The past
week has been a whirlwind for us, packing in what might normally
comprise a few month's worth of social, cultural
and semi-cultural activities. Here's the rundown:
It all started peacefully enough on Friday,
with friends out here at the Pedernales Palace for dinner. Of course,
the preparations for our friends' arrival might have been considered
by some to be not so peaceful (even a tad on the frantic side), but
it was actually a calmer, slightly subdued version of Annie's red tornado
act.
Then, early Saturday, we lit out for Zilker Park for the second day
of the second annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. It was a gas,
near-perfect in every respect. Yes, we got rained-on but who cared? |
 |
We
were delighted by how smoothly the mechanics ran - moving, feeding
and tending to the other needs of 50,000 people. We quickly
got a spot in one of the designated parking garages, hopped
on a shuttle bus and, after a brief bus tour of downtown Austin
(something we otherwise would never do), arrived at the Festival
gate. We quickly passed through, were cheerily greeted by one
of the hoarde of volunteer age-checkers, and handed our wristbands
that made us eligible for alcohol. Then we sat down under one
of the rare, Festival grounds trees and plotted our course.
First stop - the noon concert by the South Austin Jug Band
at the Heineken stage (right next to the Heineken tent). |
|
| These
young guys are pretty cute, playing that hybrid bluegrass with
age-belying virtuosity. This being my first time
seeing them, I can't say it's a chronic condition, but my rhythmic
sense was offended. They seemed to be having a hard time playing
together. Seemed like the fiddler (not shown here) generally
wanted to play faster than the others and that the bass player
wanted to drag the tempo from time to time. Great musicianship
all around, though, just not gelled as a group. Hopefully
it was an abberation caused by the way-too-early-for-musicians
start time. I'll have to give them another chance. |
 |
|
 |
They
did get the kids up and dancing though, and that's a very good
thing. |
|
| After
hanging with the young Turks, we moved clear across the grounds
to the Cingular stage (one of the 2 big ones)
for the
old
pros
- Asleep
at the
Wheel. I don't think these guys ever do a bad show but this one
was outstanding. |
 |
|
 |
Old
Ray was in fine, basso-profundo voice and they were hot, knockin'
out a great mix of the old standards with the new. Can't say
I liked a couple of the new, schmaltzy tunes but the crowd
went wild for the whole enchilada. |
|
| This
is how most of the crowd watched the concert. We watched it
on these large projection screens and were most appreciative
for their presence. Getting to see such a bold, bright video
image in broad daylight is nothing short of miraculous. Some
of you might know that I was there, running a camera, the first
time (at least I think it was the first time) this was tried.
It was the Woodstock Festival, in 1969. The projector was a
half million dollar Eidophor. It was a monstrous thing that
required two technicians constantly tweaking and nursing in
an effort to keep the beast running. Then, we only got to do
4 sets of projected video before the screen came down in the
rain. We have come a long way, baby. |
 |
|
 |
Next,
we moved over to the American Heritage tent for my favorite
local gospel group, the Bells of Joy. These guys have been
at it for a mighty long time. They had a million seller record
(the first for a Black gospel group) back in 1951. 1951? Were
you alive then? I was 7. This, my friends, is staying power.
And these old gents are the real deal. They have the spirit,
and the power to get a bunch of white kids up outa their seats
and feeling the energy down to their feets. |
|
| And
they got the spirit, too, raising their arms in that "praise
the lord" gesture. I was almost moved to shout "hallelujah"
myself and I'm a confirmed atheist. |
 |
|
 |
Revived,
we now had serious appetites and had to partake of 5 of the
hundreds of different treats that were offered for sale by
an eclectic collection of restaurants who had set up booths.
These were no run of the mill restaurants either. Among the
many were Hudsons on the Bend, Satay, Jazz Louisiana Kitchen,
Amy's Ice Cream (gotta stop, getting too hungry).
