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Rained out at the Kemah Jazz Festival
30/09/2007
The story of my day at the Kemah Jazz Festival in four photos:
Sara Cress : ChronicleJoel Fulghum and Monstrosity perform some lively, modern tunes.
Sara Cress : ChroniclePianist Pamela York is an elegant change of pace.
Sara Cress : ChronicleHey, cool, people are watching from their Boardwalk Inn balconies. Oh. Uh-oh. Looks like it might start raining, huh?
Sara Cress : ChronicleFinally, the festival is tucked away for the rainstorm. A couple of die-hards aren't ready to pack it in.
The Kemah Jazz Festival was a happy, sweaty affair for those few dozen who were gathered in the plaza early in the day. I arrived in time to hear the bouncy, upbeat sounds of Joel Fulghum and Monstrosity. This was a welcome respite from Bryan Adams' Summer of '69, which followed me on ground-level speakers as I tried to walk faster to get away. But you can't get away. Is the idea to disorient you with loud pop music so that you'll be so annoyed by the outdoors that you'll have to go into one of the restaurants or shops and spend money?
So, there you go: Monstrosity is far better than Bryan Adams.
The scene was pleasant, if a little too sweaty for comfort. Hardcore local-jazz fans sat near the stage in their collapsible chairs as children squealed and splashed in the water-jet feature only a few feet away. Curious onlookers strolled by with foot-long beakers of beer, but only a few stopped.
Pamela York's elegant jazz piano was also a relief after some too-loud recorded music to distract the audience from the stage rearrangement. She also proved to be an engaging vocalist on Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
Rain clouds threatening, we headed for lunch, hoping that it would blow over by the time we were done eating. Sadly, the rain was in it for the long haul and was coming down significantly after our silly lunch at the Aquarium. I snapped one final picture of the two die-hards waiting for the music to return and got back on the road toward civilization.
The festival continues Sunday, with less rain.
Sara's weekend picks
28/09/2007
Friday (Sept. 28):
• The Jonx opens for Do Make Say Think. From the Jonx's Danny Mee, who always sends out entertaining missives:
This Friday, your favorite band (The Jonx) will be opening for your second-favorite band: Do Make Say Think. Started way way back in 1996, and named after four very good things to do, Do Make Say Think are one of the premier bands of the second (after Slint and Tortoise) era of post-rock.
Would that be post-post-rock? God I hope not.
Do Make Say Think also share some members with Broken Social Scene. But then, who doesn't? That band does have like 80 freaking people in it.
Details: 8 p.m. $11. Engine Room, 1515 Pease.
• I think I've said quite enough about the Kemah Jazz Festival, but one last thing: go. So what if it's not perfect? It's a good, low-pressure introduction to Houston's jazz community. Plus, I hear there's a roller coaster there now. Wee!
Details: Friday-Sunday. Free. Kemah Boardwalk.
• Lanky's pop songwriter moves from Thursday night to Friday night at Rudyard's. Permanently? Not sure about that, but if you'd like it to be a permanent move, you'd better show up to support the acoustic pop stylings of Tody Castillo and Southern Backtones' Hank Schyma.
Details: 10 p.m. $6. Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh.
• Indie-pop band the Western Civilization embarks on an eastern-U.S. tour (dates here) next week. They could surely use some pocket money, so stop by the show, and buy a copy of the band's really lovable CD, Letters of Resignation (not convinced? Podcast with clips of the disc here.) With Hollywood Black (what the hey, here's a podcast for them, too), Elbows as Weapons (Nashville) and Papermoons.
Details: 10 p.m. $7. Walter's on Washington, 4215 Washington Ave. 713-862-2513.
Saturday (Sept. 29):
• If you're a youngster who fell in love with the Blue Threads last week, you finally have the opportunity to check the band out live at something called Atomic Dog Day at the Orange Show. It's an information session "for schools, youth groups or families interested in being involved with the Art Car Parade." Free snacks from Amy's Ice Cream, Freebird's and more.
Details: 1-4 p.m. The Orange Show, 2402 Munger. 713-926-6368.
• Enjoyable pop-rockers the Midnight Pilots (podcast!) share a bill with suburban sports-bar regulars Infinity's Twin and the Gold Sounds
Details: 10 p.m. $5. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd. 281-335-0002.
• Well, well. The Proletariat celebrates five years this weekend. Congratulations, poodles. Smooches. Performances by: Wicked Poseur, Paris Falls, You(genious) and Spain Colored Orange.
Details: Doors open at 8 p.m., but what self-respecting scenester would arrive before 10 p.m.? $5. The Proletariat, 903 Richmond.
