Memorial service planned for jazz great Tony Campise

Jazz musician Tony Campise, 67, died Sunday morning at University Medical Center Brackenridge due to complications from falling and hitting his head last October. A day prior to his death, Campise suffered a brain hemorrhage.

According to Austin360.com, Campise was a Houston native, but settled in Austin in 1984 after several years on the road with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. He played five-nights-a-week on Sixth Street, and also played with legends like Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan.

A memorial service for Tony Campise will be held this Sunday, March 14, at 2:30 p.m. at Riverbend Church.

Riverbend is located at 4214 Capital Of Texas Hwy. N. (Loop 360), on the northwest corner of the intersection with Cedar Street.

Music will be provided by the Tony Campise Big Band with special guests and members of the Riverbend music program. Senior Pastor Dr. Dave Haney will lead the service.

Information about the memorial service provided by Dean Lofton.

by Courtney Sevener

Mark Linkous dead at 47

On March 6, 2010, Mark Linkous committed suicide by shooting himself in the heart outside of a friend's house in Knoxville. He was working on the follow-up to his band Sparklehorse's 2006 album "Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain" at the time of his death, according to the Associated Press.

After failed attempts at making hit records and finding mainstream success in the 1980s with the band the Dancing Hoods, Linkous finally found his niche under the name Sparklehorse in the 1995 record, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. Linkous remained the only consistent member throughout the band's history.

The band went on to release three more much-admired records including 1999's Good Morning Spider, 2001's It's a Wonderful Life, and 2006's Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain, as well as the Danger Mouse/David Lynch all-star project Dark Night of the Soul and the Fennesz collaboration In the Fishtank. Linkous also worked with PJ Harvey, Daniel Johnston, Tom Waits, and many others, according to Pitchfork Media.
 
Robin Hilton of NPR described Linkous and Vic Chesnutt, who also committed suicide in December 2009, as "flawed heroes".

"Neither Vic Chesnutt nor Mark Linkous were terribly successful commercially. They never drew legions of screaming fans, won a Grammy or had a gold record. But both could reach into the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to hear their music and leave them with the belief that they were common friends," Hilton wrote in his blog post for NPR Music.

by Courtney Sevener

Kids Rock: Austin Hosts First "The Kids Are Alright Festival"

The Kids Are Alright Fest, a music, skating and gaming festival celebrating the talent of local youth, hits the Austin streets this summer. The locally-funded event provides under-age musicians, skaters and gamers with instruction and opportunities to improve their craft. Its inaugural fest goes on June 4th and 5th, 2010 in Austin. Venues include the Mexican American Culture Center hosting educational panel sessions and the Art Post Complex on East Cesar Chavez Street for the music festival proper.

The festival is divided into three sections – music, game and skate – and professionals from all industries are on hand to mentor the under-21s in attendance at educational panels. Everyone is welcome to attend, as the panel sessions are free. The Kids Are Alright (TKAA) is the brainchild of noted Austin musician, SXSW Assistant Production Manager and Band Aid School of Music founder James Mays, who says “The ‘Underage’ music scene is the fastest growing part of the music business and Austin is well on its way to being the flagship of this scene in the US.”

Mays continues, “I think we are very lucky, since Austin has an affinity for great music, and there are sponsors like Randy Kunik who understand supporting young talent is good business. To me, it’s an honor to help our next generation of artist evolve and emerge.”

The schedule calls for the panels on the 4th and the music festival on the 5th. An after party is also scheduled and the festival plans to donate a portion of net proceeds to local and global charities.

Organizers plan to make the festival an annual event.

LAST NOTE: There’s some good news for fans of James Mays’ scrappy new-wave alt-rock band, Mrandmrsmays. Kate Kind, AKA Kate Mays, the band’s co-frontwoman (and James’ wife) recently recovered from a long slog of bad health and is ready to return to music. Hopefully we’ll be hearing something from the group in the coming months.

more: thekidsarealrightfest.com  and on MySpace

by Jack Frink

Terrorbird Media / Force Field PR 3rd Annual SXSW Day Party

Line up & set times have just been posted for another top party pick for SXSW.

The Terrorbird Media / Force Field PR 3rd Annual SXSW Day Party is on Wednesday, March 17th at Red 7, located at 611 East 7th and Red River. There are two stages and this show is free & open to the public, all ages, and there are no wristbands or badges required.

Check out who's playing and when:

INDOOR STAGE
12:00 - 12:15 The Splinters (Double Negative)
12:30 - 12:55 Ernest Gonzales (Friends of Friends)
01:15 - 01:45 Stricken City (Puregroove)
02:05 - 02:35 The Fresh and Onlys (In the Red)
02:55 - 03:25 Oh No Ono (Friendly Fire)
03:40 - 04:10 Matias Aguayo (Kompakt)
04:25 - 04:55 Toro Y Moi (Carpark)
05:15 - 05:45 A Sunny Day in Glasgow (Mis Ojos Discos)

OUTDOOR STAGE
12:00 - 12:25 Inlets (twosyllable)
12:45 - 01:10 Beach Fossils (Captured Tracks)
01:25 - 01:50 Frankie Rose and The Outs (Slumberland)
02:10 - 02:40 Choir of Young Believers (Ghostly International)
03:00 - 03:30 Neon Indian (Lefse)
03:50 - 04:20 Those Darlins (Oh Wow Dang)
04:40 - 05:10 Real Estate (Woodsist)
05:30 - 06:00 The Rural Alberta Advantage (Saddle Creek)

It's suggested that you arrive early because for those 21+ there will be free beer courtesy of Linden St. Brewery from 12PM - 2PM, and gift bags for first 100 attendees.

