Dancing About Architecture

Craig Ross got the first good review for his second album Everland in the pages of this month's Request magazine. The only problem is that the MCA album, which was to be released last week, won't be appearing until at least next year and most likely will not even be on MCA. "I don't know if anybody knows what's going on," Ross explains (sort of), "but if somebody does, I'm the only one, and I want to keep it quiet until everything's done." He allows that he and the label "aren't seeing eye to eye" on the album, and that another label has already expressed interest in it. As for the premature praise from Request, Ross muses, "It helps, but it's not like they're gonna review it again when it comes out."

See How They Run

And you thought everybody was running to Austin from Los Angeles. Well, for every action, they say, is an equal and opposite reaction, so say goodbye to Kris McKay, who headed out to the Left Coast this week in search of greener smog. She says that living out in Cally-forny won't really change her schedule of local appearances, though. "I'll be in town one week, out for four," she says. "It won't be any different than before." Meanwhile, on the label end of things, Shanachie has given McKay "permission to be unfaithful" as her new material is more pop than that folk-oriented company is accustomed to. She'll be shopping for a new deal from her new Hollywood home, she says, and if all else fails, she can wander back to Shanachie and "go yodeling my way across America." And if that fails, then she can call up Fastball's Miles Zuniga, who just loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly. Zuniga says he only plans to be gone for a few months, but I can't help but wonder if the fact that he lived next door to the guy who was arrested as the South Austin rapist -- and recently had words with him after he caught the fella driving around on his lawn -- might have influenced his decision to leave the neighborhood.

Olé, Mr. K.

Have you spotted Tonio K. wandering around town yet? He's been back in Austin for a couple of weeks working with his pal Charlie Sexton on songs for the Sexton Sextet's album. He's already gotten trapped by the slacker lifestyle, as well. "It's crazy," says K. "I come down here and I'm like a teenager." He describes a typical evening as being in the clubs 'til 3am, working on songs until the sun comes up, then sleeping into the afternoon. As far as playing gigs himself, he probably won't, though his record company Gadfly would certainly like him to do so in support of his "new" Olé album. Even though Olé was recorded almost a decade ago but not released until now, Gadfly may find themselves with another album from K. within the next year, as he says he has a load of demos and outtakes he may "spruce up" and deliver to them. "I'm never short of songs," he grins.

Baby's Night Out

Remember the Hallowe'en decorations that Randy "Biscuit" Turner put up at Liberty Lunch last year -- zillions of CDs hanging from the ceiling, along with green baby dolls with wings carrying various musical instruments? Well, you should remember, as they stayed up through January, at which point Biscuit was asked to come and take them down. By that time, however, someone had absconded with one of the li'l angels, which really burned Biscuit up. Well, the Chronicle is proud to announce that the missing plastic infant has been found, if not actually recovered. As seen in the accompanying photo, the verdant rugrat is currently on a Harley tour of Australia, headed by none other than Stephen King (sadly, pictures of the baby with King have not yet made it through the international mail). No word yet on if and when Biscuit's prodigal son plans to return from Oz.

A Princely Puzzle

The number one question people have been asking me this week is, "Where's the secret post-gig party for Prince gonna be?" To tell you the truth, I don't have the slightest idea. As you may know, the Purple One generally announces the location at the end of his big show -- at the Erwin Center Sunday (see "Recommended") -- though in some cases word has gotten out beforehand. This means if you pay to see the man in concert, you'll know the site of the more intimate performance. Still, I couldn't help but compile a Top Ten list of places that the after-show show might be:

(10.) Fiesta Texas: Lots of cool stages, but Mr. P might get frustrated since he's not tall enough to get on the adult rides.

(9.) Charlie's Attic: It's closed down, but I'll bet the furniture and such is still in there -- and Charlie won't be around to demand that the Artist perform "Sweet Home Alabama."

(8.) The Austin Stories set: These days, Mr. Funny Symbol needs all the video play he can get.

(7.) Ego's: The perfect little dive for such an occasion, though the people in back who can't see will assume they're at a King Cheese gig.

