Austin Bat Cave is a non-profit writing and tutoring center serving a diverse population of young people. The center fights the good fight daily to keep our young people interested in reading and writing, and has an impressive roster of volunteers who lead seminars and workshops. Among the volunteers are students and grads from UT’s Michener Center, as well as yours truly. This past Tuesday, the organization hosted a benefit at Holy Mountain with a stellar bill of musicians: Hospital Ships, the legendary Jon Dee Graham and his son Willie, and experimental folk hero Bill Callahan.
Hospital Ships, under the guidance of Jordan Geiger, opened the night with a set of dreamy pop. Serene sounds of gentle electric guitar, trumpet, and keys washed over the crowd like rolling fog banks. Geiger has performed over the years with Shearwater and was the creative force behind the band Minus Story. He’s an Austinite, although we’re not treated to quite enough Hospital Ships shows, so catching a set when the opportunity presents itself is highly advised.
Jon Dee Graham, once-guitarist for the revered True Believers, performed in the middle slot, accompanied by his 15 year old son, Willie. The two alternated choosing songs, Jon’s leaning more toward alt-folk and country and Willie’s incorporating elements of grunge. A veteran performer, Jon Dee quipped about the “required distance” a crowd must stand from an opening band, eliciting good-natured laughs from concertgoers who then made their way forward, nearer the stage. The night ended with the whole room singing along to a great rendition of Graham’s “Dreaming of Muhammed Ali.” The song’s optimism and romance worked as a perfect song to embody the kind of encouragement the Bat Cave tries to offer young people.
Before Bill Callahan even took the stage, the room had become utterly packed, full of sweaty patrons who had waited all night to see the somewhat reclusive songwriter. The set included mostly newer selections: “America!” “Riding for the Feeling,” “Drover,” and “Too Many Birds,” among others. Callahan sounded solid, supported by a cast of three other musicians, including Adam Jones of Deep Time on the drums. However, the band didn’t do much in the way of performing or attempting to win over the crowd. As with many Callahan shows I’ve seen, the performance relies on the strength of the songs, and one’s enjoyment of the show could be said to be directly proportional to the affinity one has for the chosen songs. Appropriately, Callahan’s live persona is as stark and austere as much of his songwriting. Nonetheless, Callahan remains one of the current day’s most accomplished and talented voices in music.
To become involved with or donate to The Austin Bat Cave, please visit their website here.
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