From L.A. To Shangri-la

Tony Peyser
Mirror contributing writer
  
   “Life is a movie too/Starring you/Holy family cast and crew.” That’s from the first song on Stew’s latest solo effort, Something Deeper Than These Changes. The prime mover of The Negro Problem, he’s the Eastside’s answer to Brian Wilson. With a grand swoon, Stew’s hypnotic “Arteest Café” dreamily summons visions of Moses parting the 405 and Raymond Chandler selling oranges and peanuts on a highway median strip. The only thing wrong with the song it that it ends. If you’re sick of pop pap, hear the elegant and mischievous sounds you’ve been missing.
   Dan Zanes and Friends have made four family-friendly albums which parents like as much as their kids do. House Party further proves that ex-Del Fuego rocker Zanes has found his niche. “A Place For Us” is a collaboration with classical and avant garde composer Philip Glass. It’s “This Land Is Your Land” by way of Burt Bacharach. Other highlights include “Wabash Cannonball” with Bob Weir and “Waltzing Matilda” with Deborah Harry. If you don’t have children, you may want to have (or borrow) some just to play Zanes’ albums for them.
   If pub rock had been launched in Texas instead of England, Elizabeth McQueen and the FireBrands’ The Fresh Up Club is what it might’ve sounded like. “Thirty Days” shows she and her band can tackle an old Chuck Berry song and sing the hell out of it. The same applies to their version of George Jones’ rollicking “What Am I Worth?” But the FireBrands are no cover band. You won’t want the rootsy, twanging “I Don’t Wanna Stop” to stop and may also notice it sounds kinda like The Go-Go’s. With her dark-rimmed glasses, McQueen looks like a smart girl who doesn’t care who knows it. And she’s one of the bright lights now lighting up Austin.
   The title of Two High String Band’s new CD, Insofarasmuch, is as quirky as the music they make. This Austin band plays bluegrass that’s been shellacked with folk —- folkgrass, if you will. The acoustic buffet here runs from an endearing cover of John Hartford’s “You Can’t Run Away From Your Feet” to the lilting instrumental title track that sounds like a Grateful Dead song that the band lost the lyrics to.
   The busy Rick Shea plays with Dave Alvin, has done strong solo albums and a good one with Alvin band mate Brantley Kearns. Our Shangri-La, his latest effort, is spirited country duets with pal Patty Booker. “Fat Daddy” is a sly tale of old flames and new arm candy and “The House That We Once Lived In” is a gripping look at the love a ruined former home once held. Shea and Booker live locally and could’ve called their charming album My Shangri L.A.
   Miles Of Music has The Fresh Up Club for $15.49, Insofarasmuch for $14.49 and House Party for $13.99. Amazon has Something Deeper Than These Changes for $13.98 and Our Shangri-La for $15.99.
   * The Goofy Band Name Of The Week is … Vote Robot. (No comment.)