B-Day Parties for Dead People

[Wayne Johnson]

Good reporting sir.

However, a music critic is supposed to be more scathing don't you think?

W

-----Original Message-----
From: austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net
[mailto:austin-ghetto-list-admin@pairlist.net]On Behalf Of jaxon41
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 5:15 PM
To: ghetto ghetto
Subject: B-Day Parties for Dead People


Was about to send post on Doug Sahm's 60th birthday party at Continental
Club last nite when Sandy Lockett comes waltzing into my backyard, beer in
hand.  Had a nice visit, him talking with note pad; he looks pretty good...

When I told young Sam I was going to Doug's B-Day party & how it was a shame
he was dead and couldn't join the fun, Sam looks at me like this was Sorta
Sick behavior.  No, son, we grownups do this type of thing all the time and
deceased folks probably have as many parties thrown for them as live ones!
Maybe more...

Got there around 10:30 and had to wait at least 1-1/2 hours for South Austin
Goddess Toni Price to finish her very long regular Tuesday nite gig, cause
it was a tribute to her fiddle player Champ Hood--another recent
no-longer-with-us.  They finally swept out Toni's crowd & let the lengthy
line on the sidewalk in for Doug's show.  Not complaining, mind you, as I
parked my butt on a car outside the open door & enjoyed her music--even if
the air was a bit nippy & I couldn't order a drink.

The Mavericks kicked things off (Alvin Crow, John Reed, Speedy Sparks, etc)
with lots of DS material.  Then came band led by Doug's son Shawn, who
played his frenetic & to me somewhat LOUD music.  But then he said "time to
rock & roll."  Played his version of She's About a Mover that kicked this
old tune way up to Another Level.  Daddy would have been Proud, and if there
ever was an example of how kids can go the older generation one better, this
was IT.  Doubt if even Doug had this much raw energy at Shawn's age...

Other bands followed.  Tortilla Flats and The Damnations real solid, playing
their own stuff and doing some Sahm tunes in fine style.  Ol' Doug will be
around quite awhile on the Texas music scene, and it did my heart good to
send a few loving vibes out to him, wherever he presently be.  jaxon