Joey's weekend picks
27/09/2007
Friday (Sept. 28):
• Clint Black doesn't have a new record out until February, but single The Strong One is already on the radio. The Houston boy brings his "Up Close and Personal" tour to Galveston. Laura Bryna, burgeoning country and fashion diva, opens the show.
Maybe Black's wife, sometime-singer and so-so actress Lisa Hartman, will show up to duet.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $39-$98. The Grand, 2020 Postoffice, Galveston. 800-821-1894.
• The Houston Grand Taiko Festival combines high-energy movements and thundering percussion from the Houston-based Kaminari Taiko. The local troupe was founded in 1996 by Jay Mochizuki.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Free. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr. 713-533-3285.
Saturday (Sep. 29):
• Mean Gene Kelton & the Diehards performing at a Harley store showcasing its new choppers. Talk about playing to your audience. It's such a perfect pairing, it almost makes me weep.
Don't forget to check out my podcast interview with Kelton. And yes, he wore shades.
Details: 11 a.m. San Jacinto Harley, 3636 E. Sam Houston Parkway S. 281-991-4275
• The Low Budget Thrillers caught my eye via colorful mass emails, which feature hand-drawn art that looks like the work of a grade-schooler. But the group is also fun to listen to, a loose hybrid of Americana and surf-rock. New record Exile on Buffalo Speedway is out soon. Also with the Dollyrockers and Rehabiliteens.
Details: 10 p.m. $8. Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh. 713-521-0521.
• Another slam-packed weekend of Java music: Glass Intrepid, Another Day, the Burning Ground, Great American Actors and Foy Martin.
Details: 7 p.m. JavaJazz, 2502 FM 1960 E. 832-202-2287.
• The Houston Heavy Hitters Club mashed a mess of musicians from more than 15 local bands into five supergroups. Each was given less than a day to write and record two original songs. The resulting disc is unveiled this weekend. The behind-the-scenes drama, unfortunately, is not included on a bonus DVD.
Details: 8 p.m. $10. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak. 713-862-3838.
Sunday (Sept. 30):
• Folk favorite Willie Atkinson hosts a benefit concert for an ailing Mark Zeus, who needs a double hip replacement and will be unable to perform for 6-8 weeks.
I'll let Atkinson convince you to come on down:
(Mark Zeus) has long been a champion of the local music scene, evidenced by the 25 acts scheduled to perform. Houston musicians are generous people, but we need an audience to make this work. If you are not already committed to another event, this would be a great opportunity for you to hear some great talents that you have perhaps not had the chance to experience yet. We have an embarrassment of riches in this town.
On the impressively large bill: Larry Cooper, Selia Qynn, Ray Younkin, Hank Woji, Robert Frith, Ken Gaines with Wayne Wilkerson, Kim Carson, Shake Russell and Romeo Dogs.
Zeus is one of the city's friendliest, hardest-working musicians. Here's wishing him a safe, speedy recovery.
Details: 4 p.m.-midnight. Cosmos Cafe, 69 Heights Blvd. 713-802-2144.
Kemah Jazz Festival and some complaints
27/09/2007
It's time once again for the Kemah Jazz Festival!
What? You're not excited about the Kemah Jazz Festival?
Just like Houston's jazz scene, I feel this festival is rather poorly marketed. Here you've got some fine jazz players performing at a pleasant location (you like Tilman Fertitta, right?), at a decent time of year (would be a "nice" time of year if we'd have a COLD FRONT ALREADY. Geez. Get on that, SciGuy.) but no one seems able to build up excitement about the three-day event. Even the forums at jazzhouston.com are fairly mum on the subject of the festival. You'd think there would be an extended event listing with lots of information. Here's what you get instead.
So I have some ideas.
Podcast: Mean Gene Kelton
27/09/2007
I fully expected this week's podcast subject, Mean Gene Kelton, to show up for the interview on a fully tricked-out Harley Davidson. I was disappointed, then, when he told me he arrived by truck.
The bluesy, biker-bar hero did, however, show up wearing shades -- and in black leather. It was as if he'd popped off the cover of new disc Going Back to Memphis: A Biker Band Tribute to Elvis.
Listen to the podcast (click to download or use the player to the right) to find out how Stevie Ray Vaughan "had a major part" in facilitating Kelton covering the King. And why behind every good man, there's an "even meaner" woman.
Kelton talks in detail about his new disc, which was recorded at the famous Sun Studions in Memphis under very specific conditions. He's also excited by the project's title track and sole original tune, which originated more than two decades ago.
Details: 11 a.m. Saturday. San Jacinto Harley, 3636 E. Sam Houston Parkway S. 281-991-4275.
