So Much Music

Carrie and I went to Charlie Robison's in-store at Waterloo on Tuesday. He was recently divorced from his Dixie Chick wife, Emily, and all of the songs on the new album reflect that struggle, or at least his side of it. All this music may be cathartic for him, but he does not appear to be having much fun. He has too many players in his band, as he does not need a keyboard player and a pedal steel player. There were so many layers of music, that I could rarely make out the lyrics to the songs.



I have liked most of his music since 1998, when we saw him tape an Austin City Limits show. Carrie had a greater affinity for him early, and I came around when Lloyd Maines was playing with him at the ACL taping. Tuesday, we just kind of ached for him, as he looked and sounded depressed, playing for a rather small audience at the record store. I worry that he may become to Texas Country music, what John Daly has become to PGA Golf. At least Daly still draws a crowd to see his every potential train wreck. I hope Charlie Robison doesn't fall into that kind of tailspin.

Here are a couple of songs from Charlie's better days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGulN5J8e64 El Cerrito Place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7osnZTch6UM My Hometown

St. Vincent is from Dallas, and drew a big crowd to Waterloo. This is some kind of underground phenomenon that I was unaware of. The woman is the singer, and she plucks out the rhythm of the songs on her electric guitar, as there is no drummer. The key instrumentalist was the violin player, with a couple of guys on flute and, I think, an oboe. This is not in any way your traditional pop sound, but she can, indeed, really sing. The young, nerdy hipsters in the crowd seemed enthralled. I looked on youtube for a typical St. Vincent song, but since they are unclassifiable, their is no typical song. Listen if you've got too much free time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYoT14ZRY2E

Usually, in-stores occur at 5:00, with free Shiner beer, which they start serving when the band starts, and shutting down the keg soon after the music ends. Camera Obscura's show was at 1:00, with no beer, but the promise of free pizza from Austin's Pizza. I got there a little early, hoping to score some free lunch. The pizza was already gone at 12:50, and I saw only a few people with pizza in the crowd. I declare this promotion a failure, and hope they return to giving the people what they want: Shiner beer.

Camera Obscura was an intentionally nerdy young group from Glasgow, Scotland. Where Gomez was an adult indie sounding UK band, these guys and gals were 10 years younger, with a sound to match, though not unpolished. Nothing special, but somebody gave them a travel budget.

If you've read this far, surely you want to friend me on Facebook. I am appalled that friend can be a verb, but you can't stop the train that is "social media." If you've already friended me (conjugation alert!), thanks.

Peace,

Jay