End of Silence

Music and a good cause go together like chips and salsa. Or something. This weekend there’s plenty of opportunity to pacify your inner philanthropist and hear some fine musicianship in the deal. The first option is decidedly more kid-friendly than the second.

Zilker Elementary Outdoor Learning Center Concert
Friday, April 15
6:00pm
Zilker Elementary School’s Outdoor Learning Center (1900 Bluebonnet Lane)

Zilker Elementary hosts its annual Outdoor Learning Center Concert. This year’s lineup includes Marcia Ball, Eliza Gilkyson, Darden Smith, Lee Ann Atherton, Christian Fernandez, and more. All proceeds benefit Zilker Elementary’s Arts in Education fund. Food and t-shirts will be sold in addition to the admission. Lawn chairs and blankets are suggested. Arrive early for best seating. Adult admission is $10. Kids are free. Call 414-2327 for more information.

Clint Shay’s Guts Benefit
Friday, April 15th at Beerland with Sons of Hercules and others. Clint’s band, Faster Disasters, may play a few songs if he’s up to it.

Thursday, April 21st at Room 710 with Daylight Titans, Ugly Beats, Pink Swords, Bad Rackets and Faster Disasters

Local guitarist Clint Shay went into the hospital a couple of weeks ago with a ruptured appendix. He’s home and on the mend, but like too many people these days, Clint is a victim of a healthcare system that is tied to employment. He didn’t have health insurance at the time and is facing some hefty health care bills.

There are two benefits over the next week to help Clint out. The cover charge that would normally go to the bands will all go toward the medical bills. I couldn’t get a firm number from both clubs on the cover, but it’ll probably be $4-5. There’ll most likely be a raffle and other fund-raising activities throughout the shows.

There’s a lot of talk these days about The Old Austin and The New Austin with the former mentioned in reverent tones and the latter with a hint of contempt. It’s all relative. For many, Les Amis is an example of The Old Austin. It was cheap. It was grungy. It had a strong sense of community. Director Nancy Higgins’s documentary, Viva Les Amis, explores a place and a time that no longer exists and explores this clash between old and new.

There’s a fundraising benefit for the documentary tomorrow night at Spider House from 6-9pm. There will be live music by Ray Ray’s Soul Party and the Fire Marshals of Bethlehem, plus free beer, a raffle of items donated from local businesses, and more. Suggested donation is $5 at the door.

There’ll also be screenings of the film at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown on May 3rd and 4th.

After managing to remember that yesterday was the day to turn the clocks ahead, the family and I spent the afternoon at the Flyrite Choppers Open House. It coincided with the Lone Star Round Up this weekend. If you were anywhere near South Congress, you probably saw an abundance of hot rods and custom cars lining both sides of the street.

My band was on the bill along with Crow, Hot Rod Hillbillys, Go Fast and Honky. I’ve included a shot that I took of Crow early on in the afternoon. Anytime he breaks out that bass, I have flashbacks to my first couple of years at UT and going to Liberty Lunch to see Agony Column. Meeeeeeeeemories…sorry. Anyway, his new stuff is work checking out. You’ve got to love any band with a song titled after a dog food brand. They also do a good cover of Nirvana’s “Sliver”.

It was perfect weather. I saw many people that I recognized from the Continental Club and the Black Cat. There was tons of BBQ, beer, choppers and hot rods. What more could you want from a spring Sunday afternoon?

The upcoming May 7 Municipal election will fill three city council seats and bring back the contentious issue of smoking in bars and restaurants. If this seems like d

As is our habit, my wife and I were watching the Daily Show last night. The guest was Sandra Bullock. She was there to plug Miss Congeniality 2 (feh), but her conversation with Jon Stewart turned to Austin. They both gushed about our fair city and the topic turned to local eateries.

Bullock plugged Salt Lick which they both agreed was great. If you ask me, Cooper’s is hands down the best BBQ around and well worth the extra half-hour drive.

Stewart asked her about an old burger place that everyone recommends in town. She thought for a moment and suggested Sandy’s which I thought was a cool plug, but probably not the one he was trying to remember. I’m guessing he was talking about Hut’s, but then thought it could be Dirty’s, Top Notch, or Hillbert’s. For burger joint atmosphere, I think any of those that I mentioned are worthy. However, I still think the Amarillo burger at Casino El Camino is the best burger in town. Period.