Wonder Writer

The 307th show of Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros had the Saxon pub packed. I heard the house was always packed for Walt- -especially if Johnny Nicholas was around too. Walt Wilkins sings at the Saxon  Right away, I got the message. I was about to hear a legend or two, this evening. Inside the set, I heard a little bit of country, a little bit of soul, a little bit of rebel rock and a little bit of God in every beat. The messages in the songs unwrapped deeper meaning with twists of hard knock and safety and the rugged journey of the in-between. It was the mess that made the story worth telling. There was  The Trains I Missed song (written by Walt, Gilles Godard and Nicole Witt) a hefty song that got me in the doors, but then every other song wouldn't let me leave my seat. Johnny Nicholas and Walt Wilkins Walt sang, "And I pushed on every chance. I searched far and wide trying to crawl out of God's hands. There were stones I didn't throw and heart

Tomar Williams Tomar and the FCs were nothing short of fabulous Saturday night at Threadgill's World Headquarters. Tomar, opening up the gig dressed to the nines, was all-in. Dancing like a rocket across the floor, he tore up the 90 degree Austin evening stage- -moving as if the floor was on fire. Midway, he ditched his dazzling duds and glasses and showed some muscle.  Leading the pack with grooving moves, Tomar was as animated as Mick Jagger and as soulful as Otis- -The King of Soul himself. The FCs grooved with the grip and grit of a Southern church choir. It was the kind of music that sticks with the soul- -nourishing and pow-fully surprising.  The lyrics were rich, and the music was laced with James Brown get-on-up-ness. Between whirlwind moves, and the band's pow, Tomar connected with hand shakes and messages of hope. He said, "We all have those days . .  .  at work, with the boss . . ." He had audiences nodding and amen-ing. As he reached for us, w

About five minutes into Hayes Carll's show, Bruce Robison, walked onto the Saxon Pub stage. Robison was Hayes' guest. And, his entrance was more than memorable. Laughing about his "Mister Rogers' entrance," Robison's cowboy hat, with just a few inches of door headroom left, it looked more like a cowboy saloon entrance. In striking contrast to his heroic entrance, Robison's humble and down-to-earth demeanor didn't give away that he'd roped in hit songs for the Dixie Chicks, George Strait, and Tim McGraw, to name a few. Bruce Robison When Robison talked about his love for songwriting and getting great songs to the right people, it sounded like woodworking for hours and then finding a way to get the unique creation to the perfect parent. Robison said he originally didn't intend on singing his songs; it was a way to get the songs out. Though, when he sang, it was much more than presenting a song. Every word was dripping with emotio

After hearing Shawn Pander on Sun Radio, I felt the tug to hear more. I was curious if seeing him live would be worth the drive. It was. Pushed is the word that comes to mind. Every word is pow- -lyrically smooth, radiantly emotional. Shawn wasn't much for stories between songs. But, the stories weaved inside were wildly willing. His eyes under shade, I got the feeling he was pulling the words from a vault deep inside. Shawn Pander Around the middle of his set, he let go a little more. He bowed just slightly. It was more than physical. Lacing lyrics with emotional serenade, Pander's words pushed details captured mostly in candid filmstrips. Like the story in a bridal hemline dusted with dirt after the first dance, his lyrics exhaled subtle imprints not soon forgotten. His reconstruction of a Nine Inch Nails song was a beautiful rich blast. Now, like an "animal," I want that song. His lyrics were refreshingly relatable. He sang, "Smili

Langhorne Slim Langhorne Slim, he's a different kind of artist soul. Charcoal graveled cheeks, crooked hat, dark brooding eyes and tattoo-covered arms, I think he might be the most recklessly brave musician I have ever encountered. With Slim, it isn't just a performance, it's a diary sung from the gut. He's the best since Otis Redding.   I've seen him at Luck and in Austin this week, big crowds or intimate affair, the pulse was the same: Very little breathing room. Audiences anchored in his space. Hearts tangled up wildly inside his lyrical maze. His lyrics grieved change, spill-over worries and pain. No word left his lips without a hard shake.  When he sung, he took off all the layers. Completely vulnerable, he infused lyrics with life. He made rocks orgasmic. I wondered why he wasn't ragged from leaving it all on stage. But, then, I saw him smile and I understood. After Austin's show, he said that he may not be a rich man, but in doing

