Mystery Monday Farewell

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Mystery Monday is/was a regular concert on Monday nights since November of 2012 hosted by Christine Albert & friends on the Backstage at the El Mercado restaurant  (motto: World Peace thru Tex/Mex) on S 1st in Austin. There's a regular backup band with David Carrol on bass and Bobby Kallus on drums. The "Mystery" part is a rotating cast of Austin musicians who join the hosts. When we are in Austin we often attend; it's been a good way to have dinner and discover music. You can have a tasty Tex/Mex dinner, perhaps a margarita or "Mexican Martini" (or two) and enjoy some live music in an appreciative room where people listen to the music. We've been introduced to many musicians through this concert series.

This Monday March 9, 2020 was a "Farewell Concert" -- Christine has stepped back from organizing things. God knows what's going to happen in the future. At the show we went to back in February Christine announced that the series would end on the Monday before SxSW (which was March 9). We assumed this was just a hiatus for SxSW which would have events scheduled on the Backstage. It turns out to be more permanent than that. Since then, with the corona virus pandemic, the cancellation of SxSW, and the shuttering of all bars/restaurants and live events in Austin things are really up in the air.

We first starting going to these concerts in 2014 when we bumped into a brief mention in the local paper (the Austin American Statesman). At that time the concerts were in the front room of the El Mercado on a tiny stage in the corner. Jimmie Dale Gilmore was cohosting with Christine then and did so for several years. In 2015 the concert had moved to the newly custom built Backstage with a much bigger raised stage, better sound system with lighting and more. Bill Kirchen was a cohost with Christine for much recent times but he had stepped back recently as well. Sarah Elizabeth Campbell was the original co-host with Christine but she passed away in 2013. Christine Albert has been the constant thread holding this series together.

Tonight's band had Christine Albert with her husband Chris Gage and long time stalwart Bill Kirchen as guest hosts; Bobby Kallus on drums and David Carrol on stand up bass. Guests included Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rich Brotherton, Judy Painter, Bob Livingston and many more. If you want to see the concert there are some good Youtube vidoes -- Danviewtube produced a version with pretty good sound and an editting out of the chatter between songs (for the complete show Dan recorded view here). Christina Fajardo also has some videos of tunes played that night. There was a film crew recording the event with multiple cameras and camera men. I'd be interested to see what comes of that.

I believe the set list went something like this:

1. White Freightliner Blues (Townes Van Zandt) by the ensemble. It's the song they always use to open the show.
2. Evangelina (Hoyt Axton) by Bill Kirchen with his wife Louise.
3. If You Were a Bluebird (Butch Hancock) by Chris Gage
4. A Thousand Times Yes (Kimmie Rhodes) by Christine Albert & Chris Gage
5. Ruby Ann (Martin Robins) by Bill Kirchen
6. Rhumba Man (Jesee Winchester) by Chris Gage
7. Everythings Beautiful Now (Christine Albert) by Christine Albert
8. She Had a Heart of Gold (Judy Painter & Marcia Ball) by Judy Painter & ???. This song is a tribute to Sarah Elizabeth Campbell.
9. Runnin' With You (Sarah Elizabeth Campbell) by Rich Brotherton
10. Hillbilly Truck Drivin' Man (Bill Kirchen??) by Bill Kirchen
11. Man on a Pilgrimage (Butch Hancock) by Butch Hancock
12. Oxblood (Butch Hancock) by Bill Kirchen & Butch Hancock
13. What Am I To You (Chris Gage & Christine Albert) by Chris Gage & Christine Albert
14. May Have to Do It (Mike Stinson) by Christine Albert
15. Howlin' at Midnight (Lucinda Williams) by Jimme Dale Gilmore & Christine Albert
16. Just a Wave, Not the Water (Butch Hancock) by Jimmie Dale Gilmore
17. Dallas (Jimmie Dale Gilmore) by Jimmie Dale Gilmore
18. Buffalo Return to the Plain (Jimmy LaFave) by Christine Albert
19. The Times They Are A'Changin' (Bob Dylan) by Bill Kirchen & the ensemble.

Tonight's show, although a swan song, was also a celebration of all that had been. The owner of the restaurant (I didn't catch his name) spoke ruefully about Christine's decision to shutdown the series but hopefully as well with a view to sorting things out and continuing on. Jimmie Dale, who had hosted for a couple of years, spoke about how great tonight's show was, how the series had reinvigorated his involvement in the Austin music scene and about all the great friends he had made because of Mystery Monday. He also mentioned how Christine and Chris had met through him back in the day when he was touring with Chris Gage. Lots of connections there.

Usually the doors open at 5:30 and the show runs from 7:30 until 9:00 or so with a lot of folks following the crowd to see Chris Gage at Don's Depot (another long standing residency where lots of guests show up). We usually arrive sometime around 6:30 and get a good seat before the crowds arrive. Today the show will start at 7:30 and we arrive shortly after 5:00 -- we are lucky to get seats at the very back of the room! Shortly thereafter people are turned away so that staff can serve dinner to hungry folks like ourselves. When the show starts quite a few enter as standing room only guests -- the house was packed solid.

Anyways, it was a fitting farewell to the Mystery Monday series. We hope that something will be revived or take over the Backstage of the El Mercado on Monday nights. It's been a great event in a very good listening room that we have thoroughly enjoyed. We'll see what happens on our next visit to Austin.