Rockabilly Workshop (Part V) Rock Around the Clock!

Thanks everyone! This was such a fun topic to write about - there are just so many cool bands and I love the history of it all.

So sad about Ronnie Dawson. My husband played for him for a while and recorded him a couple of times, and they became good friends. He was one of the genuinely nicest, sweetest men I have ever met. The irony was that he took such good care of himself - stayed in shape, ate really well, no drinking or smoking. It is such a loss.

And that I sad about Don Walser too - Matt and I saw him in Austin about 8 years ago - what a voice.

Chris - intresting point about swing revival/rockabilly. There was some dissention between the groups - I think the rockabillys resented the swing dance kids coming into "their" scene. I personally thought it was great, because there were more people at shows and more people getting involved with the music (plus more people were buying vintage clothes!).

Melanie - I have heard the same thing about Green Bay. The lineup is unbelievable. Is anyone going? (oh and I HEART Billy Zoom!)

Janine - I'd love to go to SXSW too. Too much fun stuff to do! (oh and the ted that restarted the rockabilly scene in the 70's were just doing the retro thing, based on teds from the 50').

And I'm so glad everyone likes the photos. I am so proud of my husband! Here's the link to his website....

<a href="http://www.matthewrobbinsphoto.com/" target="_blank">Photos</a>

Thanks everyone for the great feedback and wonderful comments!

Mrs. Matthew Robbins :USETHUMBUP:
 
Yay!!! Anyone who's coming to SXSW, let me know - I'll tell ya the cool unofficial places to check out ;)

The whole RAB vs swing thing was definitely a "thing" for a long time. The swing kids were what we called "water swillers" - I don't think the bar folks were very fond of them either, because they'd come in and drink water rather than beer - the really hardcore swing dancer types wouldn't even drink carbonated drinks at all because they wanted to be in shape to show off their moves. I mean, come on! Be a professional dancer if you're that serious about it, LOL! A lot of it, though, was because all of a sudden swing dancing lessons were THE thing to do on a date - which was kind of cool - but then they started showing up at the bars that the RAB types would hang out at, dressed head to toe in vintage, kick people while they were dancing, and, well, drink water! We RAB folks were more into the drinking beer, carousing and having a good time than the "art of dancing" thing.

-Melanie
 
"Speaking of Lisa Pankratz, she has the best quote ever on the Austin music scene - 'There's just one band in Austin, and everyone's in it.'"
That's so true. I know a bunch of musicians up there and they pretty much play everywhere, whether filling in or an actual member.

And about the whole "water swillers" thing...it's true, the bar folks hate it. Whenever my band plays at certain places that expect to make big at the bar, they always end up totally dissapointed 'cause the only ones buying alcohol are the band members and whoever came with us :P

*viva lonestar*
 
I know that many a swing night at local clubs was discontinued due to lack of drink purchasers.
A good friend of mine is/was a regular at the Derby in LA and I know this is something that has cursed them there. The dancing and music was great... but you have to support the venue. The last time I went, I think you had to purchase bottled water and it was about $4 a bottle.

Having been a bartender here in SoCal for a long while, I will say that this seems to be a recent epidemic in the RAB scence, too. I know that at least 2 of the bars wouldn't book RAB bands anymore because they just didn't sell a lot of booze. You wouldn't think it, but it's true. I've been the lonely bartender during several great gigs. I would've thought they'd be swilling Jack all night long... but no such luck.

kristine
 
I've heard that Austin band quote before!:hysterical:

I've been to SXSW 4 or 5 times over the last 10 years. Can't remember exactly, for some reason...:rolleyes:

I first went in '95 when some bartender friends from Buffalo went to go work for these Buffalo guys who had just opened a bar on 6th. We actually didn't know about the festival, we just wanted to get AWAY from the Buffalo winter and go party with our friends, so they told us to come down during this one week in March because there was also a music fest going on. My friend & I were doing a local music 'zine (who wasn't back then) so we were also there on BUSINESS (right) It's more like this:

:party:

We had a blast! Plus we got word of all the inner-loop parties due to our friends at the bar. I'm sure you have heard of Casino el Caminos. Casino is from Buffalo and used to be in bands, etc. His partner owns clubs and resauraunts in Buff.

I went a few more times to SXSW with other people. The last time I went was 2000, when I also attended the SXSW Interactive conference by myself, then caught up with friends for the music event.

The other friend I would go with from Buffalo, who used to be a housemates with Casino, would go to recruit bands for a club there. He still does and he will be going next month. I, alas, will be stuck in New York City.

Ah, the good old days of having a social life, Why, I remember when blah blah blah.......:asleep:

Janine
 
LOL, Janine! I'm an old married lady now - no social life here, either! I worked at a friend's vintage shop during sxsw for several years. I have TONS of video footage of great RAB and country bands that played in-stores there during "south by so-what" (one of south austin's sxsw alternatives).

I think I posted this on the first RAB workshop thread, but for a FANTASTIC overview of the incestuous rockabilly/real country scene in Austin, check out the photo features page at http://www.austinamericana.com/. It's a pretty good roundup of the Austin scene - with a few out-of-towners thrown in, and maybe missing a couple of locals here and there - and the photography isn't on par with Susan's hubby - just straight on performance shots.. but as far as documenting who's played with whom in Austin, it's the place to go.

-Melanie
 
Gosh, if I were going this year I would be the party pooper heading off to bed at midnight! I'd probably never make it past any of the afternoon events!

I would really just like to attend the SXSW Interactive confernce, though. That'll get 'ya up at the crack of dawn.

I have a great Under The Sun (old and newer location) story regarding a 40's palazzo pant jump-suit whateveryacallit.

I'm too tired now to get into it, but I will tomorrow. See! 11:45 - time for bed!

Janine:snowman:
 
Janine, did you check out my music video on day 1? That was a fashion show for Under the Sun. And yep, it was UTS that I used to work at on occasion and every year for sxsw. That was my second home for about the first five years I lived here. :)

-Melanie
 
<i>Memoreeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzz light the corners of my mind .......</i>

You forgot the SVP!:violins:

:hysterical:


No, I didn't see the video yet. I now recall they had fashion shows. They are out-of-business now, right?

What years were you there?

Janine:snowman:
 
Actually, the fashion shows that I shot were part of a bigger charity fashion show at Club de Ville. Yes, sadly, Under the Sun is no more. I miss that crazy place. I moved here in '98, so it would have been from '99 on, I think, that I was there.

-Melanie
 
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