“It’s My Turn to Keep the Wolves Away”
McD arrived back in Austin on Tuesday night, worn out from all those days sorting documents and pictures, and generally organizing her Mum’s house. It was a pretty day in San Francisco when she left, as shown in this shot out the plane window. I zoomed in on the second one to show how stunning the city is from the air. Much prettier than this shot as she came in to land in Dallas:
The one hour change window in Dallas was shortened as the plane sat on the tarmac waiting for a gate – such a huge airport and it’s not uncommon 
to wait a while for a gate. I always wonder why they can’t tell that flights are arriving to the minute and plan ahead on gates – I’m sure it’s much more complex than it seems. Anyway, Diana was one of the last to make the plane, and a passenger in the first bulkhead row was putting his bag up for takeoff. “Oh, excuse me”, he said to Diana, and as she got a look at him, realized it was Bill Murray. I wonder what he’s doing in Austin this week. I’m sure I would enjoy being a part of whatever it is.
We received this picture of the storage unit leaving ‘the hill” from Adamo. That unit has been there for more than 10 years, and it was a huge accomplishment for the kids to get it emptied out and off the hill.
On Wednesday I asked Diana if she would like to go out to see Kevin Galloway performing at the Continental Gallery (the living room sized venue above the famous Continental Club). We were both tired and non-committal and settled in to catch up on episodes of the Bachelor that we had missed while being separated for 10 days. Just before 8pm, I decided that we should get out and enjoy some live music. You might remember that the last (and only) time we saw Galloway was at Geraldine’s in the Van Zandt hotel with noisy, disrespectful people in front of us. I was hoping this show would be different.
As we stood in line out front, we learned that this would be Galloway’s last show before moving from Austin. While disappointed with that news, we were treated to an excellent show. A friends and family send off, bringing out the very best in the musical performances and storytelling. We sat at a table with Ace and Eddie. Ace, “not wanting to toot his own horn too much”, informed us that he played harmonica on Galloway’s latest album and particularly “The Change”. I think he does a lovely job and really brings something to the song. Eddie is in construction and responsible for so many of those new condo developments that are taking over the heart and history of Austin.
The Uncle Lucius classic “Keep the Wolves Away” had most of the audience in tears. Kevin introduced it as one of two true stories that he would perform. It’s about a refinery accident that disabled his father many years ago, and the line “Now It’s My Turn to Keep the Wolves Away” is the one that gets you.
Here are a couple of long storytelling introductions to “Taking in the Views” and “Johnny Tibodeaux”. We really enjoy it when artists share something about their songs:
Here’s a final highlight from the show, a cover Kris Kristofferson’s “Loving Her Was Easier”, featuring a lovely couple in their eighties dancing. We had seen them dancing before at the Saxon Pub, the gentleman taller than me and hunched over, but still moving so gracefully.
Diana couldn’t help but tell them how much she enjoyed seeing them get up to dance. The venue, company, storytelling and excellent musicianship combined to make this one of our favourite shows in a very long time. Another classic and unexpected Austin evening.
I enjoyed a work dinner at Peche, followed by a stop at Dumont’s Down Low, with a new work colleague on Thursday night. I saved half of my delicious rabbit and mushroom barley risotto to share with Diana, but, as is typical, left it sitting at Dumont’s. Sorry Diana.
Saturday was one of those fun days that just unfolds as it goes – I love those days. A work colleague, Roy, who is in transition from Australia to Miami, was spending the weekend in Austin and so we invited him to join us for Saturday afternoon at the Continental Club. John X Reed, from Amarillo, TX, was playing the 3pm show, with an excellent mix of old school country music. The dancers were very good, and provided very good entertainment.
I really enjoyed seeing the group, all in their late sixties or seventies, crank out such an excellent set of songs. Classic old school Texas music.
When we’d had our fill of old school country, the patio at the San Jose hotel across the street beckoned. We hung out there for a bit and then enjoyed a delicious dinner back across the street at Boticelli’s. Diana disappeared for a bit, only to be found in deep conversation with Andrew Boticelli, owner of the place, and his best friend (a jazz musician). She knows how to get on the inside track. The Italian food at this place is great, from the Boticelli bread to my main course of perfectly cooked scallops on a bed of truffle risotto.
While Diana went missing, Roy suggested attending the Kool and the Gang concert at Austin City Limits. Why not? A classic disco era band should be a nice treat for McD. We grabbed an Uber and headed over. No D, you can’t take your left over Boticelli’s into the concert!
We were up on the balcony, but enjoyed the flashback to our youth:
That was a really fun and impromptu experience.
Oh, I almost “forgot” to mention that my brain wasn’t working well in the Crossword competition on Saturday afternoon, with McD finishing more than 3 minutes faster than me.
We had a fancy date on Sunday, brunch at the Odd Duck. Such a creative and unpretentious restaurant that never disappoints. We ordered more than we could hope to eat, with the intention of having leftovers for supper. The smoked fish pimento crackers and goat and chorizo corn dog with egg and mustard emulsion were excellent starters.
We followed that deliciousness with an excellent slow braised lamb, mushroom, and fried egg on toast – wow!
The presentation and originality of flavours in the dishes is amazing. We finished up with a frito pie chilli dish, which is mostly waiting in the fridge for dinner.
Will enjoyed a visit to Disneyland in southern California. Apparently Christine has owned those ears for over 20 years.
My book this week was “The Cracked Spine” by Paige Shelton. Advertised as “a Sottish bookshop mystery”, this book had set my expectations set high. The story starts with an advert for help in a bookshop, that is answered by a museum curator from Kansas:
“A bold adventurer who wants to travel the world from a comfortable and safe spot behind a desk that has seen the likes of kings and queens, paupers and princes. A humble book and rare manuscript shop seeks a keenly intelligent investigator to assist us in our search for things thought lost, and in our quest to return lost items to their rightful owners.”
This is a murder mystery set in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, a location where I attended University for several years. I found this to be a twee rendition of that location and Scotland in general, clearly written by somebody who hadn’t spent more than a few days on location. The mystery was a fast page turner, completed in less than two days. As much as a I groaned at the stereotypical Scottish accents and descriptions, I kept on reading to see if my analysis of the murder was accurate – not even close, with a typically disappointing and convoluted conclusion.
I’m still hearing that excellent Kevin Galloway concert in my head and recommend this Uncle Lucius album very much! A new Nathaniel Rateliff album is finally released. As much as I love him with his band, this is excellent music from start to finish.
A supergroup, Golden Smog, came across my radar this week, consisting of members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, and the Jayhawks (many of my favourites) they have a lot of promise. What do you think?
If you’re like me, you think it’s fine, but like all supergroups, just a bit less than anticipated.
Here’s one from the late, great Neal Casal, who played on albums by Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams, and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. An equally good songwriter and guitarist:
And finally, an artist I listened to a lot in University, Warren Zevon, with a typically quirky song: