One musical artist I'm particularly fond of is Basia, the Polish jazz-pop singer. Other artists that have a significant presence in my collection include They Might Be Giants, Astrud Gilberto, Suzanne Vega, The Young Fresh Fellows, The Raincoats, The B-52's, Pylon, Björk, The Sugarcubes, Everything But the Girl, R.E.M., Timbuk 3, Thomas Dolby, Magnapop, Deee-Lite, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, Sam Phillips, 10,000 Maniacs, Jewel, Jennifer Tyrnin, Moonpools and Caterpillars, and The dB's. (Whew!)
Yes, its great! In addition to the already mentioned Shawn Colvin and Timbuk3, I also enjoy Austin's Nanci Griffith, the Asylum Street Spankers, The Instruments (formerly known as the Texas Instruments), the Doenuts, Funner (formerly Hyperfluff), John Dee Graham, and 8 1/2 Souvenirs.
At a mid-1996 Hyperfluff show, I found out that mosh pits are not allowed in Texas due to a law passed in 1995 that makes club owners liable for pit injuries. Too bad--we moshed anyway! If I wanted, I'm sure I could find at least one good show to go to every night; there is SO MUCH happening here.
Robert Rodriguez is friends with Richard Linklater who features Kathy McCarty who covered Daniel Johnston who recorded with Texas Instruments (now just The Instruments) who often play with Hyperfluff, now called Funner, who also play with Larry Seaman who was on a Hole in the Wall compilation disc with Pat McDonald formerly of Timbuk3 when he was married to Barbara K who produced the solo CD of Wammo, a member of the Asylum Street Spankers who recently lost their bass player Kevin Smith to 8 1/2 Souvenirs.
Stretford once employed Rebecca Cannon who played in Sincola and now heads Scarlitt with former members of Gretchen Phillips Xperience, fronted by Gretchen Phillips of Two Nice Girls which once featured Laurie Freelove. Gretchen was a former roommate of Kathy McCarty, back when she was in Glass Eye with Brian Beattie.
The Austin Chronicle has a web server listing most of the club dates for the next week. Here are specific searches for some of my favorites.