On Monday night, tired from the Music Fog Marathon and the craziness of 200,000 people descending on Austin to attend SXSW, Denise and I found ourselves out on the town to see “The Italians,” at the invitation of Joe and Sharon Ely.

Earlier that day we heard that Pinetop Perkins had passed, at 97 years young.  Pinetop performed regularly, and was known to hold court at a card table at Antone’s, just in front of the shoeshine stand in back. He would sign his CDs upon purchase, whether he was playing that night or not. I bought several. His was a remarkable spirit, he was a force of nature. Missing you already Pinetop!

The Italians, comprised of Andrea Parodi and Fulvio Renzi, played transcendently at Halcyon, mixing Americana with Italian flourishes and touching your heart.  I encourage you to explore!  The evening’s music ended with a heartbreakingly beautiful version of Townes Van Zandt’s ”If You Needed Me,” with Sam Baker, BettySoo, Gurf Morlix , The Burns Sisters, Andrew Hardin, and Ray Bonneville all gathered around the microphone.  This is the community, the shared love of music, and the artistic embrace that Austin is known for.

We are bringing you a video today from another Austin denizen, Danny Barnes.  We captured “Get It While You Can,” during our sessions in September at the Americana Fest.  The studio version can be found on his 2003 album, Dirt On The Angel.  Although I know he’s talking about sex, with thinly veiled food references in the grand blues tradition, I choose to look at it from an even broader perspective. To me, it is a song written about making every day count. Danny is playing tomorrow night at the Suwanee Springfest in Live Oak, Fl. See him in these upcoming cities.  Get it while you can, indeed!

- Jessie Scott