Skipped a beat...
Welcome to the sixth fifth Music Monthly newsletter (I skipped a beat in January). This month I move this endeavor to Substack, which as a platform for writing seems a better fit than those designed for marketing writ large and big-hope business building. This newsletter is for information, and—if we’re lucky—some mild entertainment.
Today, we have news on three of the usual projects: Mala Nota, Red and The Rebels, and Channels. And the second installment looking at open mics features the Talent Show at Radio Coffee and Beer.
The Mala Nota album previously mentioned continues the mix process with a studio in Mexico City. It’s sounding quite good, and the release date is a matter of weeks away. Just how many we can’t be sure, but… weeks. Meanwhile here are some shows on the calendar:
March 11
South by Soundcheck
Hotel Vegas
1502 E 6th St, Austin TX 78702
6:00 PM
•••and•••
La Macarena Restaurant & Bar
8776 Research Blvd Suite B, Austin TX 78758
10:00 PM, with Fraile and Bajo Azul
March 25
Anderson Mill Pub
10401 Anderson Mill Rd #121, Austin TX 78750
10:00 PM, with Fraile and Los Kurados
April 7
Flamingo Cantina
515 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
Opening for Alika
April 20
Latin Night @ Geraldine’s
605 Davis Street, Austin TX 78701
8:00 PM
April 29
Latin Night @ Sahara Lounge
413 Webberville Road, Austin TX 78721
Downbeat at midnight, so technically we
will conjure April 30 into existence.
May 5
Something good is brewing for Cinco de Mayo.
I warned in the December newsletter that Red and The Rebels would be releasing a third single, “Pisces Moon,” from the upcoming second album. It happened. Listening opportunities in the stream-o-sphere are thus expanding. In addition to the first album, the singles “Heart of Darkness,” “Texas Ruins,” and “Pisces Moon” are waiting for your ears and imagination.
A backyard show is on the calendar, Red and The Rebels’ third appearance at The Purple Barn:
May 6
The Purple Barn
140 Dobie Dr, Wimberley TX 78676
8:00 PM, two sets
For those of you in Austin (or if you’ll be in Austin) on April 14, Channels will return to the sanctuary at Central Presbyterian Church. It’s a beautiful sounding room, and Todd Rogers’ music and band will transport you to the places you’ve always wanted to be (that you never knew existed—or is that going too far?). I’ve shared this video from the show last October.
Channels played to a sold-out Sofar Sounds crowd earlier this month, and will perform at Mohawk later this month.
Finally, regarding open-mics and other curiosities, this month we get a glimpse of the Talent Show at Radio Coffee and Beer. This event appears to be held on the third Tuesday of the month (the next one is February 21). The show takes place on the outdoor stage, surrounded by picnic tables. It’s hosted by a magnanimous gentleman named Sunny Fairly, so you know it’s going to have a positive vibe. And it does.
The talent show is not exactly an open mic—it’s curated through a process of submitting audio or video via email. And all are encouraged participate:
Bring your skill to the Radio stage! Song, dance, spoken word, ventriloquism, etc.
And can’t we all use just a little more skill?
The night Sara and I were in attendance, there were two comics joining an assortment of singer-songwriters and instrumentalists. Each act has eight minutes to perform, and there were secret judges ascertaining who was the most entertaining—an interesting distinction as opposed to best musician or songwriter or whatever other categories are used to connote that this is a competition (it’s not). The idea of being entertaining as part of the performance suggests that the talent show at Radio is a good place for people to work out some of the finer details of their stage craft.
Sunny explained that the Radio Talent Show came to be as a way out of the pandemic, to give performers a place to re-enter performing, particularly as the ramping up of gigs was slow for both public health reasons, but also because of the number of venues that were no longer in business. It definitely felt like an environment of support was established.
Thanks again for reading. I hope to see you at a show—live music is your best entertainment value. Feel free to send questions or topics you might like to hear about from me.
Peace, Love, and Art,
Ralph
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Ralph Manak
Raking Light Studio
Austin TX
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