Some 2009 Memories

Axemen/Broken Neck/Austin, TX

Hadn't had this much fun at a show in a long time. It came out of the blue - I had no idea they were going to be in town until my friend Shawn called on the day of the show. Everything was right on, the music and the vibe of the place. The Broken Neck used to have a half-pipe filling up the whole left side of the room. When the music is great like it was on this night, it's a good thing that it's gone. A bunch of people at the show knew all the words to their songs (and were singing and shuffling along). An anomaly in a usually very reserved and/or extremely blitzed town.

Blues Control/Mohawk/Austin, TX

Listening to Blues Control was a really gentle experience. I could go towards the music or just remain parallel to the music, without a struggle. There was no demands, no demonstrations. Like representing, recommending, endorsing some life-system-style-fashion. There was none of that, which in itself was refreshing. There was also this sort of philosophical detachment without being unemotional. I thought about all of this for days afterwards.

Jandek/All Venues/Northern Ireland

What a trio. These series of performances documented the power of mind/heart intent. They became an altered state entity. Different states entity. With clearness always present by some dimension.

Metal Rouge/Church Of The Friendly Ghost/Austin, TX

Helga and Andrew just let sounds unfold. There is a naturalness that is very pleasing.

MVEE/Mohawk/Austin, TX

Always brain re-arranging. Always melodically daring. Always beautiful. TheyÕre like some jungle plant. Vibrant, glossy, colorful.

Ray Price/One World Theater/Austin, TX

To hear a voice that has been singing for 5 decades is an amazing thing. Despite being physically frail, he was an emotional powerhouse. This was one of the most transcendent shows I have ever seen.

Rick Bishop/Mohawk/ Austin, TX

Another happy show; people 'dancing' around and smiling. There was, however, this guy in the audience who was going around talking up his band while Rick Bishop was playing. Like advertising his band's next show. Needless to say, he was quickly shut down and left, appropriately chastened. Seems like there were a lot of people from out of town for some reason, and a lot more women.

Renderers/Spiro's/Austin, TX

They were as jaw-droppingly amazing and powerful as ever. Maybe more than ever. The fluidity and surprise of Brian's guitar playing, the huge sound, the roughness and majesty. They were really, really loud too.

US Girls/Soho/Austin, TX

The simplicity and sculptedness were intense. By simplicity I don't mean simple. It was like there's no question of 'what is this' - it was just something else. I get tired of feeling like I know what most things are most of the time.

Venison Whirled/Testsite/Austin, TX

Lisa Cameron did it up at a house art gallery surrounded by a yarn art installation (by Sheila Pepe). It was like listening to a live recording live, if that makes any sense. It was easy to close eyes even though there were all these tendrils everywhere. Then, something fell and could have broken and that was a good pressure release.