Rykarda Parasol "A Drinking Song"

Photo Credit: Pat Johnson StudiosI first got turned on to San Franciscan (by way of LA and Texas) Rykarda Parasol when a friend of mine, Dianna Arnspiger, who has become her manager, posted a video on Facebook and wanted to know what I thought of the song "Hannah Leah." I don't think I have ever seen a video when the singer is ice skating in and out of the stark light. Later, I watched a boho interview conducted with her wearing a sheet in bed, and then I got the Hold Back The Night CD and dug into a dark Texas tale, "Night on Red River." Tom Waits with a whiff of estrogen on the corner of Americana Road and Drama Street, Rykarda calls her music Rock Noir. She is elegant, intellectual, but with the hint of bad girl lurking behind the impeccable image. It is Andy Warhol wild-girl style, yet so restrained, so refined.

Rykarda is also known for establishing The Hive. The secret location art salon is home to lots of underground activity. Most events are by invitation, but some are open to the public. The Hive has featured literary readings, visual arts, music, and fashion. We got a taste back in March during SXSW, when she brought with her Jacob Lehrbaum for backup vocals and violin (he is Senior Product Line Manager for JavaFX at Sun Microsystems!) and they were spare and theatrical. Her latest CD is called For Blood And Wine, and from it is "A Drinking Song" recorded at Threadgill's WHQ in Austin, Texas.

- Jessie Scott

Margo Valiante "Mama Don't Know"

She has such an evocative voice, such an easy, masterful delivery. Margo Valiante (you pronounce all the syllables) was the last person we booked for our Threadgill's showcases back in March. The last few slots fell like Pachinko balls, I had people want to do what was left, one after the other until there was just the one open, and it was gone. Margo, unknown to me at the time, was working with the legendary and wonderful Rich Brotherton. He produced her EP I Can't Pray which hit the street about a month ago. She moved to Austin from Jackson, WY in autumn of 2008. Austin is such a Mecca for those that hear the muse; reminiscent of young actors relocating to LA, of young theater folks being drawn to New York.

Me, I am loving the blues-infused soulfulness creeping back into the music that I listen to. It is deep and rich and moving. Margo Valiante is touring now, maybe she's coming to a town near you. Hope so, cause we were SO impressed when we saw her!

- Jessie Scott

Chris Berardo & The DesBerardos "So Good, So Far"

I have been searching on the web for hours trying to find some info on Chris Berardo's early days, but to no avail. It's all hidden in the mist, but what I seem to remember from our barroom conversations over brown liquor is that Chris had a whirl in the major label vortex some years back. He is still carrying on, having left the dinosaur world for the new day of the indie. He comes from a town in Connecticut (Silvermine) that I never heard of before, and I was a neighbor! I promise I will take notes next time we go drinking.

Chris Berardo and The DesBerardos have had road dog fever, headlining shows and opening for some legendary bands along the way. Their music is anchored in the loam of Rock, Roots, Pop, and Country. Hell Yeah! His is a voice that's soars with the wingspan of the eagle. It's all the sensibility of the Pure Prairie League, Poco, New Riders vibe, with a sense of the 'right here, right now.' Sky and earth.

Chris came to visit us at Threadgill's during SXSW this past March. He brought along a stripped down aggregation of backup band The DesBerardos, including his brother Marc Douglas Berardo on acoustic and vocals and Jeremy Simmons on electric guitar. This song, "So Good, So Far," comes from the 2007 release Ignoring All The Warning Signs. It is a bit of philosophy for us all to remember: savor the now; it doesn't take any more energy to be kind; understand that you are all that has come before this moment; and that music can be the magic elixir that helps.

- Jessie Scott