More info: Facebook event & Terrorbird Media & Follow AustinME on Twitter!

by Courtney Sevener

First of many free shows to catch this SXSW

SXSW can be overwhelming.

With so many places to be, bands to see, and beers to drink, it can be nearly impossible to keep track of it all. That's why we're keeping you updated on all of the best parties and shows that are going down...for free.

First on your list should definitely be the Stereogum Range Life 2010 official SXSW party with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie. It's going down on Saturday, March 20, from 1PM-5PM at the Parish on N. 6th St. The lineup also includes: Wye Oak, and The Morning Benders.

This is a 21+ RSVP only party. Details on how to RSVP have not surfaced yet, but the Stereogum Web site recommends that you follow them on Twitter for all the updates.

More info: Stereogum & Follow AustinME on Twitter!


by Courtney Sevener
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Cactus Cafe Rally Friday

Superhouse - "TECHyes"

Tony Campise Birthday Bash Fundraiser - 2/21/10

A who's who of Austin musicians line up Sunday, February 21, at 7:00 p.m. at Antone's for the Tony Campise Big Band Birthday Bash. Admission is by donation at the door. Tony Campise is a renowned Austin jazz musician who was injured in an accident in October of 2009. He suffered major brain damage, but has shown marvelous recovery well beyond the doctor's expectations. He has moved to Querencia, a skilled nursing home here in Austin.
 
The line-up includes: Monster Big Band, Baker's Dozen, James Polk Sextet, John Mills Times Ten, Butch Miles Jazz Express, Tony Campise Big Band; and guest vocalists: Ray Benson, Kat Edmonson, Rick Trevino, Mandy Lauderdale and Mr. Fabulous.

More at Tony Campise Friends FB page

Crazy Development

Austin's Stephen Bruton (left) and T Bone Burnett on set of "Crazy Heart." Bruton, who helped write the film's music, died last year, and now his will is being contested.

For all of the on-screen drama that led “Crazy Heart” to three Academy Award nominations, an equally poignant tale is unfolding behind the scenes of the film in a battle over the estate of the songwriter Stephen Bruton, who co-produced the “Crazy Heart” soundtrack and tutored Jeff Bridges on guitar for his Oscar-nominated role as an aging country singer seeking love and redemption.

Read more in the New York Times article

Douglas Kent - "The Way I Am"

Douglas Kent
The Way I Am (Roofbeam Records)
               
Douglas Kent’s debut album holds a sharp contrast to the live demeanor he’s honed over several years playing the Texas country ring. Whereas a typical show from Douglas Kent and the Homewreckers is a sweaty, gritty affair, The Way I Am presents a cleaner, more concise version of the same songs. Kent sounds comfortable with professional recording techniques, but fans will miss the beer-and-heartache vibe that has become synonymous with his brand of country and western.

Arrangement-wise, Kent offers little outside of the expected Country and Western sound. There’s a rhythm section that booms and shuffles courtesy of drummer Mark Henne and bassist Morgan Patrick Thompson. Twangy guitars, chirpy lap steels and frolicking fiddles (provided by the exuberant Geoff Queen and Shawn Dean), back Kent’s subtly drawling leading man vocals. Lyrically, Kent’s characters are often defeated and frustrated, asking self-pitying questions like “Why’s the world picking on me?” and “Where did all the good times go?”

If this is the way he is, Kent comes off as a bit of a sad sack. What counteracts the sob stories are Kent’s enthusiasm and encyclopedic knowledge of the country songbook. Many of the 12 self-penned originals have mellifluous melodies, and the music ranges from waltzing duets (“Where Did All the Good Times Go,” with guest vocalist Brennen Leigh) to spunky dance-hall rockers (“Soriano’s Girl”).

“Stillhouse” opens the album with a spirited tale of old-time bootleggin’. Other notable tracks on Side A are the desperation-of-a-dream “Blood on the Strings” and resonant, regretful “Magnolia Morning,” which tugs the heartstrings even with its awkward finale.

However, the album’s second side betrays Kent’s limitations as a songwriter. The first six songs establish his status as a purveyor of classic country techniques, but he doesn’t expand much beyond the lyrical palette of hard-luck, hard-drinkin’ tales of lost love and old wounds. A shout-out to Austin in “Here at Home” doesn’t change the fact that it expresses the same sentiments as “Why’s the World Picking On Me?” The Way I Am sounds too smooth and spotless overall; the production undercuts the beaten-up bitterness that increasingly becomes the engine of the songs.

On the record’s best song, “Music’s Made a Fool Out of Me,” Douglas provides a lyric straight from his own life of living as a musician on the road. The rasping guitar and pensive melody create the hardest-hitting and most personal four minutes on The Way I Am. Songs like this could be a goldmine for Kent.

Unfortunately, his greatest triumph is followed by the album’s nadir. “The Way I Am” marries the LP’s clumsiest melody to its shallowest lyric. The album’s finale is the hokey, vulgar “You Can All Go to Hell,” which comes from the phrase every Texan has heard. It’s filler and ends the album on an abrupt note.

The Way I Am shows us the tools Douglas Kent is working with, but he remains a more interesting musician in person than on record. It is far from a bad start – several of the songs will likely remain with Kent for many performances to come – but it’s far from a breakthrough.

by Jack Frink

more: www.douglaskentmusic.com