Ways to support this channel. www.patreon.com/otisgibbs th-cam.com/channels/YX2MTovE0vYjD8touqRH7Q.htmljoin Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs
Corky's was a lovely little cltb with an Art Deco mural of a plane flying to some tropical isle. Were there really coconut scented candles? Quite different from the funkier environs of Anderson Fair or the Old Quarter. They booked some fine acts The most excellent Uncke Walt's Band played there whenever they cane down from Austin One night I heard Blaze improvise a song: Avocado. To the tune of Desperado it was a sad tale that ended in Guacamole...
I was only in Corky's once, where I saw a typically great show by Dave Edmunds in the most unlikely place I have ever seen Edmunds play. I have previously only heard the tale end of this story (shooting up the saxophone) but this is the first I have heard what led up to it. I saw Townes numerous times but only once did I see him in such bad shape that he didn't complete a single song over two sets.
I have a Townes story. About 1983-84 I was in school in Austin enjoying the great live music including the T-Birds, SRV, Eric Johnson, Charlie Sexton and some alternative bands like The Wild Seeds, Glass Eye and The Jitters. Heard so many people playing Townes' songs so an obnoxious buddy and I headed to the Soap Creek Saloon to check him out. We arrived and there were only about ten people there and Townes was playing some mellow folk with some other musicians. We were expecting an electric guitar show. After the first song we started to get up to leave and one of the musicians made a sarcastic remark about us leaving. My friend responded with "You guys suck!" As we were walking to the door I saw and heard Townes say "I'm not taking that shit" as he was walking off the stage to come after us. Thankfully somebody must have stopped him because I waited at my car to see if he would come outside but he did not. Was kinda hoping he would kick my friend's ass but Townes looked old and sick. I have always felt bad about walking out of the show and we were lucky the whole band and club did not come after us! 😎🎸
Great story. Dare I say, typical Townes Van Zandt. There's pain, but who are we to argue, while all we can do is follow the trail with the help of a few published biographies. Might get on the nerves of Van Zandt's contemporaries, but it seems to me that on the film "Be Here to Love Me" (2004), Devendra Banhart came up with the simple and accurate description: _"Genius dork who wrote these perfect songs."_ Empty bottles, shotgun shells, rabbit holes, naked trees, fallen leaves, chirping of birds, narrow footbridge over a brook, distant hills, drifting clouds, rear view mirror, winding road ---everywhere you look, there's Townes. --Waving from Istanbul.
Grandpa died last week And now he’s buried in the rocks But everybody still talks about How badly they were shocked But me, I expected it to happen I knew he’d lost control When he built a fire on Main Street And shot it full of holes
I know a lot of his antics made for funny stories, but having seen Townes on stage in that shape it was a heartbreaking reality to watch.
Check out Gurf's new record and tell him Otis sent ya!
www.gurfmorlix.com/
Big thanks Otis, brilliant interview. I have heard parts of the saxophone story before, but a much shorter version. Great end of the story.
such a great story. I am glad I heard it again. I have been looking for this story for quite a while. Thanks Otis
Ways to support this channel.
www.patreon.com/otisgibbs
th-cam.com/channels/YX2MTovE0vYjD8touqRH7Q.htmljoin
Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel.
paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=...
www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs
Paypal: @otisgibbs
Venmo: @OtisGibbs
Corky's was a lovely little cltb with an Art Deco mural of a plane flying to some tropical isle. Were there really coconut scented candles? Quite different from the funkier environs of Anderson Fair or the Old Quarter. They booked some fine acts
The most excellent Uncke Walt's Band played there whenever they cane down from Austin
One night I heard Blaze improvise a song: Avocado. To the tune of Desperado it was a sad tale that ended in Guacamole...
I was only in Corky's once, where I saw a typically great show by Dave Edmunds in the most unlikely place I have ever seen Edmunds play. I have previously only heard the tale end of this story (shooting up the saxophone) but this is the first I have heard what led up to it. I saw Townes numerous times but only once did I see him in such bad shape that he didn't complete a single song over two sets.
I have a Townes story. About 1983-84 I was in school in Austin enjoying the great live music including the T-Birds, SRV, Eric Johnson, Charlie Sexton and some alternative bands like The Wild Seeds, Glass Eye and The Jitters. Heard so many people playing Townes' songs so an obnoxious buddy and I headed to the Soap Creek Saloon to check him out. We arrived and there were only about ten people there and Townes was playing some mellow folk with some other musicians. We were expecting an electric guitar show. After the first song we started to get up to leave and one of the musicians made a sarcastic remark about us leaving. My friend responded with "You guys suck!" As we were walking to the door I saw and heard Townes say "I'm not taking that shit" as he was walking off the stage to come after us. Thankfully somebody must have stopped him because I waited at my car to see if he would come outside but he did not. Was kinda hoping he would kick my friend's ass but Townes looked old and sick. I have always felt bad about walking out of the show and we were lucky the whole band and club did not come after us! 😎🎸
Great story. Dare I say, typical Townes Van Zandt.
There's pain, but who are we to argue, while all we can do is follow the trail with the help of a few published biographies. Might get on the nerves of Van Zandt's contemporaries, but it seems to me that on the film "Be Here to Love Me" (2004), Devendra Banhart came up with the simple and accurate description: _"Genius dork who wrote these perfect songs."_ Empty bottles, shotgun shells, rabbit holes, naked trees, fallen leaves, chirping of birds, narrow footbridge over a brook, distant hills, drifting clouds, rear view mirror, winding road ---everywhere you look, there's Townes. --Waving from Istanbul.
Wow, what an amazing tale…. Thx for sharing Otis and Gurf 🙏
Gurf Morlix tells great stories, as well as having the coolest name ever.
Love all Townes stories! Man he was funny.
Great story
Hilarious
Grandpa died last week
And now he’s buried in the rocks
But everybody still talks about
How badly they were shocked
But me, I expected it to happen
I knew he’d lost control
When he built a fire on Main Street
And shot it full of holes
It's always fun to HEAR about gigs like this, but when you actually have to play with a staggering drunk person....it's horrible.
That's funny
hoora freak shows freak stories freaks unite!
Okay bless him God bless America and him