Rivers of Texas

ACL Stage Moody Theatre

We went to see "A Celebration of Songs and Stories from Deep in the Heart of Texas" at the ACL Moody Theatre here in Austin, TX on Saturday night. This was a benefit show for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The show was organized, headlined and hosted by Alejandro Escovedo with a long list of local performers who were to each do two Texas songs — one by someone they admired and one of their own. 

We had first seen Alejandro at Strange Brew (2014) at another fund raiser so were looking forward to this show. Strange Brew was a great listening room; it's another Austin club that's sadly gone.

We bought good aisle seats on the floor to stage right and took an Uber to the show. Parking downtown might be a burden and the theatre seats probably near 3,000 people so it would be busy.

At security we're stopped and told, "You can't go in with that camera." I had my Canon T6i with a 18-135mm lens and had hoped to take some photos. We argued a bit (after all you're letting everyone in with cell phone cameras), do you want me to Uber home again, where can I leave this camera, etc. .... Finally, they agreed to hold my camera at security and I could retrieve it when we leave. The picture above was one of the very few usable photos taken with our cell phones. It's hard to make out but that's David Ramirez performing; he did a smokin'/swaggerin' version of Terry Allen's "Amarillo Highway". Next time I'll remember to bring a smaller camera and carry it in my pocket (eg. on the Outlaw Country Cruise (2018) I could only bring a pocket camera).

We were surprised when we took our seats that the theatre was only just starting to fill up. The upper balcony, the really cheap seats, seemed to be mostly empty. Alejandro encouraged people to come down from the balcony and take some of the empty better seats. That proved to be a bit of an issue for folks arriving after the show had started.

You might note the house band arranged for this show. That's Glenn Fukunaga on bass (we've seen him with Terri Hendrix) and Gabe Rhodes on guitar. There's a three piece string section and Warren Hood joined them. I'm not sure who was on drums or keyboards. Notably, Lloyd Maines was not there. We were surprised as we often see him in house bands on the ACL stage. It was nevertheless a well rehearsed tight band who made it all seem effortless.

Butch Hancock opened the show with "Rivers of Texas" (the link is to a TVZ version) which he recalled hearing Townes Van Zandt play many times over the years. It's a traditional song we had never heard before but we did bump into it again a few days later. He followed with "She Never Spoke Spanish To Me" (the link is to a Texas Tornados version) and included a verse entirely in Spanish. Given the recent border squabbles (Greg Abbott's razor wire barricades on the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass) this song is particularly poignant recalling a simpler time with open borders.

Alejandro introduced Warren Hood who he had baby sat as a child. We've seen him several times over the years (first back in 2014 playing with Joe Ely at Guero's on our last night) and seems to have a regular gig at the ABGB. He has developed beyond playing as a session musician on fiddle. He did a song I've got to research (I have a tape) and another of his own. He's really coming along.

I've already mentioned David Ramirez; an artist I'd not known about. He was followed by Terry Allen who played a couple of his own tunes (breaking the rules). He has a show case gig coming up soon at the Paramount. Alejandro mentioned how these two regular shows often conflict with one another; but this year they're sharing one another's stage. Terry is more of an artist than a musician and pounds out simple tunes on piano. I was surprised to find about 12 or so different CD's of his at Waterloo Records the other day.

John Doe, of the LA band X (not to be confused with Twitter), has moved to Austin and performed a punk tune he wrote in Austin. Of course neither are very "country". Will Johnson was another performer we did not know. He's young and in the John Doe/punk mold. The first set was closed off by Ruthie Foster who is a blues artist.

The second half of the show would have included Alejandro, Kimmie Rhodes (Gabe's mom), Rosie Flores, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Shakey Graves and Robert Earl Keene but we cut out early. Kate wanted me to stay but I'd not have that!