The waitress at Hyde Park Bar & Grill says she likes Bill Carter’s big silver skull ring. It’s from the set of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Carter says. “The first one. It was made for my friend, but he wanted … Continue reading
(From June 2009) Michael Jackson dead at 50. Michael Jackson dead. The words didn’t look right. When I first heard the news Thursday afternoon, my reaction surprised me. The first word in my mind: finally. At last the boy who … Continue reading
The sailors and soldiers called it “Shit Street.” During Vietnam and a few years after, Hotel Street in Honolulu’s Chinatown was the Broadway of the skankiest red light district in the country. Haven’t been to them all, but can still … Continue reading
(Originally published in May 2007. Stephen Bruton succumbed to cancer two years later.) In his home studio in Barton Hills, Stephen Bruton has a picture on a music stand of him playing guitar with Kris Kristofferson for the first time, … Continue reading
In March 2003, as American troops were poised to invade Iraq, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks decided to make a statement against President Bush that delighted the audience in England. But when the news was picked up in the … Continue reading
(From November 2008) If you want to make President-elect Barack Obama smile about something that has nothing to do with Tuesday’s election, ask him if he remembers the address of Lex Brodie’s flagship tire shop in Honolulu. He should immediately … Continue reading
Meatloaf has moved to Austin. Jazz notable Esperanza Spaulding supposedly lives here, too. Ditto Greg Rolle of Santana and Journey, Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, Greg Ginn of Black Flag. Glad to have ‘em, but these folks are not to … Continue reading
It was the longest, scariest night of my life, the time my son Jack came home from the hospital after being born. His mother and I had several people over to share in our joy, but when the baby started … Continue reading
From December 1984, when I filled in for Margaret Moser while she was on her honeymoon with my former roommate Rollo Banks, until June 1988 I wrote a music gossip column for the Austin Chronicle called “Don’t You Start Me … Continue reading
Her voice sounds like Stevie Nicks the morning after a screaming fight with Lindsay Buckingham in Rio, but Susanna Choffel’s honeyed husk warmed a chilly evening for an hour and 40 minutes Thursday at KGSR’s “Unplugged At the Grove.” Total … Continue reading