SXSW 2009: Reuniting old favorites - Arc Angels, Jayhawks

Arc Angels reunite at Antones--recording new album, touring with Clapton this Spring
One of Austin's most revered hometown bands, The Arc Angels, did a short set at Little Steven Van Zandt's "Magical Mystery Mondo Matinee" at Antone's on Friday. Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's guitarist and Tony's first lieutenant in HBO's The Sopranos, produced the Arc Angels' self-titled and only album in 1992. The band will open for Eric Clapton during his UK tour this Spring. Before going on stage drummer Chris Layton and guitarist/vocalist Doyle Bramhall II talked about recording and playing at the historic blues club.

Bramhall on why it's a good time to finally record a second album:
"I think because nobody really gives a fuck anymore about us, so we can actually just go and be creative and make music. There's sort of an undeniable chemistry that we have every time we get together."

Layton on the late Clifford Antone who founded the legendary club:
"Every time I think about us playing here I hear him saying, 'Come on! Pop it up, pop it up! Arc Angels, come on!'"

Jayhawks' Gary Louris and Mark Olson at the Victorian Room
They say the 120-year-old Driskill Hotel houses a few ghosts. The only one evident in the hotel's stately Victorian Room was a friendly one. The spirit of The Jayhawks, a supposedly defunct band, clearly showed up in the performance by Gary Louris and Mark Olson who recorded their last Jayhawks album together in 1995. With soaring harmonies and effusive guitars the duo captivated the standing crowd and reminded us how rare and special it is when two voices blend as well as these. Like Simon & Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers before them, Louris and Olson have a gift. And it's nice of them to share it.