I arrived in Austin last Friday, and have been checking out some parties and music scenes (including a show by Tori Sparks), so I’ll just share a few photos with you from my first few days!

You may have read our previous story about Tori at SXSW, so here is a chance for our local Northern Colorado friends to hear for yourselves that this lovely young singer is a true gem.

If you can’t make it to the Nonesuch this Sunday, you’ll have a second chance to see Tori play at The Rock ‘n’ Soul Cafe in Boulder the following evening, August 9th, starting at 7:30pm.

Facebook events for both gigs can be found here:

• Sunday, Aug 8, Fort Collins
• Monday, Aug 9, Boulder

Learn more about Tori at her website, ToriSparks.com, or on Facebook. You can also read about Savvant Music‘s web site at this article link: http://savvantmusic.com/2008/04/07/tori-sparks-in-austin.

Nicole Atkins with Future Clouds and Radar

Last Sunday night in Austin, we all piled into a taxi and headed off to the Austin City Limits Studio for a terrific party thrown by PBS.

The PBS party was held in the KLRU Austin building where the world famous Austin City Limits stage is located. Being near this stage where so many amazing performances have been seen and heard was in and of itself a breathtaking event, but watching the two terrific young bands playing on that stage Sunday night made it a night to remember.

Future Clouds and Radar

Then we were treated to an awesome rock show by a great British trio, Band of Skulls.  Despite the somewhat morbid name of this fantastic group, lead singer Russell Marsden delivers wonderfully sweet, smooth and clear vocals backed by his own ripping guitar riffs.  Tall, lean and serious, Emma Richardson plays a solid bass line and complementary vocals.

Russell Marsden of Band of Skulls

Band of Skulls at the Austin City Limits Studios

Bob and I were walking down 6th Street here in Austin on our way to a SXSW party, and as we walked past Nuno’s we heard some awesome blues guitar coming out the door, and decided we’d stop in after attending some sxsw “official” parties. Best idea we had ALL night, maybe all week! We stopped in a few hours later and the blues coming out the door were so incredibly soulful, rocking and pure we couldn’t believe it –then we recognized the pianist, whom we’d seen with Kenny Wayne Shepherd last year – the legendary, grammy award winning Pinetop Perkins!

No wonder the blues were so deep and rich, because this man knows how to lay it down, and does it effortlessly. As he rolled through these amazing blues you don’t really realize the man is in his mid-nineties, because he’s as young and vibrant in his music as the young guys he’s playing with only with that incredibly old soul that only a true blues man can have.

According to local Austin songwriter, Lee Duffy, Pine Top was displaced during Katrina, and has settled down here in Austin where he’s been taken in as one of their own by the Austin music community. And I couldn’t resist getting my picture taken with the amazing Pinetop Perkins. He’s certainly still got his mojo workin’!