Hi all,

For those who have been wondering about the current whereabouts of Amy's
old bandmates Angel Dean (Last Roundup) and Sue Garner (Shams), I'm
happy to report that both are alive and well and performing in support of their
new CD, 'Pot Liquor' on Diesel Only Records. Earlier tonight I sat in the
outdoor beer garden of Threadgill's in downtown Austin (heavy traffic rolling
by just over the hedge, ambulances blaring...) and saw the two play a very
brief set, as part of the unofficlal/alternative festival that happens in this
city
every March in conjunction with the SXSW (South by SouthWest) madness.
(Some refer to this anti-SXSW peripheral as 'South by So What.')

On first listen, 'Pot Liquor' is gorgeous and very easy on the ear -- if I had
to
characterize it I'd file it under alt-country, filled with lyricism, and
authentic
voices coming through (no hype, no gimmicks, just two experienced women
being true to themselves -- it's real-world stuff for adults, which I don't have
to
guess that this group appreciates). Imagine a slower, more mature Last
Roundup melded with Shams harmonies and a mood that reaches at times
for the ethereal, with both musical feet still on the ground (if you know what I
mean). There's something special that happens when an artist sticks to her
particular vision and perseveres with it through all of life's bumps, detours
and dead ends -- the art she produces becomes more meaningful for both
her and her audience, on multiple levels, in every succeeding year. As for
Angel Dean, what can you say about the satisfaction of seeing a musician live
for the first time after you've enjoyed listening to her record for, oh, the
past
18 years or so...

I introduced myself to Sue and Angel after the show (both couldn't have been
nicer or more down-to-earth real); they were a bit surprised that I not only
owned the Last Roundup album but the Shams oeuvre (very few in the
audience seemed to have any clue who they were). Angel (an extremely
sweet person) told me she was just getting back into the music business after
a decade away, "raising a bunch of puppies" (among other activities) in
Providence, RI.

I wish more people had showed their appreciation in this rather sparsely
attended early-evening concert (many had apparently gone to dine during
their set), and that the sound system had been better. But it was just one
night in the life, and the vision continues, bless 'em.


Wes