I was talking to one of my sister’s friends. She commented that she’d just returned from Austin and there were lots of street performers, and lamented the lack of them in Houston. I was puzzled. I’ve noticed lots of buskers (of varying quality) throughout the downtown area, and a few in the medical district along the rail line.
So, today I stumbled across a discussion around these photos on flickr. All of Houston sax players on the streets.
I got up early and rode my bike a few miles to pick up some Doc Marten boots offered on the Heights/Montrose Freecycle. I’ve been needing new boots, and now I have two “new” pair. Excellent. When the radio 
popped on this morning, it said it was 83 and when it gets a little warmer the showers will start again (they have). That kept me being prompt.
On the way back I was listening to a Slate podcast. They recently added a new category, they call “Mixing Desk”. This 20 minute episode was on Kelly Clarkson. Normally anything Clarkson, or generally American Idol, causes the bile to rise in my throat, but the first few Mixing Desks have been excellent.
Since she’s generally off my radar, I didn’t know she has just released a third album. She wanted to write it herself, and mostly did. She doesn’t like the style of her former albums. She had fights with the suits. Clive Davis didn’t like it. “You’re not supposed to, you’re an 80 year old man.” Presales were lesser than past sales and the tour stadium was canceled (I’d love to see her do these songs in a club).
She’s now being managed by Reba McIntire’s husband. Expect alt-country from this Ft. Worther next. I might actually listen to that.
I’m flipping the channels waiting for my left overs to rewarm in the microwave oven, and I hit the Turner Broadcasting Station. There’s a Japanese band performing the Tighten Up, Archie Bell’s #1 hit from the Summer of 1968. Yellow Magic Orchestra. A song I’ve seen Archie sing at the Continental Club.
As they zoom out I realize they’re performing it on The Best of Soul Train, making it all the more surreal. Seems the band and the song have been around forever, are considered one of the top 100 Japanese bands ever and likened to Kraftwerk.
I kinda want this album or some other one with one of their many versions on it, but it would probably cost a lot or be hard to find.
The Houston Press Music Awards is around again. If you’ve seen at least one band this year, or prefer one venue over another, you should vote.
But, what’s up with Best Female Vocalist, anyhow? Who did I really vote for among the six five contestants?
I was heading for a “weekend in Dallas”. We call it that, or “DFW”. But no one up there thinks of it as one city like Houston/Clear Lake/Sugar Land/Katy/Cypress/Conroe/The Woodlands/Waller/Humble/Kingwood/ad infinitum does. It’s two or three cities depending on who you’re talking to: Dallas, Fort Worth, and the “Mid Cities”.
Friday I got out of town finally about 2pm, braved the traffic of I-45 North to head for my good friend Jen in Colleyville, Texas. I arrive to a gated street: got past it. I arrive to a locked door: note, key under mat. I call the troop who just left for Mexican food: JohnMarsha, Conn, and Jen. (more…)
In 1993 or so I went to see The Breeders in concert. I had never seen the Pixies before they broke up and really liked The Breeders (3/4 of the band), so I wanted to see them. Unfortunately, they were opening up for Nirvana. I hadn’t jumped on the Nirvana bandwagon, and was a bit annoyed that I’d get a 45 minute set sandwiched between Shonen Knife and Nirvana.
The show was at the Astro Arena. The floor was sold out, but I made it down there. The 45 minute Breeders set was incredible. With only 45 minutes to last, they let it all hang out, and I was thrashing all about the floor.
Having paid for the ticket, I stayed for Nirvana and was blown away. It was an amazing show. Soulful, raw, painful, beautiful. I was a Nirvana fan from then on, and still am today. (more…)
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