Texas And Music

Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Carole

The fifth Sunday of any month that has one, you’ll find us at Artz enjoying the food and the Western swing sounds of The Knights of Texas Swing featuring Paul Schlessinger, Jimmy Grabowske, Ray Tessmer, Sherman Lindsay, and Kim Cochran. We’re talking fiddles, pedal steel, guitars, an easy drum beat, and great vocals. Oh, yeah, and lots of fun!!

: Jim Grabowske, Sherman Lindsay, Ray Tesmer, and Paul Schlesinger
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Jim Grabowske, Sherman Lindsay, Ray Tesmer, and Paul Schlesinger
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Paul Schlesinger
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Jim, and Sherman
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Gentleman Jim G
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: So much fun
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Paul and Ray
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Jim always finds something to make the audience smile
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Ray and Paul
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Paul
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

: Kim Cochran
Knights of Texas Swing @ Artz Ribhouse (05/29/2011)

Posted in Artz Ribhouse, Knights of Texas Swing | Tagged Jimmy Grabowske, Kim Cochran, Paul Schlesinger, Ray Tesmer, Sherman Lindsay | Leave a comment

Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Carole

It’s always so much fun when Sam and the guys play and tonight was no exception. So cool to see our friend Roy Glaze filling in for Alan on Steel. Danny Gomez gave Wes a break on bass, and Ken Simpson joined in giving Sam a break. You’re never sure who will show up when Sam and the guys take to the stage!

: Sam & Olin
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: Almost the whole band. They were so spread out, we couldn't get Roy in the frame.
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: Okay, got Roy in this shot and lost Wesley on the other end. :)
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: So good to see Roy! We don't get to hear him often enough!
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: Jerry......keepin' the beat like always
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: Olin with Danny
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: Danny gave Wesley a little break
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: Of course, we enjoyed Ken, too. :)
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

: Roy, Ken, and Jerry
Sam Bentley @ The Stardust (05/27/2011)

Posted in Sam Bentley, Stardust Club | Tagged Danny Gomez, Jerry Sharp, Ken Simpson, Olin Melton, Roy Glaze, Sam Bentley, Wes Downey | Leave a comment

Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Carole

They say there is only one band in Austin and everyone plays in it…..just not all at the same time. :) Tonight was a perfect example. We’d seen Jim as a solo artist and with other bands, Gil with Bootstrap. Kelly with Bootstrap also and with Second Hand Rose. Lew with at least one other band. And, our dear friend Charlie with more bands than we can list!! Yep…..one band in town.

: Kelly
Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jim & Charlie
Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Lew and Gil
Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: The whole band :)
Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

: Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers @ Giddy Ups (05/21/2011)

Posted in Giddy Ups, Jimmy & The Lunar Rollers | Tagged Charlie Irwin, Gil de Santos, Jim Wyly, Kelly Wilkerson, Lew Mathews | Leave a comment

Work, Forgetfulness, Weather, & Music

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Carole

What a week!! So much great music in town and no way to see it all. Wednesday, The Sunset Valley Boys played The Broken Spoke which is always a fun time. Didn’t get any pictures because we didn’t have the camera with us. Work lasted a little too late so went straight to venue instead of home first. But, “da boys” were great and we even managed a few dances around the pool table!!

Thursday night, Jim Stringer and The AM Band were at Giddy Ups. Getting ready to go, set the camera and phone on the counter next to each other. Got to the club….had the phone…..camera still on the counter. Did manage to get a couple of pics with the phone…..not great quality, but they’re something.

Then, tonight! Billy Garza has been in our want-to-see-soon list for a while now. Tonight was our chance at Hills Cafe. Arriving late, we found a table, placed our order, and grabbed the camera to get a picture of everyone on stage. Dang it!! The camera’s storage card was still in the laptop at home!! Couldn’t save even one picture. So, sat back down to enjoy the music and the band went on break! They deserved it….we were late….they’d been working! Then the clouds started to roll, wind started to blow, and the temp noticeably dropped. We were sure the rain would go around us….after all, it’s been doing just that all spring! We were wrong! As the band went back on stage, the skies opened, we grabbed our food and headed for cover. All the tables under cover were full (some people are smarter than we are!) so we got a to-go box for the food, paid our bill, and headed home.

Tomorrow we’re going to Hills again to see Fond Kiser y Los Kickers. Hopefully, there won’t be any rain and we’ll remember both the camera and the storage card. At least we wont be late because of work! After that, we’re going see Jimmy & the Lunar Rollers at Giddy Ups….inside and dry even if it rains!!

: Jim Stringer, taking the music to the people.
Jim Stringer @ Giddy Ups (05/19/2011)

: Jim and James did some great pedal steel/guitar harmonies
Jim Stringer @ Giddy Ups (05/19/2011)

: Billy Garza @ Hills Cafe (05/20/2011)

Posted in Billy Garza, Giddy Ups, Hill's Cafe, Jim Stringer & AM Band, Sunset Valley Boys, The Broken Spoke | Leave a comment

Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Carole

Usually, the third Sunday of the month, you’ll find Bert Rivera and friends holding forth on the pedal steel at Artz Ribhouse. This Sunday, though, Bert had family obligations so he called on our friend Jim Grabowske to set in for him. We love Bert, but sure were happy to see Jim on stage.

If you don’t know Jim, check out the article in the Austin Chronicle written by Margaret Moser (Hank, Harry, and Jesse James) or our little blurb and pictures in the archive (Texas and Music – Jim Grabowske). Even better, if you don’t know him, make the effort to meet him. He’s a true talent, a Southern gentleman and great friend.

Don’t mean to slight the others on stage with Jim. Talk about talent!! Ray Tesmer on lead guitar, Howard Kalish on fiddle, Dodd Meredith on drums, and Brent Wilson on stand up bass. Besides great musicians, all of them are excellent vocalists.

Be sure to check out the video below of one of Jim’s favorites, “Rose Room”. (If it doesn’t appear below, just refresh the page. Been a little slow loading tonight.)

: Jim discussing how to play "something" with Ray
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: A little bit of what is affectionately known as an "Austin Rehearsal".
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Jim G & Ray Tesmer
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: And the band is ready! :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Ray Tesmer
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Brent Wilson
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Howard Kalish on fiddle. With the window behind him and Brent, a lot of pictures didn't turn out.....til later that is. :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Everyone Playing :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Howard and Brent
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Jim always seems to be concentrating so hard. :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Howard's pretty masterful on that fiddle. :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Dodd Meredith......vocalist and announcer :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Hard to get unique angles on the band when they're all lined up in a row. :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Ray
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Brent
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: The "stage" is so small that Howard had to sing sideways to get to the mic
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Dodd's always hiding behind the drums and the mics :)
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

: Jim Grabowske or......as we've been known to call him....."The Master"
Jim Grabowske @ Artz Ribhouse (05/15/2011)

Posted in Artz Ribhouse, Jim Grabowske, Jim Grabowske Video | Tagged Brent Wilson, Dodd Meridith, Howard Kalish, Jimmy Grabowske, Ray Tesmer | 2 Comments

John Casner @ Giddy Ups (05/06/2011)

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Carole

What a day! Voted for City Council, ran errands, already saw two bands (missed one) and now at Giddy Ups to see John Casner. It’s always special when John and the guys take to the stage. Tonight is extra special because James Lutz, the most laid back excellent guitar player we know, joined the band with his Telecaster laying down some pretty awesome licks. Don’t get us wrong, John, J.C. and Woz, were doing some pretty awesome playing of their own. Throw in some guests and fun ensued! :)