OUT THIS WEEK
Dale Watson & His Lonestars, “Live at the Big T Roadhouse, Chicken S#!+ Bingo Sunday” (Red House/Ameripolitan). At first glance, it seems impossible that self-styled “Ameripolitan” kingpin and his first-rate honky-tonk Lonestars could have crammed 35 songs onto one disc. Turns out that around a dozen or so tracks are short snippets of banter included to give this collection a sense of what it feels like to be at one of Watson’s trademark Sunday afternoon throwdowns, which in Austin were long held at the Little Longhorn Saloon. Watson recently sold his stake in that North Austin hangout and moved the gig south to C-Boy’s Heart & Soul, but he’s also made it a fixture at the Big T Roadhouse, in the small burg of St. Hedwig just outside San Antonio. That’s where they chose to record this album, but whether you’ve attended the shows down there or up here, it’s pretty much the same experience: Classic boot-scootin’ originals interspersed with musical celebrations of the bingo winners, shameless beer-company plugs and the like. A proper album is a better way to appreciate Watson’s musical talent, but if you just want raw documentation of what happens on these Sundays in Central Texas, “Live at the Big T Roadhouse” works just fine. Release show Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Big T Roadhouse in St. Hedwig; also playing Thursday, Aug. 18, at Highball and Monday, Aug. 22, at the Continental Club.
Tahoma, “Hide Away.” Following up their debut EP “Honest Mark,” this indie Americana fivesome fronted by singer-songwriter Brandon Aguilar delivers a full-length record that ultimately leans more toward rock than roots. That’s no real surprise given that the lineup is the fairly standard guitar-bass-drums setup, with (respectively) Vinnie Fallico, Mark Mayfield and Clellan Hyatt giving solid support to the harmonies cast by Aguilar and percussionist Sarah Oermann. Tahoma so far has remained mostly in the undercurrrent of Austin’s indie scene so far, but they’re worth keeping an eye on, as this is a well-written and compelling batch of original material. Release show Saturday, Aug. 20, at Sidewinder. Here’s the leadoff track “Messenger”:
Eric Bee, self-titled. Seven-song disc from the eclectic singer-songwriter who mixes together a variety of American music styles, from rock and soul to R&B and gospel. Release show Saturday, Aug. 20, at One-2-One Bar. Here’s a video for the track “Tomorrow’s Skin Cancer”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akvrhUxYtAU
COMING SOON
AUG. 22: Beaver Nelson, “Positive,” release show Sept. 16 at Strange Brew.
AUG. 26: Jack Ingram, “Midnight Motel” (Rounder).
AUG. 26: Bill Kirchen & Austin de Lone, “Transatlanticana” (Red House), playing Oct. 28 at El Mercado Backstage.
AUG. 26: Fabulous Thunderbirds, “Strong Like That” (Severn).
AUG. 26: Wildfires, “Aguas Frescas (Part II)” EP.
SEPT. 9: Adam Torres, “Pearls to Swine” (Fat Possum), release show Sept. 10 at Cactus Cafe.SEPT. 9: Giulia Millanta, “Moonbeam Parade.”
SEPT. 16: Willie Nelson, “For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price” (Legacy), playing Oct. 9 at Austin City Limits Music Festival.
SEPT. 16: Meat Loaf, “Braver Than We Are” (429).
SEPT. 16: Jesse Dayton, “The Revealer” (Blue Elan), playing Nov. 4 at Antone’s.
SEPT. 16: East Cameron Folkcore, “Better Off,” release show Sept. 24 at Empire.
SEPT. 16: Elijah Ford & the Bloom, “As You Were” (Nine Mile).
SEPT. 16: Golden Bear, “Dimensional Place” (C-Side).
SEPT. 17: Henry & the Invisibles, title TBA, release show Sept. 17 at Empire.
SEPT. 23: Reckless Kelly, “Sunset Motel” (Thirty Tigers).
SEPT. 23: Ruby & the Reckless, “In My Head.”
SEPT. 23: Tele Novella, “House of Souls.”
SEPT. 26: Thor & Friends, self-titled (LM Duplication).
SEPT. 30: Survive, “RR7349” (Relapse).
SEPTEMBER: Band of Heathens, title TBA.
OCT. 21: “Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll” (Eight 30), with Hayes Carll, James McMurtry, Slaid Cleaves, Band of Heathens, Jamie Wilson and more.
OCTOBER: Eric Johnson, title TBA.
FALL: Terri Hendrix, “The Slaughterhouse Sessions” (Wilory).
FALL: Jamestown Revival, “The Education of a Wandering Man” (Republic), playing Nov. 4 at Emo’s.
FALL: Jon Dee Graham, “Knoxville Skyline.”
