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Friday is sunny and warm again. I start the day at 1 pm in the parking lot of the typical Austin institute called Waterloo records (they received a lot of my money again this year). The people of Waterloo had a large podium placed in the southern corner of the parking lot to showcase many artists, one of them being my favourite John Hiatt. And he’s due this very moment. Together with hundreds of other fans I listen to his fine show, built around his recently released new CD, The Open Road.
Wonderful! From Waterloo to Mother Egan’s pub in 6th St is only a 5 minute walk, including the crossing waits. From 1 pm on my favourite label Red House Records has a showcase there. I’m enjoying the showcase for the third year in a row. This time I listen to Ray Bonneville, Carrie Elkin (with Colin Brooks of The Band of Heathens), Jimmy Lafave with Andrew Hardin, Natalia Zukerman and The Pines. Great music in the large tent in Egan’s back yard. Because I want to see Louise Mosrie perform I drive up to Artz again, to savour the Pork Ribs this time (and they turn out to be nearly as fine as the Baby Ribs I had before). They know how to barbecue! First I listen to a fine set by Amelia K. Spicer, then wonderful young Louise Mosrie (listen to her fine songs on her album ‘Home’, ‘I love this world’, ‘Battle of Blair Mountain’ and ‘Home’). She’s great!
My choice from the evening shows is the Continental Club. I’d never been in this Austinite institute before. It’s amazing. That night some 300 people are in to see The Belleville Outfit perform at 9 pm. Before their show a surprisingly good singer-songwriter called Vandaveer takes the stage, together with a female vocalist to support him. He plays a nice acoustic set, unluckily overpowered by the many loud talking visitors, a Texan or even American problem. But Vandaveer is good, I really like his music (his name, by the way, was originally spelled Van der Veer, of Dutch origin again).
Next to Vandaveer is a group called The Maldives. I didn’t like them much. Their songs all sound the same and neither pedal steel nor banjo nor fiddle are audible because of the violent and loud playing of as many as three guitars. Disappointing, but of course, according to my taste. The Belleville Outfit, a fine young local group that left me flabbergasted and being an instant lifetime fan when I first heard them at SXSW in 2008, is next and they really make my day again.
They have a new bass player, but all the other original (they started as a band in early 2007) members are still around. Fiddler Phoebe Hunt and rhythm guitarist Rob Teter alternate the lead vocals in a nice bunch of fine originals and wonderful covers. What to think of ‘It’s a good day’ or ‘Bei mir bist du schön’ and a wonderful new original song like ‘It’s a beautiful day’ (they always think positive!). I can’t wait until they have their new CD out (planned for early 2011). My car is parked just around the corner from the Continental Club, so I was lucky again!
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