Silvertone Files: 2009

This past Sunday night we arrived safely back home to Nashville after an exhausting but fun filled, adventurous trip to Austin, Texas to check out the scene at SXSW. It was my first year going, and I'm so glad that we decided go, even though we didn't have anything officially lined up. But we did get to be heard - we made ourselves known and came back inspired, more focused - we also got to meet up with friends, enjoy some good food and we're also now the proud owners of a banjo.
For a while Lauren and I had been going back and forth about going to Austin. I had been trying to get onto a bill that had some open slots but by Wednesday night we hadn't heard anything and so we both just said - What the Hell! Let's just go and make something happen. So we did. We packed up my car with our gear and just after midnight we hit the road for Texas.
By the following afternoon we were rolling into Austin and the craziness of SXSW. We slowly made it through town dealing with more traffic than I had seen since I left LA and found a parking lot close to the action and downtown. It was a pretty overwhelming place to be for the first time - so many people and so much music everywhere. We had a list of unofficial events and spent some time trying to figure out what to do.
With some finagling we were able to get into the AMA showcase at Antone's. There was a good sized crowd there to see Carrie Rodriguez, Justin Townes Earle, and the closer Raul Malo - who were all awesome. We also ran into people from LA - Michelle, who we had run into earlier on 5th St., and the great Todd Kivi, who was really surprised to see us there. We met some others too but by the end of the show we were both beat and headed out to where we were staying to get some rest.
The next morning I woke up early thanks to the morning birds singing their songs and since I was sleeping on a screened in deck it came through loud and clear. Thankfully I was able to fall back alseep and get some more rest. That afternoon we headed back downtown and while trying to figure out what to do, Lauren suggested getting our intruments and playing out on 6th St. - so we did. We set up right there on the street and started playing and ended up getting some good attention. We did a couple interviews including one for a guy who was doing a documentary on street performers. It felt good and was a very positive experience and I was happy that people were interested in what we were doing.
Later we made it out to Maria's Tacos for the Sin City party. I was really looking forward to seeing Randy Weeks since the day I left LA was the last time he played at the Cinema Bar. I ran into a whole bunch of people I knew from LA - Cindy Wasserman, Funky Jenn, Jill, Dave from The Horsepainters, Michelle again, a full bearded Tracy Huffman who I had last seen when I stayed with him up in Missouri, Mike Stinson, and of course Shilah. We enjoyed the music and the people and the nice Spring Texas evening.
Chris Morris had given us a flyer for Ruby Friedman's show that evening at the Apple Bar, so after we saw our friend Ryan's band, Sound and Shape, we headed over there. We saw Todd and Chris and met a few others and then were just blown away by Ruby's set. They, the Ruby Friendman Orchestra was just awesome and played a strong, powerful, wonderful set. I was so glad that we had witnessed it. After that we called it a night and after a stop off for tacos on the way back went to sleep.
We had a slow start that Saturday and missed having lunch with Chris and Todd and Jim but decided to get some Mexican food at place that we saw right next to Maria's Tacos the day before - a place that Lauren remembered going to when she used to live there when she was younger - El Rancho. I had been craving some good Mexican food (something that Nashvile really lacks) and I was so hapy when we sat down and they put the chips and salsa on the table - and the salsa was good and spicy. I think it's safe to say that we feasted - or at least I did - it was so good.
On our way back into town we saw a guitar store that had a SXSW sale sign out front. I think we both already had an idea about what would happen - and after walking around and seeing what they had, there it was - a banjo. We had been looking for a while for one - something that wasn't too expensive, something that we could learn on - and after both of us played it we decided to get it. We left the store happy and we had someone take our picture with it out front - feeling a bit like proud parents. As we drove back downtown we kept looking in the backseat, checking on it.
We made it to the end of the Shurman party and ran into a bunch of the people from the day before. We randomly ran into Michelle before going in, just like we had a few days before. It really was cool seeing everyone and I'm looking forward to the trip back to LA in May for the shows we have lined up.
I got a call from Todd and we met up with him over at the Hilton to see Jackie Bristow who was good and soothing and I relaxed in a nice hotel lobby chair. We were planning to leave at some point that evening so we didn't have to do the drive home in one big day but we still had some things we wanted to do. After Jackie's set we decided to get some food with Todd and we met up with Cary Baker from Conqueroo and enjoyed a nice meal and reflected on our time there in Austin.
We decided our last outing would be to try to see Exene and we made our way through the crowded streets to the club. Unfortunately it was a wristband only show but we ended up running into Chris Morris again and we talked for a while with him. I also ran into my friend Izzy Cox who had moved to Austin a while ago. She's the one who had passed on to me that gig I had at the Karma Coffeehouse in Hollywood. I was glad that I ran into her and also Johnny Fargo who I hadn't seen for years who I randomly ran into during our time in Austin.
By then it was getting late and we decided to get on the road and start the trip home.
We made it to the other side of Dallas and enjoyed some sleep. I woke up fairly rested and ready for the rest of the way. It all was a smooth drive and we cruised along listening to some country on the radio. By the evening we were coming into Memphis and we decided to stop off and check out the city. We drove by Sun Records and then over to Beale St. and got out and walked around for a bit. We saw a pretty good blues band at one of the bars there and it was a good stop.
Just before midnight we made it back to Nashville and it felt good to get back to my own bed.
Luckily I don't have to go to work until tomorrow and I'm not really looking forward to it. I would rather travel and play music - but that will come. I'm also looking forward to SXSW next year. We'll definitely get something going for that. For now we have a show here in town at The Basement next week and we're ready to do our thing. The trip has left me feeling inspired and confident of reaching our goals. We'll be heading back to LA in May for some shows - can't wait to travel again.