The show had started a little late because Tom De Poorter and Jeffery Thielens (the Lazybones) were late arriving from Belgium due to a lightning strike on an airplane. (The strike occurred prior to Tom and Jeffery boarding the plane, so we can assume that they were not the targets.) They had been stuck in airports and on planes for over twenty four hours, changed from the original plans to meet Wendy in Austin, jumping off at GHW Bush airport in Houston and rushing straight to the gig, no rest, no rehearsal. They mounted the stage with Wendy to kick off the gig like troopers. Actually they were more like professional musicians than troopers. Troopers would have just drug themselves through the performance, while Tom and Jeffery were building that momentum of enthusiasm behind Wendy during the first couple of songs that makes for a good show.

For the third song, Wendy and the Bones were joined on stage by Bruno Deneckere, a singer-songwriter in his own right from Belgium, who had had the good fortune to arrive in Austin the previous day. Bruno began his musical career in the mid-eighties, fronting the band, “Pink Flowers” and started what has become a fruitful solo career in the late nineties with four English language CD’s currently available on the market. He blends a country-western and folk style that, in my opinion, fits well with the music genres currently popular in Texas. He writes well composed English lyrics for someone that I would assume English is a second language for, and better than many who claim English as their first and only language (give “Achy-Breaky Heart” one more listen for an extreme example).

Although the first three songs are probably not lost for posterity, you won’t find them here, as I was not anticipating the chemistry that was taking shape during the fourth number, Bruno’s “Someday”, that summoned Eddie’s camera and my pad and pen from their resting places. The lyrics reminded me of some of Randy Weeks’ work and Jeffery’s harmonica and Tom’s eerie guitar licks were adding that extra dimension that got our attention.

The show continued in a somewhat song swap format, with Wendy doing “Yesterday Blues”, a little old style yodeling number with a rocking harp background. Wendy continued with the requested “Right Where I Belong” backed by Tom’s “clear as a bell” hollow body leads. Despite her apologies for allergy induced voice issues, she delivered the lyrics with flourish and appropriately emoted facial expressions. She sounded great. Bruno took the next one delivering a great version of “I’m the Captain of My Ship”. Next up was a new Wendy tune (she’s been writing a lot here in the last month or so, get ready world) called “Texas Summer Love”. In that song she stretched out the word “bittersweet” with the line “Sometimes you just grow bitter, reaching high for something sweet”, bringing it all home.
Then it was back to Bruno with a rousing bluesy-folk song “Go Down to the Delta Tonight”. Tim Leatherwood cavalierly delivered Wendy a glass of wine, setting the Belgian contingent into an immediate call for beers, in the grandest Belgian tradition. Harp blower, Jeffery Theilens claimed that he could smell the beer in the vicinity even checking the mikes for tell-tale traces of hops and barley scent, revealing himself as the comedian in the house. With one more Wendy number, “Hurricane” complete with spooky De Poorter lead, the band broke for intermission and the well-deserved beering of Bruno and the Bones.

The second set continued with a mix of Wendy’s old and new compositions, including several requests, and Bruno’s “new-to-us” musical musings. Wendy’s “Missed You For Coffee, Today” featured De Poorter’s jazzy leads sounding like rain drops in the background. “Your Parade” (dedicated by Wendy to all of the “Peter Pans” of the world) was supported by the enthusiastic harmonica of Jeffery Thielens.  Her new composition “Come on in the Water’s Fine (?)” featured her new electric ukulele. Wendy held on to the “uke” to back up Bruno’s “The Real Thing” (don’t settle for less).

Bruno’s “She Gets Along With You” was ending with an emotional harmonica exit that was punctuated by a mysterious (but appropriate) train whistle. It elicited that spooky feeling that makes you laugh. Bruno and Wendy collaborated on the Townes song, “Through Them Hills and Gone” in a beautifully seductive performance that just pulled you beneath the waves. They continued with the Deneckre, county-folk “Crescent of the Moon” with butt-kicking harmonica and country rocking lead guitar riffs from the Lazybones.

Wendy followed up with the requested “Louisiana”. Moving toward the end of the set, Bruno started off the lyrically rich “Walking on Water” again getting that acoustic chord symbiosis with Wendy, supported by the Lazybones’ depth, that had gotten our attention on “Someday”. They tried to exit the stage after Wendy’ “Nothing Gonna Take My Love From Me” featuring solos all around.

As tired as the band must have been, they were guilted in to performing a three song encore, but the audience didn’t get off scot free. We were asked to provide the finger snapping rhythm for “Forgive Me”, trained to provide the “nose horn” solo for “Lazybones” and were guilted ourselves into carrying the chorus on Bruno’s “I can’t Keep Myself Satisfied”.

Friday night was the first night of a three week tour that Bruno Deneckere, Tom De Poorter and Jeffery Thielens will be accompanying Wendy Colonna on. If the tour shows up at a venue near you, do yourself a favor and check it out.