On September 13th, 2008, the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture will celebrate the opening of an exhibit showcasing Fable Records, the oldest living indie and jazz label in Texas. The Museum has worked with the King and Queen of Fable Records to amass materials for the exhibit, which includes gig posters, album covers, photographs, press clippings, articles and advertisements. Musical entertainment will be provided by none other than Steam Heat.

This iconic Austin band has recently celebrated the re-issue of their album recorded 30 years ago, Austin Funk. The reception will start at 7:00pm with music from Steam Heat beginning at 8:00pm. CDs will be available for purchase.There is a $5 suggested donation.

The South Austin Museum of Pop Culture is located at 1516 B South Lamar - Austin, Texas 78704.

Tags: Art, Austin, Events

For those of you that made it out to the Steam Heat show a few weeks back… It was wonderful to see everyone!

For those that were unable to make it out, tune in to KUT 90.5 on Friday, September 5th from 12-1pm during the Austin Music Unlimited program to check out a piece about Steam Heat and Austin Funk. At some point it will be available for download at texasmusicmatters.kut.org. Click here for more info.We must also give a shout of thanks to Thomas Fawcett for covering the event. If your an Austin music nut, you have probably already subscribed to his blog. But if not, I recommend it as an addition to your feed reader. Click here to check it out.

Tags: 78701, Austin, Radio

A long time ago I read something…somewhere. The article referred to the gold standard and stated that if all Americans went to Ft. Knox to trade in their currency for gold, the amount most would receive could not be detected by the human eye.  That seemed to make the phrase “in God we trust” have even more significance.   We at Fable decided that was a fine thing and that the lack of being able to actually SEE your gold should not be a problem…it is a matter of faith and trust. Not having any money (gold, paper or credits in the bank), it was decided that in the reality of Fable we would create our own monetary system.  The Fable Records checking account had been closed due to lack of funds, but we still had plenty of remaining checks.  Rather than asking our musicians to play for free, we simply wrote them “hot” checks and had a stamp made saying “ORNOT”.  Therefore, the check would read  ”pay to the order of ie: Steve Zirkel”…OR NOT.    These checks (or ornots as they became to be known) served as coupons at the restaurants and clubs in the immediate area of Fable  headquarters known as THE VAULT.  Depending upon the bar tender, waitress, and/or owner present, these ornot/coupons might be redeemed for a drink at the Texas Chili Parlor, the Blue Parrot, or Casa Blanca or food at Rico’s, Oyster Bar or Thundercloud. Halfprice Books got started in the same building as Fable and were the first merchant/owner to recognize and accept ornots.  It was always up to the person working behind the counter as whether the ornots would be accepted…some were friends and fans and some did not recognize the mythical currency.  When presented with the strange “coupon”, they might go check with the owner. The owner would peer out and recognize the bearer and approve the purchase…or not. There were only a few actual ornots printed. Most were redeemed and destroyed, but the ornots that may still exist forever increase in value and anyone who has held on to one can now  be considered a millionnot.

KING’s LOG:  uh…where do I start? …is this working? I haven’t written any hot checks in a LONG time. Where did it all begin? Oh yeah, it BEGAN with hot checks. Our philosophy was (and is)…why would anyone ever let money get in the way of doing anything you love?

