Robin Trower at La Zona Rosa - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - staff photographer
If it wasn't for Austin's anti-smoking ordinance tonight could have been 1974 all over again as Austin's Van Wilks and the legendary Robin Trower (founding member of Procol Harum) burned down the house at Austin's La Zona Rosa. During Trower's roaring 20+ minute epic "Bridge of Sighs", all that was missing was the roiling clouds of stale, cheap, pot smoke wafting onstage. Don't let Robin's age fool you, his fingers are as nimble as a teenagers. Lick for lick I think you could put him against any blues guitarist on the road today and he would leave them hacking in his dust. Not too bad for a guy that started his music career in 1962, played Woodstock, and just plain survived the trials and travails of the industry, unlike so many of his peers.
Robin will be on tour here in the states until April 5th and then he hops the pond to do a European tour that doesn't wind up til May 31st. For a complete look at his tour schedule check out Robin's web site at http://www.trowerpower.com. To check out pics from the show, check out our photo gallery.
On to SXSW 2008 news...
Well according to my sources it looks like the place to be Saturday night for most people will be Stubb's, IF you can get in and IF you can stand the packed crowd. First off you have the psychedelic stylings of Austin's poet-laureate-guide to the 60's, the incomparable Roky Erickson, with The Explosives. Then next up you have the brothers Robinson, and their wayward gang of musicians, The Black Crowes. Finally, the talk of SXSW, this years up and coming band from Athens, Ga., and the only man in the U.S. that can match Morrisey blow for blow in angst, Micheal Stipe and R.E.M. will close the showcase. What a neat show if you can get in. Only in Austin. Only during SXSW!
I have that as confirmed. Something I don't have confirmed yet, and I am working on, is the Ice Cube SXSW gig at Auditorium Shores. I have it from 2 sources that he is playing, just not 100% firm on the venue. Can't mark him as confirmed yet til he or SXSW announces.
I regret I have not updated the big list in a few days, but promise to spend a few hours updating it. I
want to thank everyone out there that linked to me, especially the guys over at showburner.com.
