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Hey y'all! Ah'm gawn to Texas!

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- Rated: 204 ↑
May 14, 2008 11:02 p.m. Proteus:

It's true.

The Texas Rockabilly Revival officially begins Friday night in Austin Deep-in-the-Heart, but travel from Speedway Indiana starts tomorrow morning before yon sun even cracks the sky - and pre-show coverage will begin tomorrow afternoon.

Supposed to be thunderstorms tomorrow, but I doubt they'll be anywhere in the nation's midsection. That's what I doubt.

So, to quote my least favorite blow-dry fringed-suede pseudo westerner, "my bags are packed..."

Two nights, eight bands, a car show, and legendary Carduccian surprises (known and unknown) for loyal GDP watchers...all from Gretsch, the official guitar of rockybilly.

Stay tuned for cars, guitars, real live pin-up girls, music, interviews, prizes, and all the lukewarm virtual PBR you can guzzle (or virtuously decline).

'cause we gawn to Texas, y'all!
- Rated: 55 ↑
May 14, 2008 11:21 p.m. otterbean:

I love Austin! You lucky so and so.
- Rated: 40 ↑
May 14, 2008 11:24 p.m. Pseudo Man:

Hey Prote, can you mention to Joe that i still haven't received my shirt from the Report From Japan contest?
- Rated: 65 ↑
May 14, 2008 11:32 p.m. Antik:

Have a good trip Proteus. It is a bit of a haul, I think a tad farther to Austin than New York City for you. Bon voyage. (And I do not envy you the early morning "zombie time" departure. But I do envy you in going to such a great destination... as long as the flooding does not start until after you leave. )
- Rated: 24 ↑
May 14, 2008 11:40 p.m. stjohn:

man, what a gig.....do you pay Joe for this job or what?

Seriously, have a blast, and I look forward to your impeccable style of reporting.

I hope to catch as much as I can, but the wife is receiving that cute little piece of paper from grad school Saturday, and, well, I may just have to see it to believe it. No more Mr. Mom for me!!!! Now to start saving for the DSV!
- Rated: 17 ↑
May 15, 2008 12:25 a.m. Dr Nyl:

PM said: Hey Prote, can you mention to Joe that i still haven't received my shirt from the Report From Japan contest?
And my Baseball Jersey from NAMM. Please.
- Rated: 204 ↑
May 15, 2008 5:21 a.m. Proteus:

T-Rab-R Bulletin #1: It has rained but it's not raining. The sky is not completely dark. I am in motion!
- Rated: 55 ↑
May 15, 2008 7:26 a.m. fieldhdj:

If I wasn't working this weekend I'd be there.

"my bags are packed..."

Ahem. You might wanna brush up on your Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Have a blast, and I look forward to catching what I can!
- Rated: 44 ↑
May 15, 2008 7:36 a.m. Richard Hudson:

Man, I'd love to be there Pro. I have a nephew working for Ducks Unlimited that lives in Austin. I'll try to get him to come by and say hello to you and Joe for me.

Looking forward to your on site reports.

Richard

Edited to add a P.S. - Watch out for those Texans. They'll fill you full of B.S. - and that ain't Barbeque Sauce - although there should be plenty of BBQ around.
- Rated: 204 ↑
May 15, 2008 8:05 a.m. Proteus:

Why do they call it "tarmac"? It's neither tar nor macadam. In Indy it's concrete.

Cute l'il ol' plane too!
- Rated: 22 ↑
May 15, 2008 10:42 a.m. Boyko:

have a safe trip Proteus, you lucky dog!
- Rated: 66 ↑
May 15, 2008 10:48 a.m. Walter Broes:

Have fun in Austin, I wish I was going now, it's a fun place.

If you have the time, get an "Austin Chronicle", and look at what's playing in the clubs, the talent in Austin is nothing short of amazing.

Try to get at least one beer's time at the Continental Club, Ginny's Little Longhorn, , and steer clear of Sixth street. (and if you can get a local to guide you, try the BBQ at "Sam's"!!!!)
- Rated: 78 ↑
May 15, 2008 11:00 a.m. Deed Eddy:

Your Roving Reporter said: It's neither tar nor macadam...
Discuss.

So, Texas, eh? Have a big time, remember to tip your hat to the ladies, and if you happen to run into Teisco Del Rey, give him a hearty "Hey!" from us, alrighty?
- Rated: 11 ↑
May 15, 2008 11:06 a.m. LiRM35:

Kind of difficult to steer clear of 6th street, since the pre-party both days is at the Jackalope, not to mention the wristband pickup as well. Five hours til I head out the door for this shindig...
- Rated: 204 ↑
May 15, 2008 11:20 a.m. Proteus:

Physics has triumphed over common sense yet again: up, around, and back on the ground in Houston. If the first plane was small (50 passenger, twin R-R zoomers on the tail), I have to wonder what crop-duster will take us the last intra-state hop to Austin...

