by John Morthland
Top Music Events- Early May
Accordion Abuse
Thirty groups appear at the 15th annual Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio in Rosedale Park May 7-12. They range from standard-bearers like Flaco Jimenez and Tony de la Rosa to young upstarts like Tropa F.National Polka Festival
More accordions in action. The Jody Mikula orchestra is the top attraction May 4-5 at the 30th annual festival, spread among several venues in downtown Ennis.The Old 97s Take Dallas
Alternative country bandThe Old 97s led the Dallas Observer Music Awards Poll as best act overall, most improved, and best country; they also shared the best single award withFunland.Mas Selena
"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"--co-written bySelena and Pete Astudillo, recorded by Selena--was named song of the year at the third annualBMI Latin Music Awards in San Antonio.Sister Signs
Austin rock-funk comboSister 7, formerly known as Little Sister, is the newest addition to theArista Texas roster.Kirk Franklin and the Family: Watcha Lookin' 4 (GospoCentric)
The Fort Worth youth's second album--his debut was the first platinum album ever by a gospel artist--is another unabashed work of hip, streetwise gospel, simultaneously progressive and traditional.William James IV: The Naked and the Baked (WJK)
This moonlighting Corpus Christi lawyer makes blustering, trashy, oft-hilarious blues-rock, sometimes with courtroom themes, no less. Not for everyone, and he wouldn't have it any other way.Prescott Curlywolf: Six Ways to Sunday (Mercury)
Muscular, hook-happy, song-oriented rock from an Austin quartet that plays for keeps without taking itself too seriously.Kimmie Rhodes: West Texas Heaven (Justice)
With help from guest stars like Willie Nelson and Townes Van Zandt, and an all-star lineup of sidemen, the Austin singer-songwriter offers spare, haunting country-folk.Jones, George, with Tom Carter: I Lived to Tell It All (Villard)
Rehabbed and peacefully married, the Beaumont native--country music's greatest drinker, drugger, divorcer, and singer since Hank Williams--does indeed tell all in this voyeur's delight.
