More Austin with Friends...

(photo Sharyl Holtzman)

The panel on Paul Williams and Crawdaddy, went great and it was Wednesday at noon and my band show was that night, so Thursday was a sorta day off. Cellist Renata Bratt and I met up with Alejandro Escovedo and the Lou Reed Tribute All Star Band at the Gibson Guitar Showroom and ran through our song, Femme Fatale.  It was cool seeing my pal Lenny Kaye, who was playing in the band, in this other context; outside of New York and outside of the long arm of the Patti Smith world. 

(photo John Doe)

That night, after rehearsal we went into South Austin to catch a few bands and ran into friends having dinner; John Doe and Chrissy and Cindy Wasserman and Patrick Dennis. We had planned to see X after our gig Wednesday night but our ring-leader, Paula Luber (and the van), decided to lay low at the hotel after load out. So instead of going to the Mohawk we had dinner on 6th and mosied around Stubbs never making it over to the X show. Good thing. We would have been in the line of people that were plowed into by a random drunk guy. Very tragic scene. Fortunately we were too tired after our own gig to make it over.

(photo Todd V Wolfson)

The night of the Lou Reed Tribute show at the Paramount Theater there were about 10 amazing photographers running around with cameras. Todd Wolfson and Richard Kerris came back to the "women's locker room" backstage and picked up a few shots of us before the whole thing began. 

(photo by Louise Goffin)

This one was taken right before I went up and played Femme Fatale, waiting my turn as Cheetah Chrome plays his tune. Louise Goffin, one great songwriter from a family of great songwriters, snapped this one. 

(Todd V Wolfson)

Me and Louise backstage pre show. With Renata's cello case.

(Todd V Wolfson)

Alejandro checks up on us women folk. With Rosie Flores and her manager, me in the back, Louise Goffin, Roggie Baer, Paula Luber, and Renata Bratt

(photo Todd V Wolfson)

Suzanne Vega sang Walk on the Wild Side with Alejandro, Richard Barone and I doing backup vocals and Renata playing cello.

Richard Barone has a marvelous version of All Tomorrows Parties which you can find and buy on line and a super cool video of original Warhol footage to go with. Here I'm singing backup while Nico hovers over us and the band. 

(photo Todd V Wolfson)

Backstage we were all tromping around tryin' to figure out who was on next, what was goin' on. Here is Sharon Needles who inspired me to put on a little extra makeup...

(photo Todd V Wolfson)

The big finale with everyone chiming in on Lou Reed's Rock And Roll. It was the first song of his I heard, back in the mid 80s when a friend made me a Velvet Underground mixtape. Shortly after hearing it I was impelled to move to NewYork City. Standing next to Sharon Needles...

(photo Todd V Wolfson)

Saturday noon Paula Luber and I caught some brunch and music at Alejandro's SXSW tradition at Maria's Taco's. Here we are with Jan Stabile and Mike Thompson, Alejandro and Richard. 

Then it's time to hit the road. Man, I woulda liked to have stayed another day or two, I feel like I made a bunch of new friends and saw lots of old ones. It was hard to leave. But both Paula and I had work to get back to and three full days of driving to do. 

It's kinda crazy to come out of a scene full of friends and fabulous musicians and then be in these remote places a few hours later. About 15 miles between cell towers. Time to get the mind unwired, de-wifi'd, and tuned in to the rhythm of the land. 

(photo clb)

Have you ever seen, or heard of those 2 thousand year old ceramic bowls and cups where the ancient potter used a wheel and spun it round to make them the way they are...only to find out that some of those old potters cups recorded the sounds of the people making them. Long ago conversations happening. Scientists have tuned in to the grooves made by those ancient potters and found that accidental recordings were made. I've wondered if that could be the case with the grooves in the highway. Ever noticed how the highway sings? Sometimes you can hear a song singing in those asphalt grooves, pulling you forward.