fiddles, folk, and mandolins

I have found a new world of music: folk roots. I should say first that I have found a magical way to explore the untapped world of music: Pandora. My friend Pat told me about the radio website a couple years ago, but my computer was never fast enough or smart enough to make something like that work (it could have been the operator, I suppose).

I was recently in a staff meeting where the professional development topic was technology. One of my colleagues mentioned Pandora and I finally found a reason to take interest. You essentially identify an artist or a collection of artists and then the program (they call it the music genome project) connects the similarities in the styles and gives you streaming music in that genre. Needless to say, my musical tastebuds have had quite the adventure!

I cannot possibly capture all the musical terrain I have covered in the last couple weeks, but I have come to love the folk stylings of Erin McKeown, Paul Cardall's original piano numbers, and I finally found the music of the Peasall Sisters (they recorded "Down to the River to Pray" for O Brother Where Art Thou?).
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I also had the chance to see a couple shows since I last wrote. In honor of my friend Pat, I went to a David Bazaan concert. It was a spectacular experience that began and ended way too late for my working-girl life, but it was well worth it. The show was at a place called Emo's, so you can imagine the tight-jeaned, bearded, spiked, and extremely 'independent' crowd that gathered in the rootsy space. During the opener, I was swaying along with the other admirers and when I looked to my left and saw Bazaan himself swaying right with me. I'm pretty sure my friend Pat would have soaked his pants at that point, but I kept my cool.

Bazaan's music is a taste you first have to understand to appreciate. Each song has its own character, but they are most all hurtfully depressing. He pulls you into his journey of frustration, confusion, and pain, and it's all very real. I'd say that's the best part. He is singing to turn his heart inside out and I felt that when I was listening. I felt a bit turned inside out.

The other band I saw wasn't from any sort of fame, but it proved the kind of talent you'll find in any old place here in Austin. We went in because there was a fiddler. The group looked like three friends with day jobs who weren't quite ready to let go of music's hold. And they were good! I love a good fiddle, I've found.

I also went to a small show last weekend that was put on by a group called "above grounds." The group sponsors Christian artists and promotes shows. I heard a girl named Sarah Monteen who reminded me of Allie Rogers and Bethany Dillon in a pre-mainstream kind of way. Her voice was truthful and possessed a naivete that somehow also spoke of deep life experience. It was easy to rock a bit in my coffee chair seat to her original melodies.

Well, that's it for now, but there will be more:)

Gonna Have to Serve Somebody

So I was recently in morning church and a nice, young girl stepped up onto the stage to share special music during the offering. The song, "Gotta have to serve somebody" by Bob Dylan made me double-take when I saw it printed in the bulletin, but looking at the meek girl in the green sweater on stage, I convinced myself it was some other rendition. But then she opened her mouth to sing and nothing but conviction come out! Here's a little taste of the oh-so-typical Dylan lyrics for a good Wednesday ponder:
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You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage,
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage,
You may be a business man or some high degree thief,
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride,
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side,
You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair,
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk,
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk,
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread,
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed
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I practically had to hold on to the threads of the church seat beneath me, for the strength of her voice seemed to come like an earthquake from a deep-down place. It was so...honest, I guess. And, though I felt off-balance in hearing a proposition to serve the devil, I knew in my bones that it was true. We do serve someone - every day. Whether a conscious choice or an afterthought, I serve something - I give worship with the choices I make. That girl - Betty Sue was her name and I will tell you I have never heard anyone sing like she did.

Yes Bob Dylan, I "gotta have to serve somebody" and Lord have mercy when it's not my Savior!

Austin sights and sounds

Whoa... Texas is a wild ride!


These guitars are up all around the city... and this one is on the bat bridge - where every night at about 9 pm the bats make an exodus into the night. It's quite a spectacle.


The lower Colorado River... yes I did at one time think it was the same Colorado River from up north, but it's NOT. Man, did I feel silly!





My wonderful students who dedicated their Labor Day to paint at Sierra Ridge apartments - they are so great!

This is the Main Building at St. Edward's.

The Record Machine...and other melodic memoirs

So, I have stumbled upon many wonderful, refreshing sound surprises since my move to Austin. Indie, eclectic... call it what you will, I can't describe the connection I have with music that is so strange and new that it seems completely familiar. It's almost as though I'd forgotten the notes, but I'm oh-so-grateful they've found their rightful resting place in the beats behind my ribcage. At a small label in the heart of the Midwest, several bands have found their home. I would invite you to listen to two in particular and make your own judgment. I like to play these sounds at work, especially the song "The Sower " by Every Gentle Air. It's what life soundtracks are made of!

Winston Jazz Routine and Every Gentle Air