Austin. This town is amazing. And I hate that word, so overused. "How's that hamburger? Oh, it's amazing!" Enough already.
But this town is unbelievable. Unless you're living here and looking at all of the musical options for a reasonable price or less, it's just nuts.
The last 20 years Shawn Colvin has set my standards for songwriting and I think Kevin Welch is my male version of Shawn. I've only heard him a couple of times but I am hooked completely. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this guy. He writes great lyrics, has a great voice, I love absolutely everything about him. Go hear and listen to Killing Myself as it's a great song to get to know him by:
http://www.kevinwelch.com/kevin_welch_killing_myself_video.php
That rootsy, bluesy, alt country sound he has is unique. He does not sound like anyone else. You just have to listen to him. Period.
Kevin is doing a short residency on Wednesday nights for Happy Hour at the Continental Club. Finally get to see him again in an extended set.
Turns out he's also bringing in special guests and putting new material in front of an audience for the first time to see how it holds up. What a treat for us.
Along side him to open the show was his son Dustin (banjo/dobro/guitar/singer and songwriter in his own right) and Bill Chambers, a mandolin and lap steel player (Kasey's dad, too). The three of them played the first set (1 hour) together. Then Bill had to leave as he was playing later that night at the Cactus Cafe with Sam Baker.
The second set was Kevin, Dustin and for a couple of songs, 3 of 4 members of The Trishas. They are a recently formed band made up of Savanna Welch (Kevin's daughter), Liz Foster (who, on this night, was also our cocktail waitress), Kelley Mickwee and the fourth who wasn't there is Jamie Wilson (also in The Gougers). Boy, these girls singing together really sound good - twangy, gospelly, bluesy and everything in between.
So this was a $5 cover and we got 2 hours of Kevin, Dustin, The Trishas and Bill Chambers. Only in Austin.
Also, Toni Price stopped in before the show for a shot of Jack. She came over to our table and let us know she has moved back from California and is back doing her Hippie Happy Hour show at the Continental on Tuesday nights with Rich Brotherton on guitar. Said she is also forming an orchestra and they will be doing swing (think Bob Wills), jazz and all kinds of different stuff. Sounds great to us. She stayed for much of Kevin's first set and was the first one to go up and put money in the tip jar.
All of the photos from this show are courtesy of James Moseley. His are so much better than mine.
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2 comments:
I agree, those of us lucky enough to find him have been gifted something special and Dustin too. How about is Whiskey Priest.
Yes, I like Dustin very much, also. They do a killer song together once in a while called "Don't Try To Fight It" and they just wail on it. One of my favorites of them together.
You're right, Kevin is special, I think.
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