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- An Evening with the South Austin Jug Band
- 08/20/2005
By David Miller
 Sometimes
you're aware of a band or artist but can't say you've ever heard
their music, and that's the way it was for me with the South
Austin Jug Band until a couple of Saturday's ago. I walked into
MacHenry's in Fort Worth, TX, with only a vague concept of what
to anticipate. What I found was more than I expected - a lot
more.
On a night that had Robert Earl Keen and Dale Watson playing
in different clubs less than ten miles away, I didn't figure
the SAJB had a chance at a good crowd. And when I pulled into
the parking lot about an hour before the scheduled start time
mine was the only car in it. I kill time buying gas at station
down the street, and try to figure out why I've driven all the
way to Fort Worth from Dallas to see a band I've never heard
of when two guys I know I'm going to enjoy are just down the
road. I go back because I've never heard anything but great
things about the SAJB, and I want to know if they hype is worth
it.
MacHenry's is a tiny, wannabe Irish pub that can hold maybe
a hundred people. The front of the room is filled with a few
tables and a couple of booths, and a small, L-shaped bar that
fits maybe a dozen stools sits in the rear. Mirrors from various
microbrews and some new age artwork line the walls, along with
faux bricks to help with the "Irish" feel. Five empty
mike stands are arrayed at the front of the postage stamp sized
stage that sits to your left as you walk through the door, and
my first impression was, "How in the hell are they going
to fit a band up there?"
I ask the bartender what time the show is supposed to start,
and he tells me that it was scheduled for 9:00 p.m., but the
band hasn't shown up yet. It's 8:30 p.m. already, so I'm not
sure it's going to start on time either, and I get my phone out
to get on the web and start getting directions to the place Keen
is playing. About this time, a couple of guys walk through the
door, and I just know for a fact these guys have to be with the
band. They weren't carrying instruments or equipment, but they
have that vibe, an almost visible aura of coolness that some
artists have. It's a feeling that comes across not as arrogance,
but as being very sure they belong there. I decide then and
there that it's going to be an interesting evening, and I needed
to stick around. I was right.
 A few more guys
troop through the door, lugging the gear for the evening's performance.
I sit back and take it all in, playing a game in my head of
deciding which instrument each person plays. When the big guy
comes through the door, I peg him as being the bass player.
Out of the five members, he's the only one I get. The guys that
make up the SAJB are as follows: James Hyland Lead vocalist/Rhythm
Guitar, Will Dupuy Vocalist/Bass Guitar, Willie Pipkin
Lead Guitar, Dennis Ludiker Mandolin, and Bryan Beken
Fiddle.
Joe (sorry, Joe, never caught your last name), the sound engineer/road
manager of the band, does an excellent job of getting everything
coordinated with the sound guy from MacHenry's, and by 9:05 p.m.,
the band kicks into a quick sound check. This being my first
time to hear them, I am taken aback. Whoa. Where did that come
from? And why have I not been listening to it? The thing that
strikes me immediately is that Hyland has a voice like a young
Steve Earle. That may be an unfair or unfavorable comparison
to some, but to me that's a compliment. His voice has a depth
and richness that lends itself to great bluegrass, along with
just enough Southern twang to keep it honest.
Taking a short break to ready themselves (i.e.: get a beer
and get a bathroom break out of the way), the SAJB leave the
stage. I take the opportunity to count the crowd. A whopping
21 people are in the room, including the bartender and door person.
I feel bad for these guys, because already I can tell they deserve
better than this. Libations in hand and private business attended
to, the band retakes the stage. I'm still puzzled at how they
all fit up there, but I guess after traveling around the country
in a Suburban they are used to squeezing in together.
For the next three hours, with only a small break during the
middle, the SAJB entertain with songs ranging from bluegrass
and western swing to rock and traditional country. Playing selections
from their self-titled debut album, their upcoming release entitled
"Dark and Weary World," and a variety of covers, I
sit enthralled. They say it takes incredible skill to make something
look so easy, and if that's the case, the members of the SAJB
have a prodigious talent indeed. More than once the crowd breaks
into spontaneous applause while appreciating various solos.
Bassist Will Dupuy spells Hyland on the lead vocal on about
a third of the set list, including a crowd favorite entitled
"Coon Ass." Dupuy does more than just play bass and
sing, though, as do the other guys in the group. Toward the
end of the evening, when the crowd has swelled to an estimated
60-65 people, the band does something that flat out impresses
me. They switch instruments. Everyone does something else,
like fiddle to lead, lead to fiddle, rhythm to bass, bass to
lead, etc. But the music quality doesn't fade. These guys are
good, no question about it. It's no wonder they have been awarded
very fine honors, such as best new band at the Telluride Bluegrass
Festival in 2002, along with numerous individual honors.
If you haven't the South Austin Jug Band, don't go unless
you're ready to have a toe-tappin' knee slappin' good time.
Make a point to take some friends with you, these guys won't
disappoint you.
http://www.southaustinjugband.com
Contact David Miller at: millerman-at-rockzilla.net
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