{"id":1304,"date":"2009-08-15T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-08-15T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=1304"},"modified":"2015-10-15T16:42:21","modified_gmt":"2015-10-15T16:42:21","slug":"adam-carroll-w-matt-harlan-almost-austin-pasadena-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2009\/08\/15\/adam-carroll-w-matt-harlan-almost-austin-pasadena-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"Adam Carroll w\/ Matt Harlan – Almost Austin – Pasadena, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Daniel Barker <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aug 15, 2009 at 07:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"On a great night for live music everywhere in the Houston area, there was no place better to be on August 15th, 2009 than at the Almost Austin House Concert Series in Pasadena, Texas for a splendid song swap with Adam Carroll and Matt Harlan. HMR had this date circled for quite some time and with good reason as the tried and true Adam Carroll was pairing up with the rising up and comer who seems to have the Midas touch of late, Matt Harlan. The two Texas boys shared a night of story and song to an audience that was truly there for the music. Kenny Pipes pulled no punches to have a packed house amidst so much competition and HMR walked away knowing that the Pope of Pasadena scored another knock out in the 2009 series\u2026<\/p>\n

These two artists are skilled craftsman in the art of folk songwriting. They combine pure poetry, unpretentious vocals, and passionate picking to paint portraits and tell stories of the world they feel and see. Often funny and sometimes sad, this night was a biopsy of what HMR has come to love about the genre. Matt Harlan stuck mainly to originals off his up and coming release \u201cTips and Compliments\u201d which was available for sale this night in the ultramodern form of a redeemable download card. Adam Carroll brought in a range of songs he has picked up along the way like Sinbad\u2019s souvenirs to show and tale\u2026Adam is still touring behind \u201cOld Towne Rock N Roll\u201d but was discussing an upcoming release of new material. The Guild guitar wielding duo played two sets, each a little over an hour and was gracious enough to interact with their fans before, after and in between…Always a nice perk here at AAS\u2026<\/p>\n

Thankfully for us, the twosome had played the night before down at Wrecks Bell\u2019s Old Quarter in Galveston and it seemed they had grown fairly comfortable together. The crowd seemed to have surprised both of them, not only in a packed room but in knowledge and enthusiasm. A true double bill as people would have come to see either solo but together proved to be a no brainer.
\nAdam Carroll came roaring out of the San Marcos college scene labeled as the next Robert Earl Keen with much help from the legendary Lloyd Maines. Sticking to his traveling singer songwriter life he has written with or for many talented artists over the years as was proved tonight. Playing songs associated with the likes of Hayes Carll, Michael O\u2019Conner, Mark Jungers, The Band of Heathen\u2019s Gordy Quist, Slaid Cleaves, Scott Nolan, Roger Marin, etc\u2026Maybe not the most common names on Clear Channel but the heart of the modern singer-songwriter movement without a doubt.<\/p>\n

\"Image\"Matt Harlan has been everywhere as of late more than likely due to his work ethic. He is an active member in The Front Porch Society, a guitarist in the band Country Store Buffalo and foremost with his promising solo career which has lead to songwriting awards and a great deal of buzz in the Americana movement. With MH\u2019s polished picking skills and rock solid delivery he stood toe for toe with AC all night. It was evident that he had inspired AC to keep it tight. That along with the crowd put AC on top of his game for one of the best nights HMR has seen him perform.<\/p>\n

The first set highlights were MH\u2019s \u201cYour Just Drunk\u201d which puts a smile on any drinkers face and a touching \u201cRicebirds\u201d by AC riddled with his underrated heartbreaking harmonica…However, \u201cMilwaukee\u2019s Best\u201d by AC was the gut buster of the night for the one line wonder with lyrics in his arsenal like \u201cpissin\u2019 on your own grave\u201d, and \u201crolled pecan logs down a Stuckey\u2019s\u201d. The crowd proved the be the official sound man as adjustments were suggested between songs until the sound was just right\u2026<\/p>\n

The second set highlights were AC\u2019s \u201cDogwood and Blondie\u201d of which he shed some lyrical light that gave the song some deeper meaning for the comic book fan\u2026MH continued to impress with gems like \u201cWalter\u201d written at a songwriters conference and \u201cMozart\u201d\u2026Again, AC had the house rocking with the Leon Russell inspired \u201cGypsy Shuffler\u201d where the entire crowd clapped in unison for the entire song\u2026no bullshit\u2026It was a proud moment for AAS. For his encore, AC, still in open tuning from the previous song, played the most fitting \u201cHighway Prayer\u201d which was flat out impressive\u2026 MH closed the evening with the personal tragedy tale of \u201cHeavy Steel and Spinning Wheels\u201d written about a hometown friends untimely passing.<\/p>\n

The set list for this night was:
\n1st Set:
\n1. Half Developed Song – mh
\n2. Billy Gibbon\u2019s Beard – ac
\n3. You’re Just Drunk \u2013 mh
\n4. Ricebirds \u2013 ac
\n5. Too Much Going On \u2013 mh
\n6. Dream on \u2013 ac
\n7. Bow and Be Simple \u2013 mh
\n8. Milwaukee\u2019s Best \u2013 ac
\n9. The Easy Road \u2013 mh
\n10. Hi-Fi Love \u2013 ac
\n11. Slow Moving Train \u2013 mh
\n12. Rainin\u2019\u00a0 – ac
\n13. Dresses \u2013 mh
\n14. Dirty South \u2013 ac<\/p>\n

2nd Set:
\n1. Girl With the Dirty Hair – ac
\n2. Walter \u2013 mh
\n3. Blondie and Dogwood \u2013 ac
\n4. Skinny Trees in Mississippi \u2013 mh
\n5. Racecar Joe \u2013 ac
\n6. Mozart \u2013 mh
\n7. Black flag Blues \u2013 ac
\n8. Over The Bridge \u2013 mh
\n9. Errol\u2019s Song \u2013 ac
\n10. Waitin\u2019 For Godot \u2013 mh
\n11. Gulf Coast Loser \u2013 ac
\n12. Tips and Compliments \u2013 mh
\n13. Gypsy Shuffler \u2013 ac
\n14. Elevator Ride \u2013 mh
\n15. Highway Song \u2013 ac
\n16. Heavy Steel and Spinnin\u2019 Wheels<\/p>\n

HMR can only hope that these two had time to pen some songs with their limited time together. We hope both the best. Always try to catch Adam Carroll when he makes it thru town and go out and support Matt Harlan in his many ventures in and about Houston before he hits the road which is inevitable. Of course, we cannot say enough about Kenny Pipes and Almost Austin\u2026If you have not been yet go ahead a book one. You won\u2019t regret it. If you\u2019ve already been \u2013 well keep comin\u2019 back\u2026In the meantime, we will see you out supporting live music.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Daniel Barker Aug 15, 2009 at 07:00 PM On a great night for live music everywhere in the Houston area, there was no place better to be on August 15th, 2009 than at the Almost Austin House Concert Series in Pasadena, Texas for a splendid song swap with Adam Carroll and Matt Harlan…. <\/p>\n

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