests David Boyle (producer of the CD) on the super soulful Hammond B3 organ, drummer extraordinaire Robb Kidd (who also handles the sticks for the band 8 1/2 Souvenirs), and backing vocalists Georgia Bramhall and Juliana Sheffield (a former vocalist for 8 1/2 Souvenirs).

18/05/2017

Chris Cornell solo in Austin at the Belmont, March 2011. RIP

03/04/2017

National Geographic threw one SXSW's best parties this year to celebrate the upcoming debut of a new dramatic series, 'Genius', about the life of Albert Einstein. The show, set to air in May, was produced by Brian Grazer and directed by Ron Howard.
You may remember him as 'Opie' or 'Richie Cunningham' or as the director of a slew of successful films, but AMJ likes to think of Howard as the guy who was recently nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the fab Beatles documentary 'Eight Days A Week, The Touring Years'. Grazer was a producer on the film, as well as on many of Howard's other movies. After working on both the Beatles and the Einstein projects, Howard said he was able to recognize a key shared characteristic of the Beatles and Einstein. Both were absolutely sure of what they were doing. Both were very confident.

04/04/2019

20/03/2019

20/03/2019

18/03/2019

17/03/2019

13/03/2019

12/03/2019

06/03/2019

28/02/2019

19/02/2019

14/02/2019

16/01/2019

16/01/2019

28/11/2018

14/10/2018

14/10/2018

29/09/2018

09/08/2018

10/04/2018

10/04/2018

20/03/2018

20/03/2018

06/12/2017

20/11/2017

13/11/2017

30/10/2017

16/09/2017

16/09/2017

14/07/2017

10/07/2017

25/06/2017

18/05/2017

03/04/2017

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Heartaches and Harmonies, an Everly Brothers Tribute

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