Fri, Oct 04: Our first autumnal concert broke all the records. We enjoyed perfect weather for a night under the trees. Posted below are our esteemed performers. They made the evening memorable!
Here are the sets:
Eric Beck
Thanks, everyone!
Randall Wheatley with son Q
Robyn rocks
R&R at table
Woo Hoo!
Dale Barnard enthralls
Frigga’s Day, March 23: Spring’s here, and there’s no better time for a concert under the trees. In our case, they’re ashes and pecans plus lots of understory plants to fill in the spaces between. Sonically, our ears were filled this past weekend with the tunes, lyrics, and rhythms that Dale Barnard brought to the Backyard Theater.
I’ve know Dale for at least a decade. He’s been a faithful and active member of our Austin Ishmael Dialogue, and he and spouse Denise are long-time denizens of Camp Patchouli at Kerrville. This night also honored Denise on her birthday.
Among other subjects, Dale’s ditties relate his concern for the planet and our culture’s role in its care. Because he’s also a writer, his chooses his words carefully and thoughtfully. His other passion is spelunking, so much of the repertoire deals with crawling in holes underground.
Dale delivers
In fact, about half the audience were cavers, most new to the Green Man. Special guests included Dale’s mom, Carol (to whom he dedicated a song), and Denise’s mother, Jo. Our growing family of revelers added a three-month-old child, as well. Friends, neighbors, and country folk all joined in their appreciation. It may have been the best-attended event we’ve done so far.
Too, the pot-luck feast was particularly sumptuous: carrot cake with candles, multilayered cheesecake, garden-fresh greens, wine and Shiner beer, chips, and fancy dips. No one left hungry.
Stay tuned for more . . .
Ky Hote and Amelia Card
Friday, October 21: In perhaps the most professional program from the Backyard Theater to date, Amelia Card and Ky Hote filled the evening air with pleasing singer-songwritten tunes and lyrics. Ms. Card, offspring of Dallas’s famed folk venue Poor David’s Pub, delivered the first set of songs solo. Her bright style and cute ditties transported us to fun places and heightened emotions. Ky followed soon after with some of his own engaging tales accompanied by his virtuosic picking and barring. Near the close of Ky’s first grouping, he was joined by Jim Carpetas on pennywhistle.
After the break, Amelia and Ky played together. Some were Ky’s originals, and others Amelia’s. We heard not just the two guitars, percussion, and voices in various combinations, but Ky also pulled out Amelia’s banjo for one number. Overhead planes flying and neighborhood dogs barking only added the the local flavor.
Holler and Bang
Other musician friends were in attendance, as well, and a couple guys from Holler and Bang erupted into a spontaneous performance. This happens frequently at the Green Man and everywhere else in this fabled city when creative folks get together.
