End of Silence

The Wife and I hit the post screening party for Before the Music Dies last night at Austin Music Hall. Initial reports had Branford Marsalis joining the all-star lineup, but he’s not on the flyer that I linked and wasn’t there last night. I’m not sure if he had to bail or if the initial reports were incorrect.

It was cool to see Correo Aereo getting some more attention. We used to see them at Curra’s around 2000. They had a regular gig there. I didn’t realize they’d moved to Seattle. We considered asking them to perform at our wedding, but it didn’t work out.

Ephraim Owens was ribbed as the “Before the Music Dies Poster Boy” throughout the gig. His playing was featured in Blaze, a local jazz group that includes the amazing Brannen Temple on drums. He also fronted the Ephraim Owens Quintet and played in the all star jam with Funksway. Good stuff as always. You can catch most of those guys at regular gigs at Elephant Room.

Things I learned last night:

• Wendy of Wendy & Lisa (you know…from the Revolution…as in Prince and the) has a twin sister who also sings
• ?uestlove is The Man. I mean, I knew he was a great drummer, but the guy directed and kept everything together last night. You couldn’t really hear DJ Jazzy Jeff throughout the jam and ?uestlove made sure that he had a featured segment at the end of the last song of the night. Once he cut loose, it was amazing.
• Andy Dick looks as out of it in person as he does on television. We saw him being led outside by an older dude as we entered and later saw him with a hot blonde girl.
• Austin Blues Rock still just doesn’t do it for me. Doyle Bramhall Jr. is a great guitar player, but I can do without his singing. And what’s up with the rooster hairdo? The Wife thought he was going for Prince circa 1985. I’m not so sure.
• James Poyser, the man on keyboards last night along with Lisa, is also featured in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party with ?uestlove.
• Bass player, Mike Elizondo, writes and produces with Dr. Dre, Eminem and many other hip hop artists.
• Erykah Badu and Ephraim Owens went to the same high school in Dallas. I’m guessing it’s the same arts magnet that unleashed Edie Brickell on America. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
• We spotted Waterloo Records owner John Kunz in the audience sporting a Les Amis t-shirt.

Hollywood Bitchslap has an interview with the film’s director. There are two more screenings this week if you want to catch the film yourself.