In the meantime, Cap'n Carducci is stuck in traffic in Phoenix, and in jeopardy of missing his flight.

Stay tuned!
- Rated: 18 ↑
May 15, 2008 11:34 a.m. Mark G:

Travel safely! We look forward to your faithful reportage.

Richard Hudson said: Watch out for those Texans. They'll fill you full of B.S
Spoken like a true Okie!
- Rated: 16 ↑
May 15, 2008 12:11 p.m. Flaco:

Proteus said: all the lukewarm virtual PBR you can guzzle

Here in Texas us rockabillies tend to drink Lone Star. It's owned by the same company as PBR - probably the same thing in a different can. It's the "National" beer of Texas.

Where are you going to be on Friday around 5 pm, the Jackalope? I'll try to swing by after work.
- Rated: 52 ↑
May 15, 2008 12:42 p.m. ADR:

P-man, are you taking the 'Gretsch Caddy' on the road this time?
- Rated: 5 ↑
May 15, 2008 12:51 p.m. HillbillyWolf:

I'll be in Austin in one and a half weeks!
- Rated: 40 ↑
May 15, 2008 2:56 p.m. JC:

Sadly i won't be in Austin, but i'm looking forward to Prot's excellent reports, and pics!

Have a good couple of days Proteus!
- Rated: 43 ↑
May 15, 2008 3:13 p.m. Tsar Nicholas :

Can't wait, Proteus!
- Rated: 20 ↑
May 15, 2008 3:24 p.m. troy6120:

If you get a chance, go by a guitar/amp store called Guitar Resurrection, in Austin. If you walk out of there without finding a guitar or amp you want, there's something wrong with ya! I got my 6122-1959 sunburst there.
- Rated: 204 ↑
May 15, 2008 5:26 p.m. Proteus:

5:14 Local Time, Austin.

The weather is a balmy 70-something, my son and I are ensconced on the 5th floor of a Doubletree, overlooking a Spanish-ish courtyard. The room door is open, birds are chirping, a fountain is splashing, we're mellowly digesting a killer Gulf coast seafood meal from Papadeaux. (The waiter described one dish as a "lapdance for your tongue.")

Hotel courtyard from our balcony...

Is it safe to say all is well?

It's safe to say that all is well!

But not for Joe. Joe missed his plane, and took another two hours later. Poor ol' Joe!

We made our plane just fine, and oddly enough it turned out to be a bigger transportation appliance than the Indy-Houston model. But I should have known: we're talking TEXAS here.

Waiting for us on the ground was the rest of the FMIC-Gretsch crew for this event: Gretsch artist relations guy Jason Herndon, Fender artist relations guy Mark Webber, and FMIC swagmaster Tim Thiele (who's here with mountains of Gretsch garb & collectibles to tempt the rockin' kats & kittens).

Jason is a drawling long-haired southerner, originally from Alabama, who works out of Nashville. Mark is originally from California, and now works from here in Austin; Tim flew in from Scottsdale (on the same plane Joe was supPOSED to be on).

Over late lunch, we heard some of each other's stories, how we came to the same place at the same time for two nights of rockabilly in a classic American music town. All guitarists, all with a love for the music, roundabout paths to bring it all together.

Mark and Jason have headed back to the airport to collect Joe and a rental van. Later tonight we load the van with the backline gear for the festival (amps and a Gretsch drumkit).

But before that, it turns out we have down-front seats (and maybe backstage access) for ZZ Top at The Back Yard, a 8-10k venue north of town. Rosie Flores is opening.

It's not part of the Texas Rockabilly Revival per se...but it ain't bad!

And did I mention the Doubletree gives out fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies with room keys?

In OTHER words...so far so good, and the good stuff hasn't even started yet.

And mom and dad always told me this rock & roll stuff wouldn't last.
- Rated: 204 ↑
May 15, 2008 5:33 p.m. Proteus:

All advice from y'all posters taken under advisement. Gotcha on the beer, and the BBQ, and the clubs (if there's time), and I will ask Joe about the errant gifts from earlier shows.

ADR asks P-man, are you taking the 'Gretsch Caddy' on the road this time?

Now I would have liked to bring the Caddy down for the car show. But a 17-hour drive (at modern speeds) would have to be broken into two days each way if I wasn't to overstress a 53-year old car. There just wasn't time – and it would still be an epic adventure.

Trailering it was prohibitively expensive.

But I know it would have been a hit at the show. I had it all figured out to emblazon the sides with stick-on vinyl Gretsch logos.

Ah well.
- Rated: 22 ↑
May 15, 2008 5:48 p.m. Boyko:

ZZ Top? Nice! I hope to check them out when they show up in Ottawa...wait was it Ottawa or Toronto? When they come to Ontario I guess.

Hopefully Billy will have a sweet Gretsch out on stage, enjoy the show!

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