Toni was one of our waitresses at the original La Zona Rosa. Interesting (in a Chinese sort of way) to work with. I managed the Texas Tornadoes shoot of Who Were You Thinking Of? Video at LZR and my memories of Toni and Freddy are unforgettable, as was the shoot itself. LZR was a hell of a venue and place to work. A piece of work, that Toni. Thanks for your take on her.
Beautifully written, Michael. It’s wonderful to read your carefully preserved interviews and observations from so many years ago. You must have had a pretty thick Toni Price file in your cabinet. Thank you for your stewardship. I was never a regular at any on musician’s gig as I had too many stops to make to keep up with my work, and yet at Toni’s gigs I always felt like family. I remain an ardent fan of your life’s work.
Oh man, I loved the Hippie Mama! I first heard Toni sing at Antone's on the drag and was instantly a fan. Having lunch at La Zona Rosa one day, admiring the crazy art collections on those round tables and I look up to see her standing there asking us if she can get us anything. My jaw dropped and I asked her, "hey, aren't you the singer, Toni Price?" "Why yes I am", she purred with a beautiful smile and twinkling eyes... I told her how much I enjoyed her singing at Antones and she thanked me, moved on and did her job. I left Austin late in 1991 for the East Coast, and am so sad to have missed her residency at the good old Continental. Back home a few times to visit my family, I tried to get in to see her again... but it was a thang by then, and sold out each time. I wish her all the best and am glad for the many hearts she touched. Thanks for this, Michael, sounds like you nailed it.
Anybody remember the HH show she took over from? Eddie Pantel & guests had a few months run before Toni blew it up. That’s right if I had managed Nirvana they’d still be touring small clubs in the Mid-West!
I wasn't a hard partier and never partook of the happenings out back. I went as often as I could on Tuesday nights for a while in the mid to late 90s--and I was there for the music, not the partying. And, wow, what music it was. And it wasn't just Toni's magic. All the musicians onstage were part of the magic. Champ Hood and Scrappy Jud particularly were a necessary part of the magic. Once, I took out-of-town friends to the Hippie Hour when Champ and Scrappy were out of town (one or both were in NYC playing for Lyle Lovett's appearance on David Letterman, as I recall). It just was not the same. That isn't to say that it couldn't be the same with out them...and I think the musicians' unfamiliarity with playing with Toni hurt their performances--there was more strumming and less pickin' than usual. Oh, and you forgot Don Walser on Monday nights at Babe's on 6th Street--another of my regular gigs...along with Cornell Hurd on Thursdays. I was single with no kids at the time. A wife and a family put an end to my regular attendance at music happy hours. But what great memories.
I almost turned down a job one time because they stayed late (until 7) on Tuesdays so staff could get off early Fridays. I met my husband (and so many friends) at Hippie Hour. Life changing.
Toni was one of our waitresses at the original La Zona Rosa. Interesting (in a Chinese sort of way) to work with. I managed the Texas Tornadoes shoot of Who Were You Thinking Of? Video at LZR and my memories of Toni and Freddy are unforgettable, as was the shoot itself. LZR was a hell of a venue and place to work. A piece of work, that Toni. Thanks for your take on her.
Beautifully written, Michael. It’s wonderful to read your carefully preserved interviews and observations from so many years ago. You must have had a pretty thick Toni Price file in your cabinet. Thank you for your stewardship. I was never a regular at any on musician’s gig as I had too many stops to make to keep up with my work, and yet at Toni’s gigs I always felt like family. I remain an ardent fan of your life’s work.
Oh man, I loved the Hippie Mama! I first heard Toni sing at Antone's on the drag and was instantly a fan. Having lunch at La Zona Rosa one day, admiring the crazy art collections on those round tables and I look up to see her standing there asking us if she can get us anything. My jaw dropped and I asked her, "hey, aren't you the singer, Toni Price?" "Why yes I am", she purred with a beautiful smile and twinkling eyes... I told her how much I enjoyed her singing at Antones and she thanked me, moved on and did her job. I left Austin late in 1991 for the East Coast, and am so sad to have missed her residency at the good old Continental. Back home a few times to visit my family, I tried to get in to see her again... but it was a thang by then, and sold out each time. I wish her all the best and am glad for the many hearts she touched. Thanks for this, Michael, sounds like you nailed it.
Anybody remember the HH show she took over from? Eddie Pantel & guests had a few months run before Toni blew it up. That’s right if I had managed Nirvana they’d still be touring small clubs in the Mid-West!
You represented that time in our history very well. Thank you for sharing the magic!
I wasn't a hard partier and never partook of the happenings out back. I went as often as I could on Tuesday nights for a while in the mid to late 90s--and I was there for the music, not the partying. And, wow, what music it was. And it wasn't just Toni's magic. All the musicians onstage were part of the magic. Champ Hood and Scrappy Jud particularly were a necessary part of the magic. Once, I took out-of-town friends to the Hippie Hour when Champ and Scrappy were out of town (one or both were in NYC playing for Lyle Lovett's appearance on David Letterman, as I recall). It just was not the same. That isn't to say that it couldn't be the same with out them...and I think the musicians' unfamiliarity with playing with Toni hurt their performances--there was more strumming and less pickin' than usual. Oh, and you forgot Don Walser on Monday nights at Babe's on 6th Street--another of my regular gigs...along with Cornell Hurd on Thursdays. I was single with no kids at the time. A wife and a family put an end to my regular attendance at music happy hours. But what great memories.
I almost turned down a job one time because they stayed late (until 7) on Tuesdays so staff could get off early Fridays. I met my husband (and so many friends) at Hippie Hour. Life changing.