James Lee Stanley and Donna Frost Sept 26, 2010

I always listen to my supporters and my performers when it comes to choices for our stage here at Webb House Concerts. Donna Frost told me that "there is nothing that James Lee can't do with that guitar and his voice" and she was right. He is charming, gracious and oh so talented...bringing a special something to his performance that appealed to every member of that audience. Several "first timers" to house concerts are now total fans of both James Lee Stanley and the concept of house concerts after just this one show.
Evidence of his talent and the esteem in which his peers in our Austin music community hold him...an amazing song circle followed the show, several of our great local Austin musicians, Donna Frost's crew from Nashville...there to pick with James Lee Stanley...a true symphony of acoustic guitars! One of those moments when you find you're holding your breath, just so you don't break into perfection.
As a houseguest, he cooks, he cleans, he shares his expertise on puzzles and the dog adored him...what more could you want? Extraordinary talent, a great artist of his crafts, and always welcome at Webb House Concerts.



Donna Frost is always at the top of her game, this show just a little (ha!) awe struck at being on the same stage, in my backyard as it were..., with James Lee Stanley. Her mentor, and hero when it comes to performing around the country as a touring musician. James Allen , her guitar slinger buddy from Nashville, came to Austin for the show this time...and joined the song circle as well. I loved hearing from him about the unselfish talent in that song circle, and how much it impressed him to hear musicians at that level just hand off licks and lyrics without showcasing themselves...sharing the music.


Many thanks to James Lee Stanley and Donna Frost for setting the bar for a great fall of music in Austin, Texas at Webb House Concerts! We continued the next weekend at SWRFA, sharing a showcase room with Puff Bunny Records and Taylor Pie...and then the Austin Acoustical Cafe appearance of Taylor Pie, with our Austin favorites, Dan Hardick and Suzee Brooks opening the show..wow!

Webb House Concert Schedule

May 17th
George Ensle comes to our backyard before heading to Kerrville to perform at the Folk festival...with Tom Tranchilla opening the show....then sit back for two sets by George! George Ensle has a touch of his personal empathy for others in each of his songs, bringing to life everyday folks with love and compassion...allowing us all to feel part of one another, but still celebrating our individuality. In today's tough, tough times...a reviewer wrote of George "Ensle paints with the brush of hope." I just like the way that sounds. He also was 2008 Texas Music Award nominee for Singer/Songwriter...he's co-written with Blaze Foley, Hal Ketchum, this man has talent! Still some spots left, do not miss this one!!



June 14th!
Kathy Street and Tommy Byrd will join me in welcoming Taylor Pie to South Austin! Byrd & Street, w/Greg Whitfield, will share the bill with Pie and my old friend, Eben Wood. Besides the obvious enjoyment of hearing the song writing skills of Tommy and Pie, I am so looking forward to hearing Greg and Eben show their talent on their guitars!

Taylor Pie and Eben are from my home town of Corpus Christi...back in the day when Pie was known as Susan Taylor, from the Pozo Seco Singers ("Time") with Don Williams and Lofton Kline..and Eben was gaining his reputation as "the best" on the Texas Gulf Coast, playing with most of the local bands and having musicians and fans drive in from all over Texas to watch him perform. The 40 years since has not dulled Pie's voice, her song writing integrity or her smile...and Eben uses that unique finger picking of his to bring more than his share to any show!


Byrd & Street, nominees for the Texas Music Academy Duo of the Year Award, as well as pulling in all the recognition that a songwriter of Tommy's caliber does (this year a finalist at Kerrville Folk Festival for the New Folk award) have developed a style unique to them, with harmonies equal to the lyrics. Lyrical stories come to life, with the amazing talent of Greg Whitfield's guitar to lead and follow the threads of the story line. Having the opportunity to hear this duo in a house concert setting is a special treat to those of us who fight the restaurants and bar noise so often to catch a gig!

For a full size version of this video, check our myspace This version didn't shrink to fit...


Save a date:

Greg Whitfield, July 26th! Greg is a very talented singer/songwriter in his own right, and will share his tunes and his songs with us!We are all looking forward to a whole night of Greg showcasing his work!!

Korn Poneys, aka Suzee Brooks and Dan Hardick...Sept 20! These two are part of Fingerpistol who have a CD that I have truly enjoyed, but not as much as hearing these two in the WHC song circles the last couple of concerts! I CANNOT wait to hear them do a whole show!


email Webb House Concerts at webbhouseconcerts@yahoo.com for more information and a map! We love kids, but none under 12 for these performances! Potluck, if you want...and non alcoholic drinks provided, but feel free to bring your own adult beverage! Just remember, it's a low alcohol concert event, not a party. We LISTEN!

Song circle follows performances...c'mon by...

see you soon!

Wunderlich House Concert!

Just the other day... I perched on my chair, and realized I was on the edge, leaning forward to catch every single note as it floated by...in the dining room, peering into the living room at Ruth Wunderlich's...and on her impromptu stage...Karen Mal, sweet, petite..gorgeous and professional in the center, to her left the ever so handsome folk artist, Ken Gaines...and on her right, Butch Morgan, glowing smile... Karen played his straight man so well! It was an amazing performance...showing each off to their individual strengths. Butch is a showman, an entertainment pro...with a wealth of songs (and CD's..buy one right here!) to draw from...Ken, again the professional, with the generosity of heart to share his voice and guitar with Karen...and Karen Mal, my first time to hear her show!

When I was Three my first favorite of Mal's songs, just so tender live and in the quiet of respectful house concert audience...I just love that moment after a song like that...before the applause, as the song seeps into you...Gaines shows his folk roots, the story in the song, right or wrong to be decided, great verse in his rich voice, the melding of Mal's and his voices just so just right...add in Butch's guitar and his ability to make the song live enough for laughter, it was a perfect combination! After the break, Will Taylor from Strings Attached arrived, fresh and funny from working a wedding...and added that violin to the mix, who thought it could even get better?

Standing ovation at the end! well deserved and brought us another couple of songs...with Mal starting Good night Irene and ending it with all joining in ...including, did I hear Grace Pettis? the angel voice floating from the audience?

A special treat kind of night all the way around! Thank you Ruth!

Starting out

Webb House Concerts started in September 2007...the end result of moving into social networks...aka myspace and meeting Tommy Byrd and Donna Frost...plus reading, connecting with so many house concert venue operators, and the belief that I can do this. This is just not that hard...and really, except for the physical labor of getting ready....it is not. I admit if I wasn't a mom all these years, I'd give up some of that housecleaning crap that I do, but I'm just so darn well trained!

Austin musicians are ready to perform in the backyard and homes of folks willing to host concerts at a moment's notice...especially with those magic words "all donations go to the artists..." tacked on every handbill. To be fair, the opportunity to share their music, uninterrupted and without any chattering folks, rattling bottles and slamming doors, is the biggest draw. Listeners. Listening! To Every Word, every lyric, every note...and laughing with them if they screw up...it draws everyone in, the artist and the fan, the community of sharing that magic.

My plan for this blog is to share my concerts with readers, plus any other music that I wander around Austin to hear...reviews of a sort, I guess...some pictures thrown in.

My taste in music changes with the day sometimes, but at this point and living in this town, Americana roots...from folk to blues would be my favorite. My advancing years makes me love old R&B...what I consider the real stuff, with the BarKays, Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Sam and Dave...which by the way, was my first REAL concert I ever went to as a teenager...omygawd. But here in Austin, I love our singer/songwriters, hearing a new song every time...it's truly a one of a kind performance when that happens.