Upcoming Shows

12/01 - The Eagles @ Toyota Center
12/02 - Noise for Toys @ McGonigel's Mucky Duck
12/03 - J.D. Souther @ the Mucky Duck
12/03 - Owen Temple @ Puffabelly's
12/04 - The Belleville Outfit @ the Mucky Duck
12/04 - Craig Kinsey @ the Big Top
12/05 - Buddy Guy @ House of Blues
12/05 - Ray Price @ Stafford Centre
12/05 - Michael Fracasso @ Anderson Fair
12/05 - Asleep at the Wheel - Dosey Doe Coffee House
12/05 - Carolyn Wonderland @ the Mucky Duck
12/05 - Jason Boland @ Firehouse Saloon
12/06 - porterdavis @ Anderson Fair
12/06 - Flaco Jimenez @ the Continental Club
12/06 - Kelly Willis/Bruce Robison @ the Mucky Duck
12/06 - Micky & the Motorcars @ Firehouse Saloon
12/09 - Lise Liddell/Dan Crump/Teresa Kolo @ the Mucky Duck
12/10 - Tressie Seegers @ the Continental Club
12/11 - Scott Miller/Mike McClure @ the Mucky Duck
12/11 - South Austin Jug Band @ the Continental Club
12/12 - Randy Weeks @ the Mucky Duck
12/12 - David Allan Coe - Firehouse Saloon
12/13 - Radney Foster @ the Mucky Duck
12/13 - Two Tons of Steel @ Firehouse Saloon
12/14 - Blaggards @ the Continental Club
12/16 - Justin Townes Earle @ Cactus Music (in-store)
12/16 - Justin Townes Earle/Samantha Crain @ the Mucky Duck
12/16 - Shelley King/Idgy Vaughn/Georgia Middleman @ Dosey Doe's
12/17 - Raul Malo @ House of Blues
12/17 - Kelly Willis/Bruce Robison @ the Mucky Duck
12/19 - Charlie Robison - Tumbleweed's
12/19 - Gary P. Nunn @ Blanco's
12/20 - Two Star Symphony @ Rudyard's
12/20 - Stoney Larue @ House of Blues
12/21 - The Swingfield Playboys @ the Mucky Duck
12/26 - Hayes Carll/Adam Carroll/Band of Heathens @ Warehouse Live
12/26 - Bob Schneider @ House of Blues
12/26 - Dale Watson @ Blanco's
12/26 - Sisters Morales @ the Mucky Duck
12/26 - LL Cooper @ Rudyard's
12/27 - Asylum Street Spankers @ the Mucky Duck
12/27 - Bleu Edmondson @ Firehouse Saloon
12/28 - The Old 97's @ Warehouse Live
12/28 - Robert Earl Keen @ House of Blues
12/29 - Jack Ingram @ House of Blues
12/30 - Hayes Carll @ Dosey Doe's
12/30 - Clandestine @ the Mucky Duck
12/30 - Reverend Horton Heat @ House of Blues
12/31 - Shake Russell @ Anderson Fair
12/31 - Guy Forsyth/Sideshow Tramps @ Dan Electro's Guitar Bar

still here

So I'm still here. I haven't posted much for awhile. I've been recovering from a minor surgery and my job has kept me very busy lately. I did manage to make it to a few shows earlier this month before my surgery.

First up was The Red Elvises (your favorite band!) at the Mucky Duck. They are a Russian-American band, based in Santa Monica, who always put on an energetic and entertaining show. Here's a clip of the band playing "Ticket to Japan" in San Francisco featuring the lovely and talented Elena Shemankova:



The next show was Rodney Crowell at the Mucky Duck. Rodney played two nights at the Duck. I caught the first night's performance. Rodney was joined on stage by Jenny Scheinman and Jedd Hughes. This was easily one of the best shows I've seen all year. So many great songs and such a high level of musicianship on display! It was also nice to see such a good turnout (both shows were sold-out). Rodney grew up in Houston and there were many in attendance from the neighborhoods where he used to live. Here's a clip of the "Houston Kid" reminiscing on his childhood and performing "The Rock of My Soul":



Here's a recent clip of Rodney performing "Moving Work of Art" with Will Kimbrough and Jenny Scheinman:



Here is a video of Jedd Hughes performing his song "Big Blue Sky":



...and here are two clips of Jenny Scheinman peforming her songs "Newspaper Angels" and "Run, Run, Run" with Will Kimbrough:





Finally, for something a little different, I went to the Chanticleer concert at Stude Concert Hall at Rice University. Chanticleer (based in San Francisco) is considered by many to be the world's leading male chorus. It was a great performance with some particuliarly fine singing from the altos and counter-tenors. Here is a clip of Chanticleer performing the traditional Irish folk song "Dulaman" in an arrangement by Michael McGlynn:



Here is an excerpt from the group's newest dvd Mission Road featuring performances filmed at several historic California Missions:



Finally, here is a video of Chanticleer performing a setting of "Ave Maria" by composer Franz Biebl:

Metropolitan Jonah

Photo Source

Last week the Orthodox Church in America held its 15th All-American Council. At the Council a new Metropolitan was elected as primate of the OCA.

His Grace, Bishop Jonah (Paffhausen) of Fort Worth, was elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops as the new Metropolitan for the OCA. He was consecrated a Bishop on November 1, 2008 at St. Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas to serve as the auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of the South. Prior to that he served for many years as Abbot of the Monastery of St. John of San Francisco.

Ancient Faith Radio has posted audio excerpts of the Council sessions here. There are many interesting interviews and speeches that have been compiled.

A reading of the greeting from Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia can be heard here.

Perhaps the most important speech of the Council was Bishop Jonah's address on Tuesday evening in regards to questions and concerns that had been submitted to the Synod of Bishops. His address can be heard here and is required listening. Many believe that Bishop Jonah was elected as Metropolitan largely due to the impact that this address had.

Another excellent speech from Metropolitan Jonah on his vision for the future of the OCA can be heard here.

A video of the election process for the new Metropolitan can be seen here.

Axios! Many Years!

Election Day

I think Over The Rhine is on to something here...if only a song could be president...



So, in that spirit, I believe I will support the Pancho/Lefty ticket:



...although Wilco does offer a pretty convincing argument for the ultimate third-party candidate...

: )

Modern Day Hermits

Here is a very interesting video on some modern day hermits from Romania: