For those of you who read this column and ask, "Don't you get tired?" my answer this week is a resounding "Yes!" I spent my spring break in Austin at SxSW. Standing in a booth at the trade show five hours a day was lots of fun and lots of work. I covered the Austin Music Awards Wednesday, March 14, at the Austin Music Hall. After wrestling through construction, crowds and limited parking space, I stood backstage and greeted the people I know and love as they walked off the stage. No getting close at the front of the stage.

I want to say, again, how generous and warm I find the majority of Texas musicians. Vallejo, the award-winning band, were full of energy and loved posing for the camera. Terri Hendrix, winner of the Folk Act Award (Hey, she's much more than that!), was gracious, friendly, and even gave me a follow-up call to announce her songwriting school at Old Number Nine in Waring on October 5-7. The last one sold out in a week, so consider this advance notice! Call Jenny at 830-995-3552 for information. The amazing part of the call was her offer to visit a Schreiner English class again.

Monte Montgomery accepted his award for best acoustic guitarist saying, "I wonder how many times I'll have to get this award before I get to play this show?" He's won it many times already. I appreciated the humor and the observation that we often overlook talent in our own backyard. Monte played to a packed house last time out at Luckenbach. Some of you remember when  he sat in a bar with his mom, Maggie, at about age 14, playing a hot guitar even then. Many Schreiner students remember his stunning performances at orientation.

UT Press was the only book publisher at the trade show. I enjoyed that! We had a great talk with Rounder Records on the possibility of creating a companion CD to the book "Telling Stories, Writing Songs". Many artists in the book are on this independent record label, based in Boston, and celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year. People with passion started Rounder.

Sugar Hill, another of my favorite labels, gave a showcase of artists, including their newest artist, Rodney Crowell, at the Broken Spoke. I got a rare chance to see Bruce Iglauer, owner of Alligator Records (houserocking blues), at the Antone's showcase that included Marcia Ball (Alligator) and Delbert McClinton(New West). The New West label had a great afternoon showcase, featuring Billy Joe Shaver and Delbert. Whew….I didn't even see 1% of the music available. Someone said "600 more bands in Austin."

Another amazing moment occurred at Antone's when Marcia Ball was playing. Dr. Charlie Gray, a Kerrville music fan (fanatic), turned to me and said, "Music puts you in some kind of zone. What is that?" I enjoyed stepping away from "work" and standing in the zone at Antone's. Delbert, a Ft. Worth cat from way back, rocked the house, as usual. Dr. Gray won the trivia contest on Delbert's cruise this year, and he was almost part of the band that evening.

I loved the many times I heard Stephen Bruton. This songwriter/performer knocks me out. I remember watching him play at Johnny Nicholas's Big Band Bash one year, and sharing my stories with Ridge Floyd, who also greatly appreciates Stephen. Bruton played at the New West showcase, he played at the trade show stage, he comandeered a portion of the KGSR morning talk show (and I learned even more about him), he's playing with a group called The Resentments, and he's played with Bonnit Raitt and Bob Dylan. Whew. This man is Mr. Talent in the Texas music scene.

Once, at the Cabaret, I asked him, "Where have you been, Stephen?" He answered, "I'm hiding out in plain view." What a line.

Once again, too much to report. I may put a complete report on our website: www.texasheritagemusic.org

Free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

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