Last night, Fletcher Clark played the Starlight Theatre.
Fletcher Clark
There’s a lot of information packed in that sentence- let me unpack it for you. Fletcher is “olde Austin” royalty. Back in the 70’s he had a band called Balcones Fault which was, at the time, the most popular band in Austin.
They almost made it. Signed with the William Morris agency, moved to California, almost, but not quite, got the big record deal. After two years of that, Fletcher called it quits and headed back to Austin where he took over the Armadillo World Headquarters’ recording studio and record label. Continue reading “Fletcher Clark, Russell Clepper, and the ghost of Steve Fromholz”
International blues-rock singer, Elizabeth Lee, visited Terlingua for a couple of special acoustic shows. She’s a festival/concert performer with her band in Europe, and currently has a song on the Euro-pop charts.
Sunday night, she was joined by Trevor Hickle and myself at the High Sierra Bar and Grill. Monday, she and I played at the Starlight Theatre.
Hormones were carbonated, and Terlinguists were treated to some world-class blues rock.
Elizabeth Lee Me, Elizabeth, and Trevor Hickle Elizabeth Lee at the High Sierra
The Chili Appreciation Society of America’s Chili Cook-off in Terlingua, Texas just has to be seen to be believed.
Tits, Beer, and Chili is the rallying cry.
Thousands of people, RVs, tents, 4-wheelers, and trucks create a temporary city between Terlingua and Lajitas. During the day, it’s a dusty, hung-over parking lot with redneck zombies wandering around nursing a “hair of the dog” that bit them the night before.
Tonight will be a combination of Mad Max and a Fellini film.
Last Wednesday, The Fabulous Vortexans, a blues band I’m proud to play with, performed for an appreciative crowd. The scene was impressive then. Since then, thousands more chili-heads have made the trip.
Tonight will be the big party- Chili will be served and judged, there will be music, dancing, pole-dancing, breast painting, and a LOT of alcohol will be consumed. I’ll be safely playing the Boathouse in Terlingua with Trevor Hickle and Laird Considine… darn it. The missed photo opportunity…
I drove through the site today just to get a feel for it- here’s some pics.
My view of the Terlingua Green Scene this year was limited, although I did get to watch the parade.
Green Scene Parade, Terlingua 2014
There were demonstrations of sustainable lifestyle strategies, lots to eat, and interesting costumes. There was also a celebration of Mark Kneeskern at the Starlight – really, the whole town – art auctions, dancing, and hugging.
Meanwhile, I played about 8 hours of blues at the Boathouse. From 1:30 til 3:30, Trevor Hickle, Ted Arbogast and I did a song-swap, guitar army style. Later, Moses Martinez and I did our blues thing, Alex Whitmore sat in and did a few songs, and then Moses had to go to the Starlight to play with the Jim Keaveny Experience- but the Boathouse was packed.
So, Trevor Hickle and I played for another couple of hours. People danced. We toasted Glen and Mark.
According to a little brown girl who would know, the benefit/auction raised almost $7K for the community garden.
Trevor Hickle Terlingua Green Scene Parade Terlingua Green Scene Parade 2 Terlingua Green Scene Parade 3 Terlingua Green Scene Parade 4 Terlingua Green Scene Parade 5 Terlingua Green Scene Parade 6 Trevor and Ted Arbogast at the Boathouse in Terlingua – photo by Sharron Reed Me and Ted at the Boathouse – photo by Sharron Reed Before the dancing. Photo by Sharron Reed.
Ted Arbogast at the Boatyard, Jon Brooks at the Starlight Theatre, and Jim Keaveny’s CD release party at the High Sierra. Naw, there’s nothing going on in Terlingua… except great music and a party.
Tomorrow’s the “Green Scene.” Terlingua Ghost Town will be packed, off-the-grid and sustainable lifestyle demonstrations will occur, and I’ll be playing the Boathouse with Moses Martinez and friends.
Ted Arbogast at the Boat House Sharron Reed takes a pic of Jon Brooks Jim Keaveny + band rocked the High Sierra
Yesterday, Terlingua photographer Crystal Allbright held an opening featuring her photographs that were featured in the Big Bend National Park calendar. Go by Desert Sports and grab one of those calendars- they rock.
The parking lot at Desert Sports, which she runs with her husband, Mike, was packed with cars parked pretty much all over the desert.
Butch Morgan and Butch Hancock did a song swap at the Starlight Theatre during “Burger Night.”
It’s always a bit bizarre to hear Butch Hancock at a local venue. It shouldn’t be. He’s been a resident of Terlingua, off and on, for decades.
Butch also talked me into buying a new camera. Now, I’ve got to decide which one I want.
Butch Morgan was still in town- he came down for the “Terlingua Music Bash.”
Later, Jason Blum and Jenni Mansfield Peal sat in with Butch Morgan and did some songs. As I was leaving, John Hogan and Maria Moss were preparing to do a short set.
The Al Barlow Terlingua Music Bash was pretty much everywhere, all the time. From the porch to the Starlight Theatre, High Sierra, Boathouse, and on the road during the parade, there were poets with acoustic guitars and high-speed pickers.
Saturday, there was a parade. People in costumes piled in trucks, cars, vans and on motorcycles and drove from the High Sierra to the porch and back, honking their horns, yelling, and entertaining the crowd.
I played at The Boathouse Friday night with Moses Martinez. Trevor Hickle, Jason Blum, and Tim (bass) sat in. You could tell the room was full of pickers- lots of guys my age walking real slowly past my guitars, looking at the headstocks. I don’t have pictures of that one- haven’t figured out how to play, sing, and take pics at the same time. Yet.
Don’s done a great job with the remodeling there, and he’s very supportive of music and musicians. It’s great to have that venue back.
Friday and Saturday night, Los Pinche Gringos played at the Party Barn for a huge gathering of bikers. Saturday night, I was the “featured guest.” The Gringos are always a blast, and the crowd- after they got some beer in ’em- filled up the dance floor. I played a few blues tunes, and discovered that there were even some blues lovers in the crowd. Cool.
During the break, I took some pics- enjoy!
C7 playing on the porch – hula hoopers in the parking lot.
Having so many great pickers in one place created a swirling, colorful, magical “porch circle” last night.
Danny and Trevor Hickle, Patrick Smith, Jeff Haislip, Janna Lavin, Collie Ryan, and many more… as the sun set over the Chisos, the music whirled around the porch like an aural tornado.
Later, the music continued at the High Sierra, where Bo Porter and “Schindler’s List” played to a packed house.
a gorgeous orange Harley in the ghost town. Bo and Mandy (?). Claude Butch Morgan and Bo Porter Local legend, Danny Hickle, leading the circle on the porch in Terlingua Ghost Town. Danny They call ’em “Schindler’s List.” Trevor Hickle laying down a lead on the porch. Trevor and Bo. High Sierra.
The Terlingua Music Bash continued Wednesday night.
The open mic that, in previous years, was held at La Kiva moved to the High Sierra this year. Al Barlow hosted the show, Jeffro Greasewood ran sound and security, and the music was pretty amazing.
