Weather can’t stop the music Saturday; Outdoor show canceled, but bands move to Dusty’s Lounge
Published 10:28 am Monday, August 24, 2015
Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra played in tighter quarters than expected Saturday at Dusty’s Lounge after storms forced organizers to cancel the Dick Schindler Celebration Concert. Photos by Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com
Marty O’Reilly looked to the clouding sky southwest of Marcusen Park during soundcheck Saturday and had a simple thought: This isn’t going to happen.
He was right. While Mother Nature didn’t cooperate for the Dick Schindler Celebration Concert, ArtWorks Festival organizers and a group of Austin residents made the most of it.
Looming strong thunderstorms forced the Austin Area Commission for the Arts to cancel the outdoor concert after about 25 minutes Saturday night. However, Alex Rossi and Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra played an impromptu concert at Dusty’s Lounge.
Austin Area Commissioner for the Arts Education and Marketing Coordinator Grace Heimsness videos Alex Rossi as he plays at Dusty’s Lounge.
“With the help of a few ambitious people we put this together and we all came down to play some music,” O’Reilly told the crowd during his band’s set.
The Marcusen concert started at 6 p.m. instead of the original 7 p.m. start time — with the hopes of beating the weather — and the Austin High School Jazz Band played for about 20 minutes. But organizers called the show to secure the stage and concert equipment as a storm system with frequent lightning, heavy rains and gusty winds approached from the west.
Randy Kramer said he and other organizers were reluctant to cancel the concert but felt they had no choice as the weather moved in.
Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra play at Dusty’s Lounge Saturday night after storms forced organizers to cancel the Dick Schindler Celebration Concert.
Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com
But they didn’t call it quits. Austin Area Commissioner for the Arts Executive Director Jennie Knoebel was able to line up additional equipment, and Dusty’s ownership and staff were willing to host the show at the last minute.
Rossi, a Twin Cities resident, played a solo set filled with slick guitar loops and his soulful voice. Despite some setbacks, which included a woman needing to be taken out by Gold Cross Ambulance, Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra, which features Austin native Chris Lynch on violin, played a upbeat set that capped off a tour of about 40 dates. The band had been playing across the United Kingdom since early July. It capped off the tour with a Friday night show at the Icehouse in Minneapolis and Saturday’s Austin show.
The band returned home to California. They planned to take a few weeks off before releasing the EP “Preach ‘Em Now” in October. It was for sale Saturday at the show.
