I can go on... When my first record came out on Homestead which was in New Jersey, I think.
I really didn’t know how things worked. I don’t recall knowing anyone at the label. But, I do remember one phone conversation where somebody said that the record was selling really well in Austin. And they kept getting re-orders from Waterloo records.
Strange…
Years later Alejandro told me, “Bro, I sold so many copies of that Brother Aldo CD when I worked at Waterloo“. It was Al. He was a one man plugger.
This was… 1991 92?? I don’t know…
Our first out of town gig was at the CONGRESS HOUSE on Trinity. Prior to that, we hadn't really played outside of San Francisco. And we didn’t know that the record had any reach. But that little show got written about in the Statesman. And people seemed to know the songs… It was strange. And really encouraging.
"Rarely do singer-songwriter showcases feature performers who have the personality that brings a great song to life. Prophet's sly facial gestures, charismatic vocals and street-smart attitude complemented his excellent original material. He came across as not just a songwriter, but as a fully integrated artist." - Peter Blackstock AAS March '92.
I never knew the history of Chicago House. It seemed like it had been there forever when I arrived in 92. Me, Jimmy, Claude and Dr. Ron Byrd had a band for a minute called The Grackles that played there. I did some bullwhip poetry readings occasionally. At the open mics I met a newly arrived Ed Hamel when he had hair and a rhinestone yamaka. In fact I think he shaved his head after hanging out with three head shaven Grackles. Met Beaver Nelson there. And LaFave of course. The guy who managed the place was an incredible songwriter. Can't remember his name at the moment. I loved that place. And still of all the places that we’ve lost since that one hurts the most.
That was our first Austin gig. Stephie and me and Rich Brotherton on mandolin. Straight from the aero porto. No soundcheck, just get out there and plug in. BOOM! We really fell for Austin after that experience. Yes, I concur vis a vis “Walk Away Renee"
Man, I loved Chicago House. Beaver Nelson, Troy Campbell, Ray Wylie, and the amazing Jo Carol. I also loved Top of the Mark and Momos. These articles make me want to cry for my lost youth.
Reading your articles Michael are like taking a bottle of “Nostalgia”. Another wonderful walk down memory lane, especially for us 75+ year old subscribers.
FYI the Americana format didn't exist until late 95-early 96.
KGSR in the early 90s was Adult album alternative or AAA, a kind of 'progressive' radio format known for playing music that wasn't played anywhere else.
I miss Momo's. Booked a few bands there over the years (J Goodin, The Lost and Nameless Orchestra, Language Room, others I'm forgetting). One thing Paul had going for him was a great crew, who all seemed to be great musicians themselves (Dustin Welch, Craig Haskell come to mind - those House Band shows were great!). James Duvall was the sound guy for the longest time - he was one of the best in town; I hired him for multiple gigs over the years.
The Chicago House and its open mics run by Kevin Gant and Russ Somers and Mike Jasper and Susan Lindfors was where I started in Austin in late 1992 when I moved down there with bassist John Knodel (after we both graduated from Northwestern in Chicago) and formed Potter’s Field, along with percussionist Misty Conn, and later Noel McKay and Bobby Sheehan (of the Laughing Dogs, later The Laughing, later the McKay Brothers, later Noel McKay on his own). George Duron was our drummer later on when we slimmed down to a power trio. I met all those great open mic hosts there along with Hamell on Trial and Earthpig and so on, and our little scene had big talent like Seela and Meredith Miller and Doghouse and Colin Leyden and Ned Henry and so many more. Chicago House was how we all found each other and I’ll always be grateful to Peg and Glynda for that. Later on we played more at the Austin Outhouse and Hole in the Wall and the Electric Lounge but initially Chicago House was where it happened and I have such fond memories of the place from mainly 1992 to 1994 or so
Wow - great piece. I have wanted to know more about Chicago House for a long time. So many of the songwriters I admire played there. Reading this chapter, I realize now that the very first year I came to Austin (and met Jo Carol, and heard LaFave play) was also the final year of the Chicago House run. I’m sorry I never made it there, but I did meet Peg Miller once a few years later. She showed up at a showcase I was playing for John Conquest. I knew who she was and was completely awestruck. I had a million questions after my set and didn’t ask a one. She was friendly and kind and listened attentively to the music - just a lovely, true-blue person.
God damn, I loved Chicago House. I remember going there in 1992 just to see some gangly guy from NYC who read Kerouac's haikus for us, for a full hour. Wish I could remember anything about that, including his name, because it was so, so good. Such good times
I can go on... When my first record came out on Homestead which was in New Jersey, I think.
I really didn’t know how things worked. I don’t recall knowing anyone at the label. But, I do remember one phone conversation where somebody said that the record was selling really well in Austin. And they kept getting re-orders from Waterloo records.
