toni

Did you feel a cool breeze blowing through Dallas around 8:30 Saturday night? That was about the time an amazingly talented band of gypsy spirits pulled up in front of the Allgood Café with Toni Price at the wheel. After procuring a second parking spot (so not to be towed), she wafted through the café greeting friends and fans. It has been a long time since her last Dallas appearance and she was missed.

Soon she was on stage and battling a sound problem. An "evil" microphone cord, as Toni dubbed it, was creating an ear-piercing squeal. The delay was made almost enjoyable by the composed singer who whiled away the time joking and chatting with the soundman, the band and the crowd. The problem was fixed (almost) and the magic began.

On stage Champ Hood plays fiddle, slide and acoustic guitars while Casper Rawls and Matt Giles play various guitars. With Toni on vocals, they create beautiful music together. Her trio of musicians are masterfully accomplished on their instruments. Giles replaced Scrappy Jud Newcomb since the last time I saw them and filled the shoes admirably providing nice guitar work and vocals. Champ and Casper play local clubs and do a lot of studio work in Austin backing up many of Texas' finest artists.

Song after song Toni closes her captivating eyes and becomes one with the music. She sways, she stomps, she dances, she leaves the stage to watch the band play and her arms are in constant fluid motion, sometimes arched gracefully over her head, or clutching her heart or embracing the audience. She sings blues, country, jazz, ballads, standards and more with vocal chords of pure smoky velvet, cured by the Jack Daniels she sips during the show. Tony may not have the register of some of today's pop divas, but she is a great interpreter of songs with the ability to make every tune uniquely hers. She mesmerizes.

I didn't know I was going to write a review, so I didn't keep a play list. Actually, Toni doesn't either. She decides what she wants to sing next, tells the band and off they go on another musical mind painting. I know she played songs from all four of her albums. "Throw Me a Bone", "Richest One", "Twelve Bar Blues", and "Just to Hear Your Voice" from the Swim Away CD; "Something", "Hey", "Tumbleweed" and "Boozy Blues" from Hey; "Cats and Dogs", "Sarah", "Like the Sun", "Feel Like Crying" and the title track from the Low Down and Up CD and a couple from her upcoming album plus many others in their two long sets and two encores. She also sang a helluva version of "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" and an accupella version of Irving Berlin's "The Moon and You" (I think) closed the show.

The audience ate it up. We cheered, laughed, danced in the aisles, clapped, stomped, howled and got swept up and away by the talented quartet.

In between songs, Toni's eyes would open and she welcomed us into her private life with touching, often hilarious stories or reminiscences. We learned she has a thing for Andy Griffith, who "looks fine in his fishing clothes or his uniform" and that Aunt Bea always wore a blue dress (trust her). During the second set she kept rhythm with two beer bottles for one song, lead the howling during "Cats and Dogs" and at the end of the set, even danced off the stage and to the restroom where she waiting her turn and then returned to the stage to thunderous applause for two encores. That's Toni Price - no pretense. What you see is what you get. And what you get is one of the most entertaining ladies in Texas.

I know a reviewer is supposed to be objective, and I'm sure you can tell I am a big fan. But if you asked anyone there, I think you would get a similar review. I watched the crowd and all were hanging on to every note and having one hell of a good time.

If you're not familiar with Ms. Price, you should do yourself a favor and give her a listen. I first heard her while in Austin in 1993. I was at Antone's Record Store across from the old club. They were playing Swim Away on the store stereo. Several songs into the CD, I had to ask who was playing. They told me she was a new artist on "Antone's" record label. I bought the CD that day, and my love affair with her music began. I own numerous albums and CDs, but her CDs find the way to my carousel more than any other artist. Even with numerous listens, the CDs never grow tired because of the variety of styles and genres that flow so naturally from the depths of her blues-beltin' country girl soul. In fact, the songs get even better with familiarity. A good place to start acquainting yourself with her music would be at the beginning...Swim Away. It contains thirteen songs that can each stand on its own merit, but then so do the others. Her friend, Gwil Owen from Nashville writes many of her songs. He is one terrific songwriter.

You might ask, "If she's so great, why isn't she better known outside of Austin?" Well, for one reason, she doesn't do it for stardom. She does it because she has to. "My music is my muse," she told me, and I believe her. Her two daughters and motherhood come first. She primarily stays in Austin where she has packed the popular Continental Club and Antone's for years. She doesn't tour and seldom strays outside of Austin. But she had a great time at the Allgood Café as she kept reiterating with a bright smile, 'It's all good...it's all good!" She also genuinely cares for the café's proprietor, Mike Snider, and her fans. She visited with the crowd after her two-hour plus performance and long drive up. She promised they would come back soon. I hope they do. Next time, join me there and see for yourself. But come early as the place was packed to standing room only long before she arrived. Eat dinner while you wait, the food is good.

Toni's got a new CD coming out in July. She told me I would be surprised by the new direction of the album and her eyes sparkled when she said it and her lips had a mischievous curl to them. I can hardly wait. Thanks Toni, Champ, Casper and Matt for a great evening and please blow into town more often.

Written by Jim Hughes

Concert Date: 5/12/01 at the Allgood Cafe in Dallas, Texas.