Keep Austin Twangin' (Long review)

[Lost_N_Austin]

This is a mini-review of some Tele Twang in Austin at and around the South by Southwest music weirdness in Austin. On the free Stage at Auditorium Shores on Friday night, I saw the Little Willie's with Nora Jones and Jim Campilongo on Telecaster. I was not impressed with this band and I think this review is one that is fair Little Willies Review It says in part "The Little Willies could be called a supergroup if they had more than one star in their lineup."

Next up was Rosanne Cash with husband John Leventhal on Tele. Roseanne sounded great and John was rocking on guitar. I'll buy this CD as it is receiving great reviews and Rosanne has never sounded better.

Saturday night at Hill's Cafe with Redd Volkaert playing a rather subdued background to James Hand's CD release party. The food was good at Hill's. Redd was under-utilized but fully appreciated.

Next band was a pleasant surprise. The wife and I arrived early for the Bill Kirchen show at Beck’s on south Congress two doors down from the Continental Club. The band Big Blue Hearts were playing to a very enthusiastic crowd and I predict this band will be gathering some fans quickly. Check them out at Big Blue Hearts
Here is a quote from their website - "While no barn-burner, Dreams has a dreamy lure: soothing and heartfelt country rock by unrepentant romantics. The rootsy sound gets its heft from Scott Minchk's tasteful guitar solos and David Fisher's lovely croon, just across the holler from Chris Isaak and Roy Orbison. —Edna Gundersen". Think Chris Isaak without the attitude and with Scott Minchk as a young James Calvin Wilsey on Telecaster. I ponied up the $15.00 for a CD so that tells you how much I liked them. I seldom pay full price for a CD unless it's to support my local Tele masters Redd V. and Bill K.

Speaking of Bill Kirchen, he closed the Beck's outdoor venue with a great but short set that included "Hot Rod Lincoln" and a couple of his new songs from the future CD. There was some Great Telecaster Twang reverberating in South Austin, Texas.

If you missed it and want to get in on the action, catch Bill Kirchen & Mark Gamsjager of the Lustre Kings at Grene Hall today, Sunday the 19th, at 1:00 till 4:30 Gruene Hall

[Brutalblues]

but "The Little Willies could be called a supergroup if they had more than one star in their lineup.", sounds like a backhanded compliment to me. And who knows if any of the "other" band members will achieve commercial success in the future? How did you like Jim Campilongo's unique style and mastery of the Tele? He can straight forward do the twang/ chicken picken thang too, as evidenced by his "Ten Gallon Cats" releases. I'm sure he was doing his job as a band member, v.s. being a band leader
, so you got less of him than a pure Tele-holic would have liked to see. Same thing with Redd playing with James Hand..you don't get to see Redd V on steroids in that setting either.

[JamonHamon]

My family and I are going on vacation in Austin April 14th-19th were stay at the Austin Motel, We hope to have a good time!!! and we are thinking of Moving to Nashville Tnn or Austin Texas after we sell our home in Los Angeles, Ca. Dale

[jas468]

I have to go with Brutalblues on this one --

Maybe it's my age or something but I do enjoy the sound of players playing their instruments for the song, especially knowing all the pyrotechnics that they are capable of.

I just plain enjoy tasty playing. The Little Willies fall into this category for me.

[Tim Armstrong]

I don't reckon The Little Willies are calling themselves anything as bombastic as "supergroup". They're just a bunch of really fine musicians playing music they love. I checked out the review you linked to, and the guy liked them just fine, wrapping up his review with "Yet that relaxed nature is the very thing that makes The Little Willies a gentle surprise -- maybe this isn't a major record, but it's thoroughly likeable record that doesn't lose its charm on repeated plays."

If you didn't dig their show, that's cool, but I see no reason to scorn them because Norah Jones happens to have sold a metric pantsload of CDs...

