Antone's Austin, TX - February 1, 2003 ~ Gregg [Preface: This review took longer to write that I initially thought. It was important to me to somehow convey how the events of the day and the events of the show were interwoven. When I combined that with being busier than expected at the day job, I suddenly found it was Valentine’s Day and I hadn’t posted my review … That said, here’s what I saw.] I had no idea how therapeutic a quick trip to Austin would be when I set out on Saturday morning – the first of February. I must confess I didn’t even know that the space shuttle Columbia was scheduled to land that day. I left very early that Saturday … so early that, by 8:00 AM, I was more or less driving through Waco. I had moved out of reception range from all my Dallas radio stations just north of Waco and started picking up KLBJ-FM just south of town. I was only listening about 10 or 15 minutes when the DJ came on and reported what he knew at the time … My stomach sunk; I felt nauseated and tuned to AM news as quickly as I could. Over the next 1 ½ hours between South Waco and Austin I listened over and over again to what little the news outlets had at the time. When I arrived in Austin, I was starving to see the images the radio was describing while at the same time growing more and more numb. I had Tracy turn on the TV as soon as I walked in and we sat in silence. By the time I watched the first NASA news conference I had been listening for two hours. Like a sodden sponge, I was emotionally unable to absorb any more. In my mind and in my heart it was 1986 all over again. I decided the rest of the day would be news-free; I puttered around Austin, had dinner and got ready for the show.

South Austin Jug Band was the opening act; knowing the following they have developed in Austin already, I figured it was going to be a packed show. The sooner I could get to Antone’s for some musical salve, the better. Brandi, Sarah, Anne and I planned to meet at the front doors just before 9:00. I arrived a bit early, as I didn’t have the usual 4th Street parking issues. By 9:00, a line of other early birds had developed, so being marginally compulsive, I queued up as well. The ladies soon arrived and we spent the next hour or so catching up. We talked of vacations, gag birthday gifts, and numerous other things. I don’t know if it was conscious on their parts, but we actively avoided discussing the tragedy of the day… I needed a break and I suspect they did too. A sizeable crowd developed quickly – both bands have such loyal fans I suspect the early birds were equally split between RK and SAJB. I'd not seen SAJB before, so I was anxious to check out their bluegrass sound. Needless to say, I was impressed. With Warren Hood off studying music theory, Dennis Ludiker has stepped in to play fiddle. I was immediately tapping my toes and bobbing my head in time with the music. The word "fun" comes to mind when trying to describe their music. If I was having such a good time at Antone’s in February after what happened earlier, I can’t wait until I can see them again when I’m outside at a festival celebrating spring in Texas.

Before SAJB went on, Anne, Brandi, Sarah & I all noticed Tommy (the guitar tech extraordinaire) polishing up a beautiful dark green (almost black) Les Paul. We concluded that David had been bit by the new guitar bug again … little did we know. Before RK came on, I wanted to get another beer; while doing so, I learned the story behind the Les Paul. During the load-out at the Continental Club in Houston the night before, Willy’s “Screaming Girl” Hamer T-51 had been ripped off and the Les Paul was actually a loaner from Tommy himself. (As we all know, the Hamer didn’t really get ripped off but had been temporarily misplaced. It’s now back safe and sound with Willy.)

The sound of a Les Paul was different than the Hamer/Vox combo to which we’ve grown accustomed. To my ears it’s thicker and meatier ... chewier somehow. Nonetheless, it was good. Plus, everyone there that night can say they saw Willy Braun play a Les Paul at Antone’s. I wasn’t sure what to expect from RK regarding the day's tragedy. In the past, current events have come to be part of an RK show (witness: Willy's NYPD shirt after 9-11, or the surprise cover of "Here Comes the Sun" after George Harrison's death). Instead, they deftly gave us all a fantastic escape by choosing to blow us through the bar with energy. Antone’s brings out the “rock & roll” attitude from the band and tonight was no exception. Willy seemed to be having a particularly good time with the Les Paul – I caught him grinning like a Cheshire cat numerous times during the show. I also noticed Jimmy giving it his all - but more on him later.

