Fine Line: 'Fine Line Picks' Section

Garage of Good

The Friendly Spot

“Drinking and Driving” – My kid rules!

Partridge in a PIE Tree

Uncommon Fare
Plaza de Armas

The Special Projects Social
The Brooklynite

I had the fabulous opportunity to hang with Chris Hill (owner of the Esquire) and his sister, Stacey Hill (co-owner of the Monterey) a couple of weeks back. This originally ran on Plaza De Armas, which you need to subscribe to if you want to know everything San Antonio.

I’ve struggled to find the words to describe how much this amazing series of events have meant to me, and so many others.

Tim Mcdiarmid and Peter Zubiate have brought to life something quite magical with The Special Projects Socials. Peter designed and built the brilliant tables and benches that offer enough space for the delectable dishes that Tim serves up, yet, he built and designed them with the idea of closeness, conversation and intimacy in mind.

I watched, witnessed and experienced a few dozen folks enjoying food, old friends, new found friends and beautiful conversation last night, all at the gorgeously constructed Zubiate tables and benches, and all over the divine TimTheGirl.com cuisine.

Some of the best of San Antonio were in attendance last night…but why read my ramblin’s…just watch below…

This was shot yesterday (Friday), which is/was load-in day. The big big big thang goes down today. You outta go take a lookie-lu. Lady Bird Johnson Golf Park is heaven, the folks with the Vee-Bug craze are good’un’s, and it’s a perfectly divine day.

I woulda stayed longer, but there were too damn many bugs. Huh? HUH? Too many “bugs!” Get it?!? Man, I crack me up…

Southtown Pre-Fiesta Party at Frank’s Hog Stand

Special Projects Social – Zubiate Studios, San Antonio

The Esquire Re-Opens!

Mid-Week Pearl’s Brewery Farmer’s Market

Seryn Performs at Local Coffee

Ramble Creek/ShowLush Showcase – 2011 SXSW

Sweet, and ultra-talented Camille Cortinas-Neal gets her waaaaay overdue…congrats my darling darling friend…read on!

Nashville, TEXAS – March 28, 2011 – Camille Cortinas will be featured as an emerging artist during the April 20, 2011 episode of Music City Roots.

“Camille was discovered after being the voice behind the popular Texas Lottery «Lucky Day» campaign,” said Music City Roots, Executive Producer, Todd Mayo. “Her voice connected with the radio listeners of Texas and we are excited to bring her music to a worldwide audience on Music City Roots.”

“Roots is the perfect outlet for my music,” said Camille Cortinas. “Sharing the stage with Jim Lauderdale and knowing that legends like the Doobie Brothers, Ricky Scaggs, Brandy Carlisle have all appeared on this stage, makes this a dream come true.”

Show Details:
Date: April 20, 2011
Venue: Loveless Café Barn
Address: 8400 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221
Performance time: 7:00 pm

About Camille Cortinas debut solo album «Taken Apart»
Produced By: Eric Neal
Recorded at Sunquist Studios
Mixed and Mastered by Mark Hallman at The Congress House Studio

Camille’s musical style uses storytelling and personal experiences to create a human connection that appeals to audiences of young and old, and her captivating voice smiles through the speakers. While her music remains upbeat, her songwriting finds its way through melancholy and melds into a hopeful and optimistic future. It’s learning to let go of the heartbreaks and find the happiness that life can bring.

For the most update tour/press information please go to www.camillecortinas.com and look for her first solo album on cdbaby and itunes.

About Music City Roots
Music City Roots has been hailed as “truly extraordinary” and “the greatest live radio in America” by journalists who have visited and artists who’ve played the Roots stage. The Nashville Scene recently named the Loveless Barn and the show as Nashville’s Best New Roots Music Venue, “akin to what the Opry must have been like 60 years ago.” The program has also established itself as a trusted curator for excellence in Americana music, with appearances by Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush, Mike Farris, Ricky Skaggs, Mountain Heart, Cherryholmes, Dex Romweber, Roger McGuinn and many more. Roots has become a trusted brand partner that has done everything in its power to extol its valued sponsors, including Nissan, Whole Foods Markets, Vietti Chili, Ascend Federal Credit Union and The Nature Conservancy.

Friday marks my 6th year at SXSW. The first few years, I’d shell out the dough for a badge, then I began to realize that I rarely attended official shows, and found myself mostly at day shows with rosters chock full of DdFW/Texas-based bands….many of whom are my friends.

I covered SXSW with my original blog, TexasGigs.com, with live audio streaming at various shows. Then I moved to live video streaming, which is what I was doing below back in 2008. Not a lot of fancy camera work, but the live streaming was a hit for those who couldn’t make it, and lots who were not even in the state.

Just ‘memberin’ back…I’m pretty much a fixture at the Twangfest and Sin City shows every year that I’ve gone to SXSW, along with the Summer Break Records parties and my beloved Fat Caddy Records shindigs.

I think my favorite year was when I let my alter-ego, Flat-Cindy take charge. She was kissed by Rhett Miller, hung with Collin Herring, Macon Greyson and the Thrift Store Cowboys, made out with Robert Anderson (Deathray Davies), check out the photos.

I’ll have SXSW 2011 goodies for ya this coming weekend.