(6.) The 290 Flea Market: There's a decent stage there, and bootleg tees will already be available.

(5.) The Psychic Fair: Maybe somebody there can explain what that damned glyph really means.

(4.) Pleasureland: A great opportunity for audience participation on the line "masturbating with a magazine."

(3.) Circle C Ranch: The show could be a benefit to save the Miniature Purple Humping Thrush.

(2.) Showplace Lanes: David Bowie once visited there, setting a precedence for eccentric megastars.

(1.) Miles Earney's house: Why not? He's gonna claim that Prince showed up there anyway.

Mixed Notes

Calling from New York, Continental Records' Jack Hazard says that a "tentative deal" has been reached with longtime jazz giant RCA/Victor regarding 81/2 Souvenirs, though he hesitates to claim any more for certain until "the fat lady sings"...

Malcolm Welbourne of the Killer Bees reports that his longtime musical partner Michael E. Johnson did in fact have a heart attack a couple of weeks ago, and resulted in the latter musician having to have triple bypass surgery. Welbourne says he's recovering "very well" and is now at home...

Industry mag and AAA experts The Gavin Report have included two Austin artists in their first list of "Gavin Guaranteed Breaking Artists." Dale Watson and Kacy Crowley both made the list, which radio stations are expected to be reading very carefully. Trish Murphy, meanwhile, has a track on Aware Records' fifth (and current) promotional compilation, and those collections are known by industry insiders to have a good track record of spotting soon-to-be-signed artists...

This Saturday, Sixth Street festival king French Smith turns his sights to the Drag (that's Guadalupe north of MLK for any of you confused by Gina Arnold's book excerpt a couple weeks back) for the First Annual Guadalupe Street Fair between 10am and 6pm. Entertainment on several stages will include Ana Egge, Mr. Fabulous, Lucky Strikes, and the music editor's favorite, Doodle Bug the Clown. Can this make UT area traffic even worse? We'll have to wait and see...

The Sheridans' video for "Something to Bite On" has been picked for MTV's Indie Outings show. Look for it next Monday at 11:30am and 6:30pm...

Soak, who proved at the MTV Sports and Music Festival that they're still not afraid of a good stage dive, have been nominated for a Billboard Music Video Award in the Hard Rock category for their song "Me Compassionate," which will also be included in the soundtrack to An American Werewolf in Paris. The Video Awards will be announced on November 22...

If you spot Blue Mist's stolen trailer, which is emblazoned with the band's logo on front and back, you can still phone the police, but in the meantime, there's a big benefit being held for the band at Top of the Marc tonight (Thursday) between 6-9pm, with Lamont Johnson and others performing...

I have to say that last week's Austin Stories was the best episode yet. In fact, it was just plain good television across the board. I'll bet it was even funnier to those of you who got to watch it without having to hide in the stairwell of the Ritz to avoid being yelled at by Laura House...

Soul-less soul singer Michael Bolton was spotted in town recently at the Four Seasons Hotel. No word on whether he was looking to buy a song from Monte Warden...

Buick MacKane have returned from touring, and among other places to hear them is KUT's Live Set this Sunday at 8pm. As Jay Trachtenberg points out, this will be the first time that brothers Alejandro and Javier Escovedo have done a live set together since 1985...

The Texas Music Office is now accepting applications for listings in the 1998 Texas Music Industry Directory, which is probably gonna run close to 500 pages this year. To get an application for a spot in the sourcebook of Texas music businesses: call 512/463-6666; fax 463-4114; e-mail music@
governor.state.tx.us; or write to P.O. Box 13246, Austin TX 78711. Don't put it off; the deadline is December 5...

Look for Austin City Limits' new CD Legends of Country Music, which hit stores this week...

Dallas' Mullens (no relation to the kids who won the Oscar Meyer Weiner contest) have spent the time that they're not running from Austin bicycle cops recording a self-titled CD with Tim Kerr, which is out now...

-- Contributors: Raoul Hernandez, Andy Langer, Margaret Moser