Sun, miles and music
Austin City Limits Festival. Work in the Pecan Street Festival, too.
From the top, it started with a Virgo, and her birthday was supposed to be the music. I had a toss up, either Hank III in Dallas, or the ACL thing here. I asked Bubba for advice because he always seems to know what music is best. I was a little worried about his response, some months back.
“Dude, like, you’ve seen Hank III what? Lots of times, right? Think about the stuff you’ll see at the ACL thing, more to write about. Better material.”
So that’s not exactly what he said, but it’s as close as I can recall. Worried me some that he is starting to think in terms of written expression like that. Besides, I think, he was also figuring on working at it. I’m not sure, but I do know that he didn’t work at it.
Saturday morning, me and that one Virgo girl rolled up from Shady Acres and spent about 20 minutes in line, exchanged tickets for wristbands, and we were good to go. Made the opening act, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, singing songs about Texas. That’s twice I’ve seen this act, this year, along the South Shore of the lake. River. Whatever.
Ran into drummer friend of mine, a Virgo as well, and I asked why he was listening to country music.
“Man, that’s all we play now. Besides, you can play country \\drunk\\.”
He was checking out Grupo Fantasma. We moved over and listening to Los Lobos, with some Eyes Adrift worked in as well. Then, it was off to the creek because I was seriously overheating, and a cool dunk in the water was just a good idea. Which it was. Then back down the road to catch some grub and tequila at Chuy’s. I don’t know why they didn’t sponsor the event, seems like a natural fit. Right there, restrooms a little more clean than the facilities on the site, and the food was better. Plus, Chuy’s has that magic for the Virgo mind: tequila.
String Cheese Incident was going to take not one, but two slots on the main stage, but from what I’ve seen, or heard, all second-hand, I’m not sure that I’m all that down with String Cheese. I had hoped to check them out, and as we wandered off, after missing the Derailers, but hearing a little sound Tribe Sector 9, David Garza, and that stunning Nickel Creek set, it was time to call it night.
On the way back to Shady Acres, we passed a new place, the old “Good Eats” location. Sushi was on the menu. Okay. Sushi made by an Anglo Texas Taurus guy, and while the Volcano roll wasn’t up to my standards, the sashimi platter was excellent. Either as cut bait or dinner, either way.
Burnt. Exhausted. Get up the next morning and do it all over. Actually it was worse, as I had to run my red-headed Capricorn to the airport first. I fetched up a some breakfast tacos, on the way back from the airport, fixed that Virgo some coffee, and we took off for 6th Street and the Pecan Street arts and craft collection of dust collectors.
One year, I found a very rare cane, for Pa Wetzel. This time, I couldn’t find the cane guy, but I did stumble upon Piper Sandal guy. Handmade in Texas. Seeing as how I was limping along a less than useful pair of Teva’s, now made in China, and falling apart in less than a year, I gured, for about a the same price, I could try these guys. While I was sitting there, I heard two customers talk about how old their sandals were, 12 & 15 years old. Pretty impressive. I slipped the new sandals on, and gave them the road test. For the rest of the day, no less.
That Virgo, because I’d paid for lunch or dinner, or something, offered to buy my lunch. I wound up with some roast corn. Rather good, but I think she came out way ahead on the deal.
From there, we took off for the ACL Festival again. As we got closer to the festival, the crowds got thicker. A nice gentleman in a lowrider chevy truck offered us a ride. I was sure it was my ponytail, thinking I was musician. That Virgo was sure it was a portion of her anatomy.
Thank to Ruben, we arrived with a few minutes to spare and secured a good spot in front of the Gourds’ stage. What an amazing group. Even better than I’d figured them to be. Live? Just amazing. Very talented group. What was so amusing was watching them exchange instruments. The fiddle player also played guitar and mandolin while the lead mandolin also played guitar and bass, and the lead guitar guy also played the squeeze box, and the bass player also doubled on a guitar. Vocals? Any one of three or four of the guys. Whew.
From there, it was Vallejo doing their version of “Mexican Radio” then some Jimmie Vaughn, then a dip in the creek and more libations at Chuy’s [plus some Hatch NM green chile tacos>, and back to the festival for Emmy Lou Harris, W.C. Clark, and the finale, the reunited Arc Angels.
From press reports and Bubba, I heard that there were long lines and ticket delays, but that’s not something I experienced at all. I only waited once or twice for a toilet, and never much of a line at all for beverages.
Amazing. Good music, hot days, cool nights.
