End of Silence

I realize many locals will think pasteries and coffee on Burnet Road when they hear “Upper Crust”, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. No, I’m talking about the legendary fop rock band from Boston, The Upper Crust, who’s coming to Beerland tomorrow night as part of a very short US tour. The Austin date is the only Texas date, followed by two in California and one on New York. This is their first set of live dates in quite some time. It’s a show not to be missed.

If you’re part of the unwashed masses unfamiliar with the band, just think Bon Scott era AC/DC with a healthy dose of Spinal Tap, powdered wigs, and pantaloons. They’ll no doubt play at least a few tracks from their classic album, Let Them Eat Rock (iTunes), which includes tracks like: “Little Lord Fauntleroy”, “Friend of a Friend of the Working Class” and “I’ve Got My Ascot ‘n’ My Dickie”.

From their own site:

Dearest of Friends,

It is with a glad heart that I put aside my ordinarily reticent disposition – for I have long dedicated myself to the attainment of a certain brevity of style in discourse which I believe conveys the discretion appropriate to a gentleman’s gentleman – and announce to one and all that my masters, The Upper Crust, long absent from the stage, are once again prepared to enter the tumultuous affray of Rocque.

So it is that at the risk of speaking perhaps a word in excess, I have the pleasure to relate that very shortly we shall again rejoice in the boundless vigor and cocksure posturing of the Duc D’Istortion with his marvelous electrical guitar; the unflappable composure of the noble Count Bassie, he of the golden throat and throbbing baritone instrument; the rhythmical connivances of Jackie Kickassis, whose mastery of the drums is never more apparent than when he is playing them; and in the strained braying of my Lord Bendover, which is neither more nor less bothersome than the sounds that usually accompany the ritual slaughter of a thousand goats on certain holy days amongst the Musselmen.

…

Your faithful companion of letters,

Bumbles, manservant and secretary to their lordships The Upper Crust

Photo by Jay Elliott, courtesy of Upper Crust’s Press Kit

There’s a little more than a week left until Maker Faire at the Travis County Expo Center, next Saturday and Sunday (October 20th and 21st). According to their web site, discounted ticket sales should’ve ended online yesterday, but the discounted price still appeared this morning. You can also get discounted tickets at Austin Children’s Museum until October 19th. My family and I have our tickets for Sunday (kids 3 years and under are free).

Wondering what Maker Faire is? Here’s a description from their site:

A two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. It’s for creative, resourceful folks who like to tinker and love to make things. We call them Makers.

Mayor Will Wynn has declared that weekend “Maker’s Weekend”.

Check out a promotional video from the MAKE kids after the jump.
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We all know traffic has been getting progressively worse around here. It also just got more expensive. Two toll stories popped up this morning, one not really helping the other.

Apparently, some of the existing toll equipment around town has double-billed drivers 50,000 times since the toll roads were opened in January. The story mentions that there are three trouble spots, but only identifies the westbound center lane at the Lake Creek toll plaza on Texas 45 North. Makes you want more toll roads, doesn’t it?

The good news is that if you don’t use the existing toll roads enough that you’re concerned about this double-billing, you’re going to get your own chance at double-billing in the not too distant future. CAMPO approved the much maligned tolls to five existing roads last night.

The new tolls will make it pretty much impossible to get to the airport from downtown via a highway without paying a toll. As this handy little map shows, they’re going to toll 183 from Springdale Road to 71 and 71 from Riverside to Thornberry. Those of you with more time on your hands than money can take Montopolis (either from Riverside or Ben White) to Burleson to FM 973 to 71 and approach the airport from the east to avoid that toll. I hope the people on Burleson Road are ready for a traffic increase.

Two of the other tolls, 290 between 183 & 130 and 45 between Mopac & 1626 are too far north or south for me to care too much about. It’s not clear to me where the toll at the Y at Oak Hill starts and ends, but that one might catch me on occasion and will certainly catch all of you Dripping Springs people.