Last Friday, Tricia (aka Ruth Ann) and I had a one-day road trip to see James McMurtry at Gruene Hall. We first went to my dad’s place on Canyon Lake. Hung out and chatted. The water is very high and the gates are wide open, so we went down the 306 side of the river.
We met up with Faithe, who recently moved to San Antonio, at the Grist Mill and had a nice meal. We noticed that James was eating a few tables away. Tricia had a chat with him for a while, and we all said hi before we left. He mentioned we should go down to the river to check it out.
The Guadalupe was flowing over the bridge just down the street, and quite a torrent it was. We headed back and caught the Ded Ringers. We both quite like this young band from Austin. Good songwriters for being so young.
Most of the perimeter and picnic table seating was taken when we went in, so we stood back from the stage near the sound board. Becky (aka Lynn) and several other friends (including James’ girlfriend) showed up during the opening band. Between sets a very tall boot wearer asked us if there was “any reason we were standing here?” It being the implication that we were blocking he and his wife’s lazy asses view in the back of the room.
At $10 (2 for $15 if you buy early), the HPMAS is a 6-hour, 13-venue juggernaut. It provides a great cross section of the huge variety of music that can be found week-in week-out in this city, but here you don’t have to go looking for it. If you miss this one, you lose all authority to whine about Austin getting good music festivals come Labor Day.
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.
