The Flatlanders

Our good fortunes continue with an evening at Antone's with the Flatlanders! As pictured -- Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. Accompanied by electric bass, drums and electric guitar (mandolin, etc.).

We had missed Joe Ely when he played Gruene Hall earlier in the month -- we had just got into town and weren't willing to drive the hour or so down the IH-35 after driving three days from Ontario to get here. We were therefore really surprised to open the Austin Chronicle on Thursday to see that the Flatlanders -- the whole gang not just Joe Ely -- were playing a benefit on Sunday for a Lubbock friend who had lost his home to a fire recently. In the Chronicle we read:

Academy Awards night two years ago at the Moody strutted Diana Ross. Lubbock’s Three Musketeers aren’t quite as showboat, but musically they’re every bit as Austintatious. Last month at the Paramount, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock enthralled a full house with timeless Texicana. That the trio’s songcraft could fit comfortably anytime in the past half-century should make every local bow down and kiss the ground that we all live in the here and now. – Raoul Hernandez

We have been fans for years having been introduced by our friends Pat and Cindy around 1990. Pat rightly recognised their place as founding fathers of Americana -- although back then the label wasn't used much if at all and the band had been ignored for decades as a bit of quirky Lubbock madness. Nowadays people "kiss the ground" -- Pat would have if he were here. Pat introduced us to the Flatlanders through Joe Ely: "You'll like this guy, he toured with the Clash". And sure enough we did.

The Flatlanders have a "new" CD/DVD out. The Odessa Tapes were recorded in January 1972 (sic!) by what would have been a bunch of kids. They played together as the Flatlanders 1972-73 and then went their separate ways. The Odessa tapes were recently discovered and have been remastered. Their "debut" album came out in 1991 when Rounder Records issued More a Legend Than a Band (again from 1972 recording sessions) -- that would have been the album Pat introduced to to us. With the success of that album they tour sporadically as the Flatlanders. Each player has had some modest success on their own. Joe Ely in particular does well as a solo performer. Jimmie Dale and Butch are better recognised as writers whom Joe Ely has popularised but they both are great performers as well. Butch and Jimmie Dale are usually acoustic solo acts, Joe often plays electric with a band -- hence the Clash connection.

One time, years ago, when we came to Austin we called up Butch to see what acts he'd recommend! At the time he had a gallery in town and was kind enough to take our call and recommend some acts we ought to see. Kate recalls he recommended Will Sexton who we have seen. I had heard that he'd moved from the city to Terlingua in the Big Bend country and no longer lives in the city.

We bought our tickets on line (at $12 each they were very reasonable) on Thursday as soon as we saw they were playing. We weren't going to miss this one. We had been to Antone's years ago when it was up near the university but had not been to the downtown location. Antone's is famous as a blues bar but I see it also has current punkers of various sorts. We were worried about seating -- often these places are standing room only with no seating of any sort. And you don't want to be stuck in the back row where you can't see or hear very well.

There were a few "tables" as well as general admission tickets but all the tables were sold. We weren't sure what to expect so arrived early with Kate's stool to make sure we had a place for her to sit and could claim a place near the stage. Other folks were wise and brought lawn chairs! For an inside event! Keeping Austin Weird.

There were only a very few in line including some folks we met holidaying from Oregon. So we got in early and found a good place to park ourselves. As you can see from the photo we got a good location -- we ended up at a table at stage right with the friends we met from Oregon. The two guys who had paid for the table were happy to share with us and we're grateful for their generosity. Our friends from Oregon got the two chairs, Kate had her stool, I stood and sat on the floor. Mostly the venue is a standing room only "barn" that can hold some 350 people but of the 350 we got the better spots.

The Flatlanders took to the stage promptly at 7:00 and played a lengthy set of familiar classics like "Dallas from a DC9" and "If You Were a Bluebird" to an enthusiastic audience with an encore of "White Freightliner Blues" by Townes van Zandt. As the band exited the stage I got to shake hands with Joe, Jimmie Dale and Butch and congratulated them on a great performance.

We loved every minute of it. So much so that we've bought tickets to see them again in April at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto with Cindy! And the other great thing about this event? We were home by 8:30! There were several acts to follow but we "kissed the ground" and returned home well pleased with the day's adventures.

Recommendation -- if you ever get a chance to see the Flatlanders, do it.

PS. Kate tells me Billy Joe Shaver and Ray Wylie Hubbard are playing a free event at Antone's on Friday, March 8. She's trying to extend this holiday another week.... So many bars, so little time.