After
lunch, it was time for Nickel Creek. This group was my main
reason for attending the festival. It's a bluegrass configuration
and they play it as well as I've heard it played. But they
also stretch the borders out into several harder to define
realms. These kids are hot. I believe I saw smoke coming
from the mandolin player's
instrument. Mindblowing!
|
|
| Here
he is on the big screen. See the smoke? |
 |
|
 |
Last
act of the evening was String Cheese Incident - heirs to
the Grateful Dead's jam band legacy. Their set began in total
darkness. First, on the screen was documentary footage of
a giant inflatable pig being launched. This was followed
by a bit from the Simpsons at a Pink Floyd concert, where
the pig was used. Then, follow spots started sweeping the
sky while the first chords of "Another Brick in the Wall"
came from the speaker stacks. And then it appeared, Pink
Floyd's pig, in the flesh (or nylon, whatever). The thing
is enormous (did I read 60'?). A crew floated it around the
outside of the crowd while the band played. It was a stupendous
beginning to a terrific set. We left high as a kite without
a drug in sight. Great festival! We'll be back.
|
|
| Sunday
afternoon, our friend Philippe Klinefelter (gesticulating skyward)
had a studio showing of some work he had just completed and
was
about
to
deliver
to the person who commissioned it. Philippe is a sculptor and
often works on a large scale. These were some of his smaller
pieces. |
 |
|
 |
While
I love Philippe's work, I am just as fascinated by his studio.
I guess I am just a sucker for tools, and so is Philippe.
In fact, in addition to all these practical, everyday tools
that he uses, Philippe has an amazing collection of ancient
Mayan stone tools - gorgeous.
|
|
| Here's
a close look at one of the panels. This series is abstracted
relief granite carvings of native Texas medicinal plants. I
don't know what this is supposed to represent. I just like
the shapes and textures. |
 |
|
 |
The
most impressive piece in this collection was this table,
made from a huge, ancient, single slab of an unknown hardwood that
was imported from Bali.
|
|
| Here's
another view. That is one piece of wood. Spectacular, eh? |
 |
|
|
After
Philippe's show, we zoomed over to the UT Bass Concert Hall
for an evening of theataahh. It was the touring company of
"The Graduate" with ex Jagger, Jerry Hall. Sorry to say it
was a big disappointment. The set was interesting but often
too big for the intimate scenes. The lighting was terrific.
That's all the good stuff. I won't bore you with the bad.
Suffice to say that Jerry was stiff as a board and the rest
of the cast wasn't too great either. Transitioning from the
screen to the stage is tough for any script but this one
was done especially poorly. Boo hoo, we were looking forward
to something cool since we so rarely get out.
|
|
| Last
but never least, on Tuesday, I visited my brilliant and talented
grandson, Zac, at Gullett Elementary School, where he is in
kindergarten. His teacher is terrific and does many interesting
things, not the least of which is having the kids grow a garden. |
 |
|
 |
Here,
Zac excitedly points out the plants that he has planted.
|
|
| And
here he is with the school's tom turkey. They have a whole
big cage full of birds right outside Zac's classroom. A very
rich environment, indeed. |
 |
|
And,
as is my routine, for those of you who have not yet gotten enough,
here are links to former postings of the Pedernales Post and
other sites of potential interest:
The
August 30, 2003, "Persimmon" issue of the Pedernales Post
The
August 9th, 2003 Pedernales Post on the Austin Anti-Redistricting
Rally
The May 18th, 2003 edition of the Pedernales Post, the Big Bend and wildflowers
post
An
Austin peace march in the February, 2003 edition of the Pedernales
Post
Our
NY trip and Mary Jo Freeman (Annie's mom) Memorial in the October,
2002 edition of the Pedernales Post
The
July, 2002 edition of the Pedernales Post, focusing on the July 6th
flood
The
June, 2002edition of the Pedernales Post - "What's New in
the Neighborhood"
The
April, 2002 (and inaugural) edition of same, highlighting the old
garden, river & Zac
The
world-renowned pictures of our house
The
Susan Lee Solar Memorial site
The Century
Management site that we have built and maintain
The
grandparents' (potentially annoying to others) pictures
of our grandson Zac
And,
last but not least, our own Aim Productions site
|
All
digital photos and text by Ric Sternberg. © 2003
Ric Sternberg. All rights reserved. |
|