August 21, 2008 was proclaimed by the City of Austin as Fable Records Day.  And what a day it was!!  Twenty-seven musicians reunited on stage as Fable’s flagship bands, 47 Times Its Own Weight, Starcrost and  Steam Heat,  for the first time since the days of the Armadillo.In true Texas fashion, the August evening was hot and humid - looks like rain, “or not”- and the garden spot that is now Threadgill’s World Headquarters (so very close to the hollowed grounds of the infamous Armadillo World Headquarters) was bustling with sound crew, video crew and, on this night, an audio production crew from Dallas sent down to record this momentous occasion.  In one corner, an exhibit was going up.  A sneak preview to an exhibit that will opens in September at the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture. The door was going to open at 8pm and already, in our eyes, this event was a real success.We’ve been honored with the arrival of our dear friends and world class musicians from L.A., New York, South Texas, and locally.  All of them already having rehearsed, spent time recreating music charts and creating new ones.  Hugging, laughing and reminiscing.Individually none of us realized the impact the Fable Family had on Austin music history. Collectively, that discovery came to light as individuals brought forth momentos, photos, posters and lost recordings and then, as the doors opened,  felt the wonderful warm receptions of old friends, long time fans and so many new faces.The coolest thing about this “Fossil Fest” (as Bruce Spelman so lovingly titled it) was the interest taken by a new generation of people eager to see a “real live 70’s jazz and funk band”.  And they were not disappointed.   47 Times Its Own Weight, Starcrost, STEAM HEAT - the honorees of the evening - and Beto and the Fairlanes packed more Austin Jazz and Funk into one evening than most folks under 30 had seen in their entire lives.Thank you 47 Times - Robert Skiles, Paul Ostermayer, Mel Winters, Spencer Starnes and Art Kidd (who graciously and bravely stepped into the chair once owned by the late, great and never forgotten John “Mambo” Treanor). Thank you Starcrost - Dr. John Mills, Dave Deaton, Jim Spector, Paul Pearcy, Michael Mordecai, Rusty Buckner and Suzi Stern (stepping in for Liza Farrow and doing beautiful work). Thank you Steve Summer, Arturo Garza, Steve Zirkel, Tony Campise, Bob Meyer and Rich Haering for joining Robert, John, Michael, Ron, Tomas and  Tommy back on stage for a finish to the evening as Beto and the Fairlanes. And thank you to our honorees of the evening, Steam Heat - Bruce Spelman, Phil Richerson, Mike Barnes, Neil Pederson, Mike Roeder, Tommy Robinson, Tomas Ramirez and Ron Brown.  You played as if you’d never stopped. What fun!  What Magic!We are so fortunate to have each and every one of you as friends and as musicians we can call part of our Fable Family. If you want to learn more about any or all of these folks, please check out the exhibit coming September 13 through November 1 at the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture at 1516 S. Lamar Blvd. in South Austin, Texas.  Our good friends, Henry Gonzalez and Leea Mechling are amazing and have been compiling all the memorabilia as curators of the museum.  We are so lucky to friends like these. Thank you Planet K and Mike Kleinman for you generous support. Thank you Eddie Wilson and all the folks at Threadgills World Headquarters.  You folks absolutely rock and took such good care of us. Thanks to MediaTech Institute for so generously providing their mobile recording studio to record this awesome night of music.Thanks to Infynite Media Group for getting it down on video.  Your devotion to the music is what makes it all worth while! Thanks to Daysha Taylor of Earthbird Music.  Without her genius no one would have known about this event.  More importantly, you wouldn’t be reading this right now.  She is the Internet Goddess who makes all things possible!

Fable Records, Texas’ oldest Jazz record label, is pleased to announce the re-release of the Steam Heat album, Austin Funk. On August 21st, 2008, members of Steam Heat - as well as legendary jazz icons Starcrost and 47 X Its Own Weight – will reunite for the first time in 30 years for a special live performance with Beto and the Fairlanes.

The show, titled A MIGHTY BLOW, is in memory of “Mambo” John Treanor and pianist/composer Bill Ginn.

These legendary Austin bands were at the forefront of Austin music in the 70s, performing at venues such as Armadillo World Headquarters, Soap Creek, Castle Creek, Rome Inn, Boondocks, and Alliance Wagon Yard and touring throughout central Texas and Colorado. Billboard magazine said the musicians on Fable Records had “significantly redrawn Austin’s musical map . . . turning this Mecca of progressive country music toward contemporary jazz.”

Thirty plus musicians will reunite for this special performance, most of which have remained in the music business and still perform today. Collectively, these musicians have a list of credits that include international touring engagements with acts such as Aretha Franklin, Chris Isaak, Blood Sweat & Tears, Diana Ross, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Gary P. Nunn. This reunion concert will rekindle friendships and re-create musical magic.

A Mighty Blow, the official CD release party, will begin at 9:00pm at Threadgills World Headquarters located at 301 W. Riverside Dr. in Austin, Texas. The first set will be split between 47 X Its Own Weight and Starcrost. Steam Heat will add fuel to the Fable fire with a feature set and Beto and the Fairlanes will close the night with everyone back up for a grand finale.

Mediatech Institute’s mobile recording truck will be conducting a live recording of the event and Infynit Media Group will be filming documentary footage. Advanced tickets are available for purchase at Threadgills. Austin Funk is available for purchase online through the www.FableRecords.biz marketplace and in-store at Waterloo Records.

We’ve teamed up with some great folks at Connextion.com and they are providing all of our merchandising services.  It’s seamless and easy for you to use.  Check it out!  Not only are they taking good care of Fable Records, they help many other great Austin artists as well.  When you’re done shopping in our market check them  via the “Secret Passageway” or click here. Thanks to Todd and all the great folks at Connextion.com!

In 1973 several college musicians found themselves together in the little town of Austin, Texas. For various reason (which the King will expound on later) each young man was where he was and . . . thus begins the saga.The Story of Fable Records is the story of life in Austin in the early 1970’s. There’s not a name you can spout that won’t enter into the Fable story. These boys encountered them all. They were to Austin music what the Funk Brothers were to Motown. They played with every name, they stumbled up every street, they, collectively, experienced every historical 70’s experience there was to have in this once dreamy little kingdom.Here’s to the Armadillo (both the place and the animal). Here’s to swimming naked off a lake shore that no longer allows that sort of thing (but keeps the name for commercial value). Here’s to cold springs when they flowed deeper, here’s to Liberty when it meant city council meeting Lunch breaks. Here’s to the oasis of the great state of Texas. Here’s to the Fable and the knights that keep the flame!