Glancing at the set list, I anticipated a full show but nothing prepared me for 29 songs. To me, Antone’s is home of the Soprano’s walk-on, as it was the first place I had seen it done: tonight was no exception. “Baby’s Gone Blues” naturally followed - by its end, we were all hanging on for dear life. The new arrangement of “Desolation Angels” is growing on me. The more I hear that song, the more I am convinced it’s one of the most finely crafted songs I know. I can’t think of a more apt description than “more than the sum of its parts” – each member brings a sound that, when played with everyone else, creates a tidal wave of music and lyrics that engulf me every time. “I Saw It Comin’” returned to the set list and was warmly embraced. Willy and Cody wrote it with their dad Muzzie (and if that’s not enough Braun songwriting for you, I don’t what is). David brought out a Silvertone guitar with a beat-up headstock and gave us all a lesson on playing with a slide. There was more new stuff in the set too – “Vancouver”, “Set Me Free”, as well as “Let’s Just Fall” and “Everybody Looks Like You”. And since we've starting keeping score, mark down one for Willy as he defeated his lyrical nemesis "Tommy & Marla". As a bonus, we got "Subterranean Homesick Blues” and Willy nailed every line of that tongue twister as well.

Earlier in the evening, Anne and I laid the foundation for her involvement on the Desolation Angel site. (Looking back, it’s where reh and I cemented things as well … maybe it’s something about Antone’s.) We ended up standing together right in front of Cody and absorbed everything the band offered. During “Wild Horses”, Anne leaned over and whispered “David plays with such intelligence …” Of course she is right. David is a true craftsman with his guitar. There was a stronger sense of camaraderie in the air that night. I don’t know that it had anything to do with the Columbia disaster but I think maybe. Countless other writers better than myself have written about the triumph of the American spirit in the face of adversity so I won’t even go there … let’s just say there was greater love for your fellow American on display - a bit more appreciation of what he or she brings to our collective existence.

Mourning is such a personal experience; we’ve all heard of the 5 stages of grief and that "everyone grieves differently". Whether there are 5 stages or not, when I arrived at Antone’s I had accepted the events and needed what was next. What separates RK from the rest is their ability to fill that spot inside me – whatever it needs. There have been times where even I didn’t know what the need is but somehow, at the end of the night, it’s filled. In the music that night there was passion, there was longing, there was anger, there was loss and there was joy. I had heard all the songs before but something was different in the delivery. That night the joy came through … the Cheshire cat smile of Willy, the “drummer-face” of Jay’s when he gets lost in the music. All of it soothed me in a way I didn’t know I needed when I walked in.

Returning after getting shut out in the cold at Gruene two weeks before (figuratively and literally) was Jules. She joined Brandi, Sarah, Anne and me up at the front and took pictures with me. She and I both noticed: Jimmy seemed more active and involved on stage than we'd seen before. After the show, we were discussing this fact, and came to the conclusion that Jimmy had a new nickname – Gene Simmons (of KISS fame). Jimmy was ALL over the place… not only did he jam out with Willy every now and then but he came over and rocked the house with Jay, Cody and David as well. The hair was flying and the fingers were dancing over the frets of his bass... Jules and I made a pact that at the next show we’re going to stand at stage left instead and get a new up close appreciation for the lovin’ Jimmy shows that bass during a show. Jules had one last item on her agenda before we left for the evening: she wanted to talk to Kathleen, Cody’s girlfriend (be sure to check out her Texas Music News and Gossip column). Sensing that what she had to talk about was decidedly more "chicky" than not, Jules spared the boys in the band. Several weeks prior, Ty Pennington of Trading Spaces fame was at a home show in San Antonio. No-nonsense girl that she is, Jules took the opportunity to share her love of RK with Ty by giving him a couple of the boys' CDs. So, if you happen to watch Trading Spaces and hear Reckless Kelly, you’ll know where it came from.

It wasn’t really a night for meeting a bunch of new friends … the music took too much out of me. I did, however, get to meet the girls standing next to me - but they left before I could get their names. Ladies, if you’re out there, thanks for reading and maybe I’ll see you at another Antone’s show. Then again, with the imminent release of the new Reckless Kelly CD, who knows how much longer we’ll get to see the boys at a venue like Antone’s? My advice: get out to every show you can … I’ll see you there!

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all non-lyric text, © Copyright 2003 Desolation Angel