Backyard Fireball: It’s BBQ Grillin’ Time!

The Patron Saint of Texas BBQ

I realize some of you in other parts of the country (and the world) are still gettin’ winter weather. Here in Texas it’s grilllin’ time. If you are in Minnesota or New York, stop yer bitchin’ for a minute and see if you can get a whiff of my charcoal fire.

Ah, sorry to be taunting you like that. Here in Texas barbecue is a religion, like football and drivin’ fast. Barbecue is sittin’ on the patio, a Weber grill smokin’ some ribs while you listen to rock and roll and swig a cold beer. Barbecue is more than just tossing some wieners on a fire. It’s smoking a succulent side of beef, making sure those pork ribs are just right, and poking a fork in a chicken thigh to make sure the juices run clear. It’s real cookin’!

It’s also potato salad, watermelon, beans in barbecue sauce, potato chips, Big Red soft drinks and lots of cold, cold beer. You got all that, all you need is some fine music.

MP3: “Bar-B-Que” by Wendy Rene

MP3: “Boogie Woogie Barbecue” by Mitch Woods

MP3:  “Barbeque” by Robert Earl Keen

MP3:  “Bar-B-Q” by ZZ Top

MP3: “(Take Out The Squeal) If You Want A Meal” by Earl Summer Jackson

MP3: “Baby Back Ribs” commercial music from Chili’s

MP3: “Barbecue Boogie” by Elvin Bishop

MP3: “Barbecue Any Old Time” by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

MP3: “The Original Queen Bee Barbecue” by Harley David

MP3: “Aussie BBQ” by the Aussie Bush Band

MP3: “Southern Fried Chicken” by Hank Penny

MP3: “Eat Your Wife And Kiss The Barbecue” by Mount Righteous

MP3: “UFOs, Big Rigs and BBQ” by Mojo Nixon

MP3: “Hot Dog” by the Detroit Cobras

MP3: “Hot Barbecue” by Boogaloo Baby

MP3: “Too Much Barbecue” by Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows

MP3: “Texas Cookin’ ” by Guy Clark

MP3: “BBQ” by The Master Plan

MP3: “The Barbecue” by Eddie Murphy (Not Safe For Work!)

Kinky Friedman Running For Governor Again

Readin’ the paper the other day, I came across some of the best news I’ve seen there in quite a while.  Kinky Friedman is planning to run for governor again, it said, and he is going to begin campaigning soon for the 2010 gubernatorial election.  Well.  Even though his last governor’s race wasn’t nearly as entertaining as I thought it would be, it still had its moments.  One of the best: Kinky’s campaign slogan “Why The Hell Not?”

You can see some of those in the new documentary film, Along Came Kinky, which chronicles his 2006 campaign (Kinky only got about 13 percent of the vote, placing a distant third or fourth behind incumbent Rick Perry).  This time he says he’s going to run as a Democrat, because he can’t afford to be a Republican.  Friedman also says he is opposed to the death penalty, in favor of pay raises for teachers and wants to improve health care.

Friedman has been a Texas hero since the early 1970s, when he pillaged the country with his band the Texas Jewboys.  He’s also a mystery author of some note, and a regular columnist in the magazine Texas Monthly.  We will occasionally offer updates on how Kinky’s doin’ with his governor’s race, today we give you some music – including the special campaign song from 2006, performed by Great American Mojo Nixon.

MP3: “Rapid City, South Dakota” by Kinky Friedman & the Texas Jewboys

MP3: “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” by Kinky Friedman & the Texas Jewboys

MP3: “Kinky” by Kinky Friedman & the Texas Jewboys

MP3: “Kinky Is Everywhere” by Mojo Nixon

Along Came Kinky … Texas Jewboy For Governor official website

Kinky Friedman official website

“Orange Is In” to perform at SXSW

 

Our resident house band, Orange Is In, will plug in and play at Guero’s Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress, this Saturday, March 21 at 1:30 p.m. This is one of those *free* day parties that are being thrown all over town.  In other words, you don’t need one of those funny SXSW badges to get in. The showcase was put together by Pete Lippincott, leader of the band Pete Simple, who will also be playing at 6:45 p.m.

According to my partner on this blog, the day parties are a hell of a lot more fun than the official SXSW showcases and South Congress apparently is the place to be.  Right down the street from Guero’s (which I’m told has great tacos) is Jo’s Coffee Shop (Alejandro Escovedo will be playing this venue on Friday night), an ice cream place and a pizza joint, all with live bands. The legendary Continental Club is also right next door and will also be throwing a day party featuring Mojo Nixon and pancakes.

So if you’re in Austin on Saturday, come by and say hello. The boys from Orange Is In would love to say hello and share a taco or ten.

Orange Is In MySpace Page

SXSW Official Website