I spent a few days of my spring break in Austin, and I had to take a day and look in on the largest music convention in the country, South by Southwest. Thursday, March 14, was my lucky day. I started at the convention hall and heard Robbie Robertson, the keynote speaker, tell the story of his musical odyssey. Using the journey motif, he chronicled a life full of significant moments. At the press conference he explained, "We didn't know we were making history when we filmed The Last Waltz. I never saw myself as a pioneer, yet I do see now that many of things we did were revolutionary. I just
always accepted the next challenge. I let my passion guide me."

I had to ask him about the profound sense of "center" I heard when he talked. "I'm drawn to a timeless factor in music that defies definition. I understand the dark because I know the light. I feel the passion of the challenge." He described his childhood on the Six Nations Reservation as a time of joy and appreciation for the mystery found in nature. "I felt sorry for my relatives who lived in the city."
Robbie, in an almost naïve way, described the many huge challenges he has been drawn to. He kept asking for a Grammy award for our own indigenous people. "They have a Grammy for best polka player who also plays folk," he joked. "How can we ignore our own Native American people?" Robbie was the one chosen to give that Grammy several years ago.

He heard his music at the opening and closing ceremony of the Olympic Games this year. He was asked to produce many albums, and accepted the invitations that opened up new doors for him.
I was so inspired by his talk and the following intimate press conference, that I wanted to pack up my camera and head home after that morning. Nothing could top this experience, I decided. It would take me about four columns to just convey the huge heart and soul this man has. The 25th anniversary of The Last Waltz will be released and he has included 24 more songs in the CD. I always loved the music of The Band, and I loved the shows with Bob Dylan, but Robbie Robertson is a pioneer walking alone.

He's part of a new company called Dreamworks that is committed to keeping the independent spirit alive, a company that is "artist" oriented. He used words like "beautiful" and "lovely" to describe many of his experiences. He said, "I didn't always do what they said. I felt above and beyond this reality, and that's a dangerous place to be. I am on this journey, and I am going to keep going."

He played Woodstock, he spent time with Jimi Hendrix, he is part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (behind the scenes), he knew Andy Warhol, he is committed to "stretching," and on and on. Most of all I noticed a man with a beautiful spirit, one committed to passing on the baton and keeping the flame of inspiration burning bright. He adds fuel to this fire in his own life on a regular basis. The world benefits from the vision of Robbie Robertson.

I forced myself to attend a special showcase of Caroline Herring. The basement of Stubbs Barbecue (after a parking place opened up right in front for me) was full of people who love what I love - Rod Kennedy, Ken Irwin and Brad Paul (Rounder Records), Eddie Stout, Seymour and Cleveland when I stood in front of Gillian Welch and felt her clear mountain voice go right through me. Caroline had the same effect. Flanked by guitar wizard Rich Brotherton (Robert Earl Keen's sideman) and the duo of Billy and Brenn Bright on mandoline and stand-up bass, she captured my heart in the first moment I heard her. I knew she had an upper level degree from the University of Mississippi (Center for the Study of Southern Life), and I knew she works in Austin for the Texas Folklife Resources.  Knowing how to do something is not the same as doing it well. Caroline Herring knows a lot about music AND she creates beautiful music. What a combination. I loved her rendition of "Warfaring Stranger," and I loved her song "Wise Woman."

I also saw the premier showing of "……… from El Paso," the Kinky Friedman documentary by Simone de Fries. Even if I do know Kinky, I laughed out loud throughout the film. Most wonderful stuff, both funny and a bit poignant from time to time. Dylan Ferrarro, Kinky's road manager during the music heyday, gave several mini-lectures from his classroom in Center Point. I loved seeing the film with Dylan and Sage, Copper Love (an artist who's known Kinky forever), Max Swofford (who talked of editing Kinky in the film) and a theatre full of fans. I really want to own this film, so I hope a video project will follow. Our own Sandy Wolfmueller showed us around Pampell's in this film, Kinky's hometown headquarters.

I did interview Kinky once in that now infamous green trailer. I loved following the camera through the now-deteriorating location as Kinky mused on the possibility of inhabiting the trailer once more.

Don't forget Ruthie Foster, Cyd Cassone and Karen Wells on Wednesday, March 27, 7-9 p.m. at the Cailloux Center on the Schreiner University campus. Help us celebrate Women's History Month. Put April 18 on your calendar. Sandra Cisneros will make her first appearance in Kerrville, reading from her latest novel, Caramelo.

Free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

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