[Austin TX] A chance
encounter with a favorite Austin band right on East 6th. I felt bad
taking them for granted all those years with all these outsiders packing the
porch, sidewalk, and street trying to get a glimpse. I did notice during my
pre-SXSW research that none of the roots bands held a candle to what is
commonplace in Austin. The Carper Family is three ladies who do variations on
traditional country. Jen plays guitar, Beth plays fiddle, and Melissa plays
upright bass. Although harmonizing is a key characteristic of the band, they
take turns singing songs, each of which have their own flavor. While all three
band members have their charms, I am a Melissa Carper aficionado. Jen is kind
of party girl country, Beth is more traditional porch fare, and Melissa is a
sweet tumble of Southern lesbian dreadlocked shy bad-assness all in one. She’s
also the only band member who writes her own songs. Rockboy requested her “PBR
in the Car” and I requested her “My Christian Girlfriend” – my request was
satisfied because they already planned to close with that song. Although it
would probably annoy her to hear me say it, Melissa’s songs are amazing because
they blend old timey (and upbeat) sounds with radical lyrics. “My Christian
Girlfriend” is a lesbian’s lament about the traditional Christian girlfriend
she longs for who will bear her baby, via turkey baster of course. Be advised
to also check out Melissa’s band Sad Daddy. They were so big a guy with a gold
diamond in his ear was shooing people away from the entrance. They might as
well have had a red carpet.
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