Miles Zuniga  Every time I've watched The Resentments, it's the same feeling that reflects from that Saxon Pub wooden plated stage.  It's a feeling of stepping into the living room space of a long-time friend. It's this feeling that I just have to  pull up a chair and hang out for awhile. And, all around me are audiences packed elbow to elbow, yet there always seems to be room to make more room, and, of course, more room to dance. And, I believe this group can play anything. They write their own music together and apart. They cover covers with a sense of special blessing twists. But, the thing that captivates me- -floors me actually, is how they weave their talents together. When The Resentments hit their stride, it's like approaching a sky full of stars and knowing you'll never be able to grab them all at once.  Bruce Hughes, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, John Chipman, Miles Zuniga & Jeff Plankenhorn Radiating from the stage, there’s

Willie Nelson sings at Luck's Revival stage Willie's Luck Reunion was a rejuvenating optimistic world- -a delightful time warp of rustic retro fashion with characters that claimed the stage and my heart at the same time. The messages the musicians told between the lyrics were gripping. Seeing musicians like The Wild Reeds perform blasted me with a take-no-crap kind-of ammunition. Boot waltzing into Luck's gravel road led me along the courts of The Texas Gentlemen, Langhorne Slim, Paul Thorn & the McCrary Sisters, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Andrew Combs and many more rings of talent. The Wild Reeds With a variety of acts to see at Luck Reunion, there seemed to be as much diversity intwined as there was a sense of celebrated soul. At Luck, it was less about the flair and more about the lyrics spilling out on stage. The most engaging part about Luck Reunion were these stripped down rawly real performances. Langhorne Slim on the chapel stage was uniquely unscr

Jackie Venson rocks Threadgill's All smiles, Jackie Venson's giddy joy radiated across Threadgill's Friday night. Venson's performance was a delightful power-packed engaging experience with inspired charisma. Her music, with an almost-jazz-meets-blues feel, was laced with a rock-in-roll guitar engine.  And, Venson, clearly,  was charged on her own terms. She said she tries to date, but then the men in her life get jealous. She explained she spends a lot of time with her first love- -her guitar. She smiled widely, looked up, and hugged her instrument even closer to her body. Venson, 27, said she had a love for learning her craft and keeping the way clear for women. Venson joyfully celebrated that things had changed. She said her grandmother, now 93, lived in a different world. Her grandmother, when she was young, had trouble finding a job because of "these things!" Venson laughed and pointed to her breasts and other lady parts. Venson paus

Last year, I helped craft a book with Robert Schneider. The book celebrates what it was like to raise a rock star- -Bob Jr. He also details living life as an entertainer. http://www.lulu.com/shop/bob-schneider-sr/father-of-a-rockstar/paperback/product-23034186.html For about a year, he mentioned wanting to write a book. And, I bugged him about it enough too. He had an idea, and he was working on it. But, it wasn't complete. He mentioned it a time or two after teaching my son music on Tuesday nights. Michael & Bob Bob was good with my son. My son is stubborn. One evening, my son sang a Beatles' song with Bob and then he had the audacity to tell Bob, "You're not singing it right." Bob smirked and said, "I've been singing this song for forty years!" Then, my son straightened up and went back to strumming. Michael and Bob got along well like this. Both of them had their own ways of doing things. Their stubborn tendencies seemed to compl

Sting finally came back to Austin. I hadn't seen him play since he took the show to Houston. He sang with his buddy Paul Simon. Even in the nose-bleed seats, it was an amazing show. I remember last minute I called a friend, begged to stay on her couch, and I drove three hours. Spent $40.  Completely worth it. This time, tickets weren't cheap. One ticket cost two days of teacher pay. And, a sitter on top of that. Too much. This meant going alone. So, I was thinking GA seats, but this meant plenty of room to stand, and of course, dance. The adventure of going alone started with navigating the city, parking meters, and the wonder of taking it all in--alone.  But, going solo wasn't so bad. The quiet walk alone opened up the story in another way.  I loved the sound of my boots on the pavement and watching the glow of the silhouetted stick figure lure me across the street. For a few blocks, the city felt like it was my escort.  The downtown Austin streets we