Original drummer Dave Fox and bassist Mike Musberger accompanying Ken and Jon for the anniversary show.
As promised, the Posies returned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their second major release Frosting on the Beater (technically their third album). They also had the band’s original drummer and bass player in tow. This took place at a larger venue, the Parish, which may or may not be around in the next couple years, the owner is selling it and anything on Sixth may get overhauled into something else entirely.
Ken Stringfellow
The Posies played a little of everything instead of using the formula of performing Frosting in order. I’m open to either approach. The best news for me was them doing my all time favorite song, “Throwaway” as the third song. Jon and Ken are at their best when they’re clowning around with the audience, namely when they need to kill a little time to re-tune their guitars. One of them will start noodling an old Rock song, get the crowd to sing a bit. Jon’s impression of Michael McDonald was spot on and hilarious.
It was great to have some face time with them again. They remembered me from the Cactus show! I asked Jon if he remembered the Christmas song he did with Velocity Girl’s lead vocalist, Sarah Shannon. He did which would be a given, Velocity Girl was their opener in 1996 (the first show I saw of both). Jon then let me know, Sarah left VG and moved to Seattle where she had recorded a couple more albums…which I am in the processing of hunting down, ohhh, she also does kid stuff now. I couldn’t resist sharing my (favorable) impression of them with Jon and Ken; Velocity Girl looked like high-school AV guys who formed a band with the odd yet pretty girl that writes poetry. Jon chuckled, responded, I wasn’t far off the mark.
Jon Auer
Should these guys come through town, see them! You won’t be bored and your ticket money helps pay for their upcoming remasters of their three albums originally on DGC, the same label Nirvana was on.
Opening for the Posies were two, high energy bands I loved. First was Austin’s very own Marmalakes. Definitely need to watch the local boards and press to see when they’re performing around town again. The music was solid but what I enjoyed more was this vibe of sincerity in their material. Most material comes from a personal place with the writer(s) yet it was more touching than I recall with others.
Terra Lightfoot on tour at another venue. Photo by Geoff Tischman.
The touring opener is someone you must see, Canadian rocker Terra Lightfoot. I’ll answer your immediate question, no, she isn’t related to Adult Contemporary star Gordon Lightfoot. However, Terra can play the hell out of a guitar and has impressive stage presence. Part of it is due to her height, she’s 6′ 1″. I bought a vinyl copy of her latest as a gift to my niece Anna who plays guitar too. Whenever I can find a good rock n’ roll role model for Anna, I buy their stuff to send her way. Terra and her bandmates were wonderful in person and Terra autographed the album New Mistakes with encouraging statements. I passed her credibility quiz when I bought a shirt which is modeled after Electric Warrior, T Rex’s best; which color, gold of course!
