By Jason Cohen
Texas Music News - Late May
Bad things do come in threes -- in these last few weeks, Texas music was hit with the untimely deaths of three greats.
Joseph Gonzalez
Gonzalez, who succumbed to heart diseases and diabetes at the age of 51, was the primary patron of Austin's nascent punk scene. From 1978 to 1980 he booked Raul's, providing a home for such artists as the Skunks, the Big Boys, the Huns, the Dicks, Standing Waves and Sharon Tate's Baby. An album from those days, "Live at Raul's," was reissued on CD byDejadisc in 1995. More recently, Gonzalez was a community activist in East Austin as well as the Tejano consultant forSouth by Southwest.
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
The blues and R&B hero suffered a heart attack in Tokyo at the age of 61. Born in Houston, the self-described "Gangster of Love" actually came of age musically in California, having moved there when he was 15. Watson was honored with a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation just a few months ago.
Walter Hyatt
Former Austinite Hyatt was one of the unfortunate souls aboard theValujet flight that crashed into the Everglades. The 46 year-old singer-songwriter, who had been living in Nashville since the mid-'80s, was best known as the titular center of Uncle Walt's Band, the early '70s combo featuring Hyatt, Champ Hood and David Ball. Hyatt was an inspiration to, among others, Lyle Lovett, who returned the favor in 1989 by producing Hyatt's "King Tears" album forMCA. Hyatt's most recent album, "Music Town," is on Sugar Hill Records; proceeds from the sale of that record (as well as two Uncle Walt's Band reissues) will benefit Hyatt's wife and three daughters. Donations in his memory should be sent to the Second Presbyterian Church, c/o Hyatt Family Fund, 3511 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215.
Threadgill's Supper Sessions Vol. II (Watermelon)
The second live record to emerge from the famousAustin eatery features Hyatt on four tracks that were recorded on his birthday. Elsewhere, ringmaster Hood and his compadres are joined by the likes of Tish Hinojosa and Sarah Elizabeth Campbell. Word is there's also going to be a Threadgill's, Vol. II -- owner Eddie Wilson has scoped out a downtown Austin location fairly near the site of his previous baby, the Armadillo World Headquarters.
Sincola
With their "Crash Landing in Teen Heaven" now occupying record racks and full-page ads in national magazines, the Austin quintet have landed a slot on the 3X5 tour, a package that delivers three bands for five bucks every month all summer long. The first leg, with Local H, Limblifter and Stanford Prison Experiment, is just coming through Texas; Sincola's turn comes in June, along with Harvester and Whorgasm.
Monte Warden
The one-time Wagoneer is going to sign a record deal with River North, a Chicago-based company that's part of thePolygram empire. The label also has an office in Nashville, where Warden will probably record an album this summer. His last record was released by Watermelon.
The Backyard
Austin's outdoor venue has headed to the coast, opening up The Backyard at the Beach in Galveston this month. Los Lobos, Storyville, Killer Bees and Joe King Carrasco inaugurate the new digs on May 25, with shows planned throughout the summer. The venue, which can hold anywhere from 2-10,000 people, is right next to the Blisters restaurant at the end of I-45.
Tracy Chapman
The resurgently popular singer-songwriter played a special gig at Keller High School in Dallas on May 22, part of the congratulatory package for 15 year-old student Liberty Merriman. Merriman beat out 12,000 other high schoolers nationwide to win the Scholastic Write Lyrics contest, which was judged by Chapman. Merriman won a passel ofMicrosoft computing gear, while her song, which she says is country-influenced, will be published in five of Scholastic's magazines this fall.
The Gourds
Austin's finest purveyors of traditional country, spirited bluegrass and lazy, lively roots-rock have been hard at work on their first record, which may be released by the European label Munich. Producer and manager Mike Stewart has been working for the Dutch company, and not coincidentally, he's also working with the Gourds. After a short layoff, the Gourds return to the Austin stage June 7 at the Electric Lounge.
Miscellany
While he could always pull it back and change something, advance cassettes ofEric Johnson's "Travel One Hope" have begun making the industry rounds, which implies the record will indeed be released in August. Former Pariah guitarist and sometime Meat Puppets sideman Kyle Ellison has signed on as the Butthole Surfers' utility man, joining new bassist Owen Edwards. TheButtholes play Austin June 13 and Dallas June 14, then hit El Paso, Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi on July 2, 4, 5 and 6. Bryan/College Station is the only stop in Texas for theLollapalooza tour. The show, featuring billtoppersMetallica,Soundgarden and theRamones, is July 25... The Chicago indie Drag City has signed Edith Frost, a Brooklyn-based rockabilly oddball who's originally from Austin. Her web site is athttp://www.artsnacks.com/cowgal. Wayne "The Train" Hancock is also expected to bag himself a new record deal sometime soon. By the time you read this, it may be too late, but Saturday, May 25, there's a Texas Reggae Festival in San Antonio and an all-synthesizer fest ('Synthpopalooza) in Dallas.