Strange…
Years later Alejandro told me, “Bro, I sold so many copies of that Brother Aldo CD when I worked at Waterloo“. It was Al. He was a one man plugger.
This was… 1991 92?? I don’t know…
Our first out of town gig was at the CONGRESS HOUSE on Trinity. Prior to that, we hadn't really played outside of San Francisco. And we didn’t know that the record had any reach. But that little show got written about in the Statesman. And people seemed to know the songs… It was strange. And really encouraging.
"Rarely do singer-songwriter showcases feature performers who have the personality that brings a great song to life. Prophet's sly facial gestures, charismatic vocals and street-smart attitude complemented his excellent original material. He came across as not just a songwriter, but as a fully integrated artist." - Peter Blackstock AAS March '92.
Oh yes, no wonder! Very flattering. Who would’ve known all these years later. We’d all still be in the game to one length or another.
I never knew the history of Chicago House. It seemed like it had been there forever when I arrived in 92. Me, Jimmy, Claude and Dr. Ron Byrd had a band for a minute called The Grackles that played there. I did some bullwhip poetry readings occasionally. At the open mics I met a newly arrived Ed Hamel when he had hair and a rhinestone yamaka. In fact I think he shaved his head after hanging out with three head shaven Grackles. Met Beaver Nelson there. And LaFave of course. The guy who managed the place was an incredible songwriter. Can't remember his name at the moment. I loved that place. And still of all the places that we’ve lost since that one hurts the most.
That was our first Austin gig. Stephie and me and Rich Brotherton on mandolin. Straight from the aero porto. No soundcheck, just get out there and plug in. BOOM! We really fell for Austin after that experience. Yes, I concur vis a vis “Walk Away Renee"
Man, I loved Chicago House. Beaver Nelson, Troy Campbell, Ray Wylie, and the amazing Jo Carol. I also loved Top of the Mark and Momos. These articles make me want to cry for my lost youth.
Reading your articles Michael are like taking a bottle of “Nostalgia”. Another wonderful walk down memory lane, especially for us 75+ year old subscribers.
"Those hardcore bicyclists underestimated how much simple stairs would keep people away, and lasted only eight months. "
What lasted only 8 months? The stairs? what's the full story - e.g. the owners and Momo's lasted more than that by a lot.
The original Momo's lasted only 8 months.
FYI the Americana format didn't exist until late 95-early 96.
KGSR in the early 90s was Adult album alternative or AAA, a kind of 'progressive' radio format known for playing music that wasn't played anywhere else.
I miss Momo's. Booked a few bands there over the years (J Goodin, The Lost and Nameless Orchestra, Language Room, others I'm forgetting). One thing Paul had going for him was a great crew, who all seemed to be great musicians themselves (Dustin Welch, Craig Haskell come to mind - those House Band shows were great!). James Duvall was the sound guy for the longest time - he was one of the best in town; I hired him for multiple gigs over the years.
The Chicago House and its open mics run by Kevin Gant and Russ Somers and Mike Jasper and Susan Lindfors was where I started in Austin in late 1992 when I moved down there with bassist John Knodel (after we both graduated from Northwestern in Chicago) and formed Potter’s Field, along with percussionist Misty Conn, and later Noel McKay and Bobby Sheehan (of the Laughing Dogs, later The Laughing, later the McKay Brothers, later Noel McKay on his own). George Duron was our drummer later on when we slimmed down to a power trio. I met all those great open mic hosts there along with Hamell on Trial and Earthpig and so on, and our little scene had big talent like Seela and Meredith Miller and Doghouse and Colin Leyden and Ned Henry and so many more. Chicago House was how we all found each other and I’ll always be grateful to Peg and Glynda for that. Later on we played more at the Austin Outhouse and Hole in the Wall and the Electric Lounge but initially Chicago House was where it happened and I have such fond memories of the place from mainly 1992 to 1994 or so
Wow - great piece. I have wanted to know more about Chicago House for a long time. So many of the songwriters I admire played there. Reading this chapter, I realize now that the very first year I came to Austin (and met Jo Carol, and heard LaFave play) was also the final year of the Chicago House run. I’m sorry I never made it there, but I did meet Peg Miller once a few years later. She showed up at a showcase I was playing for John Conquest. I knew who she was and was completely awestruck. I had a million questions after my set and didn’t ask a one. She was friendly and kind and listened attentively to the music - just a lovely, true-blue person.
God damn, I loved Chicago House. I remember going there in 1992 just to see some gangly guy from NYC who read Kerouac's haikus for us, for a full hour. Wish I could remember anything about that, including his name, because it was so, so good. Such good times