SHE EXPLORES EVERY FACET
OF SOUTHERN AMERICA'S MUSICAL CULTURE
Rela ive values
PATRICIA VONNE is coming out of the shadows of her big brother, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. Mark Robertson samples her unique Tex-Mex blend.
eing part of a famous family can be a blessing
or a curse. Some never quite consolidate their
own place in the public eye when a more l‘amiliar sibling is such a constant rel‘crence point just ask Paul (iallagher. Andy Yorke or l)anni .‘ylinogue. Patricia Vonne has been working on her music for as long as her brother Robert Rodrigue/ has on his lilms but only now are her wares getting the exposure they deserve. Vonne was side-tracked by her ambitious auteur brother to bring her distinctive equine looks to bear in his films. She appeared in hall‘ a dozen to date. most recently as Dallas in Sin (in. but now makes a more conscious break away l'rom celluloid adventures to l'octis on her music.
‘Being one ol’ ten children in San Antonio. there was always music in the house.‘ she says. ‘My mom would sing to us in Spanish and have us harmonies. She also gave me my first castanet lesson. She kept a pair hidden away in her armoire. but I always knew where she hid the key. My dad was a drummer in college. so he always had a kit in the house.‘
These sounds. and those she admits pinching from her brother"s record collection to listen to r (‘rti/ados. Lone Justice. Johnny Reno all hpr inform the songs on her second album. (iuilurs um! ('usrune/s. released at the end ol' this month. ()ver 1 l songs she explores nearly every facet ol' southern America's milsical culture. from high—gloss. pop country that wouldn't be out of place on a Lucinda Williams album. to Southern boogie to the Mexican mariachi music adapted so successfully by the likes of ('alexico. Latin rhythms propel songs like ‘(iuitarras y ('astanuelas’. while.
despite the corny title. ‘Sax Maniac' is an excellent heads down. rock stomper. The upshot is a heady homebrew ol‘ styles given an expansive production job by veteran engineer (‘arl Thiel. While conscious of their roots. Vonne's songs remain organic and alive.
‘My goal was to write in a musical style where there was something for everyone] she says. ‘Not just one style. I am not good with keeping up with trends. 1 always like the philosophy that music is universal and il‘ the listener is drawn in then you will always have your audience. Just be true to yourselll'
ller initial forays into music were for the l’ickle audiences of New York. where she moved to in the early ()(ls. Not until she relocated hack to Texas did she l‘ully realise her musical potential. She toured extensively as part of Tex/Mex rock outlit Tito and 'l‘arantula 7- who gained initial notoriety as the house band in her brother's movie From Dusk Till Dawn — and when in 2()()l she released her eponymous debut. she made a play as a songwriter in her own right.
While Vonne comes to Scotland to promote Guitars and ('usrum'rs there is a sweet twist. ller UK label. Measured Records. is based in (ilasgow. "I‘hey have told us lots about Scottish audiences so the whole band is really looking forward to playing there.‘ she says.
While (ilasgow might not have the familiar climes for alt.country rancheras. the city"s local fondness for the genre will see her get a truly apposite response.
Beanscene, Glasgow, Thu 18 Aug; Blackwell’s, Edinburgh, Fri 19 Aug (1pm) (both acoustic); King Tut’s, Glasgow, Fri 19 Aug.
11'? Kings of Leon By gawd. this bunch are getting right popular. Two most excellent albums down the line and they're filling the SECC. and rightly so. They've shed some of the hair and a bit of the rock star posturing and become an extremely fine band. SECC, Thu 25 Aug. (Rock & pop) fir: Mogwai and flout Much delayed show that was originally supposed to be the inaugural one for the new Glasgow venue. Expect a smattering of new material too. ABC, Glasgow, Thu 18 Aug. (Rock & pop)
Patricia Vonne The first two shows are solo acoustic gigs and the latter is with a full live band. See preview, left. Beanscene, Glasgow, Thu 78 Aug;
Blackwell '3, Edinburgh, Fri 19 Aug; King Tut’s, Glasgow, Fri 79 Aug. (Rock & pop)
5;; Patrick Flaherty and the Jazz Pharaohs Glasgow drummer Paddy Flaherty launches a new band including saxophonists Konrad Wiszniewski, Paul Towndrow and trumpeter Tom McNiven. Tchai Ovna, Glasgow. Fri 19 Aug. (Jazz) Mylo and Data Panik Tune into Amanda McKinnon's show on Beat 106 to win tickets for this special one-off show featuring Skye electropop charmer Mylo supported by members of Bis in a new guise. ABC, Glasgow, Sun 21 Aug. (Rock & pop)
ri‘: Laki-Mera Tigerfest stretches its paws up to Fife to showcase some cracking electronica meets folk pop tunes. Carnegie Hall, Dunferm/ine. Wed 24 Aug. (Rock 8 pop)
:1: The Dresden Dolls, Mass and Lapsus Linguae The mighty Lapsus return from the hellish pit of rock lunacy for their first gig in a while to suppon the similarly mental piano-driven bombast of Dresden Dolls. See preview in Festival magazine. ABC, Glasgow, Thu 25 Aug.
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