Cheers, Tim

[JamonHamon]

Originally Posted by Lost_N_Austin

On the free Stage at Auditorium Shores on Friday night, I saw the Little Willie's with Nora Jones and Jim Campilongo on Telecaster. I was not impressed with this band and I think this review is one that is fair Little Willies Review It says in part "The Little Willies could be called a supergroup if they had more than one star in their lineup."

I know what you mean Nora is great on her CDS but in person or on TV she is just OK!!!!!. You no we can speak our opinions here FREELY !!!! So thank you for your opinions Please keep them coming!!!!!

Webmaster edit: fixed Quote BBCODE

[Lost_N_Austin]

I'd heard good things about this new Little Willies CD and was looking forward to some great guitar playing from all I've read on this forum about Jim Campilongo. I simply stated that I was not impressed with the show I saw. Norah was spot on with her piano playing and vocals but things dropped off pretty drastically when Norah was not doing the singing. It could have been the sound system in the outdoor venue. The quote about only having one star in the lineup was not mine but when I included it as an excerpt from the attached review, it did sound a bit more critical.

By Rosanne Cash putting on such a great show it just made it seem like the Little Willies performance was lacking something.
Your Mileage May Vary and all that.

Now, in order to make it up to you guys, here is a link to some pictures of a local Honky Tonker named Sunny Sweeny. This is specially for you JamonHamon. It may make you give Austin a closer look. Three things on this Link that I will call your attention to. 1. Eye-Candy 2. a picture of two of the Big Blue Heart guys and 3. Be sure and scroll down far enough to check out the "Dancers". :D :D :D

[jas468]

No need to make any atonements, you were expressing your opinion based on an observation :) That's what so great about this forum.

I re-read your original post and I think I see what you're saying. It reminded me once when I saw the great & crazy Webb Wilder live, just after his 'Doo Dad' CD came out. I loved the CD, I just about wore it out. However he was an opening act that night and somehow his performance just felt uninspired.
BTW he opened for the Beat Farmers and they just blew the doors off the place that night.

[Tim Armstrong]

Hey, I had just woken up from a nap, and was still cranky! I gave the Little Willies a listen and dug them, but they are pretty laid back and I can see how that might not translate into an exciting show, particularly on a night when someone like Roseanne Cash is playing with her usual level of intensity!

And jas, yep, you must've caught Webb Wilder on an off night, because I've seen him purely tear the roof off the joint a few times. Nothing worse than catching someone great on an off night, is there?

Cheers, Tim

[JamonHamon]

Originally Posted by Lost_N_Austin

Now, in order to make it up to you guys, here is a link to some pictures of a local Honky Tonker named Sonny Sweeny. This is specially for you JamonHamon. It may make you give Austin a closer look. Three things on this Link that I will call your attention to. 1. Eye-Candy 2. a picture of two of the Big Blue Heart guys and 3. Be sure and scroll down far enough to check out the "Dancers". :D :D :D

What a hoot. Great photo of red dancing with Sonny Sweeny. Thanks so much for the info. Thank you. Dale Hamon

[jas468]

Tim,

Agreed re: Webb - of course his worse nights are probably better than some groups' best.

BTW just wanted to say I grew up around Annapolis (a while back) and still consider MD my true home.

Sorry to hijack, now back to the topic...

[Johnny Glow]

Big Blue Hearts are great. They put out an album in 1997 on a major label, I believe, and then everything went rock star south. I think its a new band he's got now. The first album is great, by the way, find it if you can. I don't have the new one. It's on my long list of purchases to make.

[Robert H.]

I'm sorry to read the Little Willies review---I too think Jim Campilongo is a great and unique Tele-player who combines Country twang, Jazz tones and Tele clanging to perfection. I was not overwhelmed by the Willies' cd but appreciated the effort. Campy live is something special--at least when I've seen him.

[Kingpin]

Who's dippin' who?

Redd, I have to say, I admire your taste in dance partners!

[Poppatwang]

strikes again!