October 2nd, 2009
The Weekend: Let the festivals begin!

Brett Crenshaw Band will be at the Cheatham Street Warehouse Saturday.

By HAP MANSFIELD
Scene Editor

The Greeks and the Romans had no God of festivals. If they had, though, his name would have been Texas or Texicus or Texamus. Texas is the celebrating-est, festival throwing-est, barbecue cooking-est, music loving-est state in the union, tell you what.

Just this weekend alone, there are festivals for firefighters, chili cook-offs, art markets, produce markets and pumpkin patches. Julius Caesar bestrides the narrow world like a collosus and and a Neil Simon farce finds dinner party guests freaking out in the theater scene this weekend.

Oh, and the world class music we have come to take for granted, graces us once again for our pleasure. Hail Texicus!

Here are a few suggestions for your full enjoyment of this festival-laden season.

Friday, October 2

The early show at Triple Crown (206 North Edward Gary) features the amusingly named Callous Taoboys. Don’t let the name fool you, though, these guys are entertaining, but they are certainly not a “novelty” act. It’s good music and it starts at 6 p.m.

Bingo was originally called Beano, in America at any rate, and it was played with, not surprisingly, beans. The Wimberley VFW Post (Veteran’s Park on Jacobs Well Road) starts its weekly bingo game at 7 p.m. tonight. The good women of the Ladies Auxiliary sell the delicious concessions. The prizes are many. Cool beans.

The Collective Art Studio and Gallery (411 River Road in Wimberley) hosts another Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation tonight at 7 p.m. for $10. The deep meditation is said to help heal whatever ails ya, be it physical or spiritual. If nothing else, how nice to be in a place where the bowl does the talking instead of all the people, eh?

San Marcos Baptist Academy plays its homecoming game tonight against the Shiner St. Paul Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. The energy will be palpable, since SMBA has been on a winning streak and, hey, it’s homecoming! With San Marcos at New Braunfels Canyon and Wimberley at Ingram Moore, it’s a good chance to go see the SMBA Bears, if you haven’t gone to see them play.

Jen Miori, lead singer of Jennie and the Corn Ponies, has a classic country voice that will make you remember all the reasons why women have always been stars in the genre. The Corn Ponies are a delightful country band. Put this together and you have a great evening of music at Riley’s (8894 FM 1102) starting at 8 p.m.

Neil Simon said, “A farce is relentless. There are so many more obligations. It’s relentless in its needs for plot twists, and to keep the comedy going.” He was talking about his play “Rumors,” and you can see what he means tonight as the Wimberly Players jump through Simon’s many hoops in this lively farce. The convolutions start at 8 p.m. at the Wimberley Playhouse (450 Old Kyle Road). Tickets are $18.

The Austin Space Heaters will be warming up the space at Wake the Dead Coffeehouse (1432 RR 12) tonight at 8 p.m. Their music will keep you plenty toasty tonight.

It is said that Shakespeare actually conferred with Francis Bacon in 1598 because he could not find a good title for one of his plays, which he tentatively called “Julius Catch the Girl Quickly Before She Runs Away.” It is said Bacon replied, “Why don’t you just call it “Julius, Seize Her.” (pause for groaning) Okay, that didn’t happen. Julius Caesar, however, is happening at the EmilyAnn Theatre (1101 FM 2325) tonight at 8 p.m.

The tale of political jealousies, egos, pride, tyranny, friendship and all the other dramas you have come to expect from Shakespeare are there in spades and swords. The folks at EmilyAnn promise that the use of their outdoor space will be quite unusual. Who doesn’t like a good political thriller?

Jason Eady is a Mississippi-born bluesy, rootsy singer-songwriter who has a compelling voice tinged with a little weary sadness. He’s got an almost depression era feel to his deeply heartfelt music. He’ll be at the Cheatham Street Warehouse (119 Cheatham Street) tonight at 9 p.m. He’s a don’t-miss for the evening.

Rooster Suicide and CactusRash will strain the sound system tonight at the Gray Horse Saloon (Crestwood Center next to D’Blazio’s Pizza). They are what Metalocalypse fans would term “brutal.” If you dig the growl and thunder you’ll want to catch the rash tonight at 10 p.m.

Triple Crown has its regular triple threat Friday with a line-up that is almost to good to be true. The Sahm family has been more than a little blessed with talent. Blame it on dad, the great Sir Douglas. His son Shandon is equal to the mantle. Appearing on the bill with Shandon Sahm is Molly and the Hatchets and Robbie and the Robots. Molly Hayes lights up any room in which she sings with her clear, lovely voice. Robbie Doyen is a local treasure. In short, it’s going to be so crowded with talent at Triple Crown tonight we don’t know how they’ll fit a bottle of beer in there. Oh, but they will, don’t worry.

Saturday, October 3

This morning at 8 a.m., The Friends of the Wimberley Village library are having their used book sale at Chapel in the Hills Hall on RR 12. There will be vintage LPs and horse rides too! Now that’s how to rope in customers! It goes until 3 p.m.