One of the best times of my life, start to finish. I shot. He talked. “We” (meaning mostly he) edited. Janik=Genius on so many levels.

“Clementine” from Suburban Nature

Sarah Jaffe. A looooooooong time FineLineFave. Check the new video, es muy bueno. Keep your eyes peeled for band members who play in bands such at Centro-matic, Doug Burr, Seryn and Bosque Brown. Nice little band’o'playa’s.

Sarah Jaffe performs at the Ghost Room in Austin on September 25. See you there.

I had the fantabulous opportunity to be a part of these videos (either via puppeteerin’ or just looky-looin’…have a great weekend.

Call me?

Art&Seek, my favorite place to be…just launched an absolutely fabulous new site just in time for their 2-year anniversary. Alan Melson deserves the medal of A&S….Check it out every single day.

Dinner Party

Two of my favorite humans doing what they do bestest…

The fabulous Belmont Hotel in Oak Cliff is host to the equally fabby KXT 91.7, “Barefoot at the Belmont” concert series. The Belmont continues its traditional poolside concert series featuring some of the best bands and musicians from North Texas, along with a breathtaking back-drop of the downtown Dallas skyline…reserve a room, wine, dine and take a dip in the Belmont pool…all the while experiencing the whole BFatB/KXT magnificence…you’ll thank me in the morning….prolly twice….

Bill’s birthday bash and Record Store Day are one with the universe. Go on over to Bill’s Records on Saturday for one hella paaartaaay.

Performing:
11:30-12 noon: Molarkey (Inside)
12-12:40 – Richmond Punch (Outside)
12:05-12:30 – Mr. Troll (Inside)
1-1:30 – Jason Castro (Outside)
1:45-2:30 – Meet & Greet with Jason Castro
1:20-2 – Iris Leu (Inside)
2-2:45 – HaHa Tonka (Outside)
2:20-2:50 – Grant
3-3:45 – Kevin Welch (Inside)
3:10-4 – The Marfalites
4-4:20 – Mike Guinn (Inside)
4:40-5:10 – Annie Benjamin (Inside)
5-5:45 – Dem Southernfolkz (Outside)
5:30-6 – Christian Ross (Inside)
6-7 – The Frontier Brothers (Outside)
6:10-6:30 – King G.I. (Inside)
6:45-7:15 – Wailbone (Inside)

This little shindig has something for everyone and it won’t cost you nuthin’.

If Lower Greenville is yo’ thang, then Good Records is da place to be seen:

Performing:
11:00 am – Adrianna Oswell
11:30 am – Little Birds
12:00 pm – Baruch The Scribe
12:30 pm – Cartographers
1:00 pm – Hello Lover
1:30 pm – Hormones
2:00 pm – Doug Burr
2:30 pm – Seryn
3:00 pm – RTB2
3:30 pm – The Angelus
4:00 pm – Murder By Death
4:30 pm – Ha Ha Tonka
5:00 pm – Backsliders
5:30 pm – The Black Dotz
6:00 pm – Rainbows Are Free
7:00 pm – Telegraph Canyon
8:00 pm – PVC Street Gang
9:00 pm – Binary Sunrise
10:00 pm – Maleveller
11:00 pm – New Fumes
12:00 am – DSFZ (dem southernfolkz)
1:00 am – This Will Destroy

Doors open at 8 a.m., so getcher breakfast taco and get on down there early for the best spot. This, too, is a freebie.

The Pull Tabs (Mike Daniel, Eric Grubbs and Kyle Harris) are playin’ at CD Source, but I dunno anything other than that…but then again, ain’t that enough? Oh, and it’s free.

I gushed awhile back about the greatness that is Ryan Scheer and Lucky Rabbit Films. I fell in love with the whole bunch after watching (and watching and watching over and over again) their brilliant short film on Deadman.

I just found another great video (above) that Ryan and crew have done…a PSA..for the Austin-based SIMS Foundation…

The SIMS Foundation’s Mission is to provide access to and financial support for mental health and addiction recovery services for Austin-area musicians and their families. SIMS was founded in 1995 by the friends and family of Sims Ellison, a talented young Austin musician, after his battle with depression ended in suicide.

Austin is hailed as “The Live Music Capitol of the World” for good reason. With over 200 live music venues and internationally recognized music festivals such as SXSW and ACL, thousands of musicians make this city their home. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of living and increasing competition for jobs in the music business, many musicians find themselves struggling financially and emotionally.

Irregular hours, travel schedules, financial insecurity and proximity to alcohol and drugs can take their toll on musicians and their families, sometimes resulting in depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and alcohol and drug abuse. Professional musicians are often uninsured or underinsured and cannot always pay out of pocket for expensive counseling and addiction treatment. That’s why SIMS is here to help. SIMS serves more than 600 clients annually and provides over 5,000 units of service (defined as one counseling session or one day in recovery).

Leave it to Austin to provide such a wonderful organization directed towards musicians in need with little or no insurance.

Keep an eye on Lucky Rabbit Films. Every dang thing outta there is fabby, quite fabby.

Anna Thomas, Anna Thomas, Anna Thomas….that’s the name you need to know. She just turned 14, but possesses and old soul and an uncanny ability to write and perfom her music flawlessly.

Here are a couple of videos she’s put together. Check out my studio tour with Anna and her bandmate, Matt Gaskins over at Art&Seek.