At 9 a.m. in Buda City Park, be prepared to see some of the most heroic athleticism you will ever witness. It’s Fire Fest, and firefighter contestants will go through paces that would stagger the guys at the Cowboys training camp. There’s a chili-cook off as well, and, gilding the lily, is some mighty fine music later in the evening with Texas FX and Matt Begley. Tickets are $20 and it might be the best buy you’ve ever gotten.

The Wimberley Pumpkin Patch (110 Old Kyle Road) will have pumpkins. Oh yeah, and face painting, train rides a puppet workshop, yummy foods and a petting zoo. It goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. That oughta settle your pumpkin, punkin.

The Geronimo VFW CASI (Chili Appreciators Society International) sanctioned Chili and Jackpot Bean competition will take place today and tomorrow at 6806 North SH 123. They start early and cook all day long. It’s worth it to go just for the smell alone. Yum!

It’s Kyle Market Days on the square in downtown Kyle, where a plethora of produce and local goods await you. Loads of fun, healthy food, good music and more will be had from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The local music will be provided by Blake and Fallon in the morning and Walter Higgs in the afternoon.

The Hillsedge Grille and Pub (15410 RR 12 in Wimberley) will have Blair Boies and Fat Cracker as musical guests today. It’s a beautiful setting to have a beer or two and listen to music.

Wake the Dead Coffeehouse will have a local art market today from 3-7 p.m. Unique works of art, t-shirts and various handmade items will be featured on the patio. Support our local artists and keep them in San Marcos. A community that doesn’t have art is empty.

Riley’s features the talents of Shotgun Party tonight. The great fiddlin’ and awesome bass can often get overlooked in the glow of Jennie Parrot’s clear, vibrant voice. The band is an amazing amalgam of musical eras. You will be impressed. The tunes start at 8 p.m.

EmilyAnn is makin’ trouble with that whole ides of March thing in Julius Caesar at the EmilyAnn Theatre. The Wimberley players are trying to figure out why that guy is bleeding in Rumors at Wimberley Playhouse. It’s good night for theater. Both productions start at 8 p.m.

The Cheatham Street features a duo of bands that put a fresh rock sound into country rock. The Brett Crenshaw Band plays a compelling brand of the stuff. Crenshaw is joined by Javi Garcia and the Cold Cold Ground. Javi Garcia is so good you’ll be sharing him on Facebook and Twitter like you are his agent. His gritty voice and remarkable songwriting skills walk the razor’s edge between grunge and country. He’s worth skipping a milkshake for and we don’t say that lightly. What’s better than a milkshake? Well, Javi Garcia. That’s about it.

It’s one of those syncopated, hip-hoppin’, word swappin’, electronica boppin’ nights at Triple Crown with Word Association, Phranchyze 1,Wargasm, Storm Shadow and Doomsday Device. There a little somethin’ in there for almost everyone.

Matt Begley and Bitter Whiskey will be at the Gray Horse tonight at 10 p.m. He’s had a busy night already since he played at Fire Fest earlier in the day. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch them twice. There’s something haunting about Begley. Almost every song he sings reminds you of last call at a gig you wish would never stop. You’ve got no excuse not to see him today.

Sunday, October 4

That wonderful smell of chili and jackpot beans cooking away should waft over from the Geronimo VFW Chili Cook-off and Jackpot Bean Competition about now. It’s still going on today, so why not drop by and see all the Cumin and goin’ (bad cooking joke — couldn’t resist).

The Wimberley pumpkin patch is not your run-of-the-mill, pumpkin buying display. This is Wimberley, remember, so there are going to be some charming embellishments. In this case, the extras include a petting zoo, face painting, a puppet workshop and train rides. Those are mighty nice extras and they go from 11:a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

Perhaps you would just like a nice cup of joe and some jazz for the day. If day jazz is what you want Scotty and Friends supply it at Wake the Dead Coffeehouse today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We think you’ll be able to find a cup of coffee there, too.

You could visit the Claiborne Kyle Log House (2400 Old Stagecoach Road) open house in Kyle today from 2-5 p.m. It’s a great opportunity to see a bit of the area’s history.

The Wimberley Players have a matinee today at 2 p.m. reprising their production of Neil Simon’s hilarious farce, Rumors. If you can figure out what has happened in this play before it ends, Scotland Yard needs you.

Sunday just feels like a day for bluegrass, doesn’t it? The Cheatham Street Warehouse provides this beloved music today with the Two High String Band. From 4-8 p.m., you can hear some of the music that made your grandpa dance and your mom swing.

Bob Steine is makin’ with the chair massages at Wake the Dead Coffeehouse today from 4-8 p.m. Don’t bring your chair for a massage. Masseuse humor may not be the same as yours. Sit in his chair and get a massage.

The mics are open at Triple Crown and Riley’s. The Gray Horse has Karaoke. We don’t know how much energy you’ll have to sing after all the weekend’s festivities, but if you have the energy, they’ve got the mics.

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