Weekender: Classic Sounds From Funk, Tex-Mex And Baroque Masters

Dance to some Funk Royalty, get down with some classic Tex-Mex and then relax with a baroque orchestra. Here are your best bets for this musical weekend.

Start off downtown where the Aztec Theater’s Libby Day says funk music will rule.

“Yes, we have George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic gonna be on the stage tonight,” she said.

Day said Clinton has been workin’ it for decades, and recently he was recognized with a big national award for his efforts.

“Won his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award actually, earlier this year, so really has been putting in the work for decades,” Day said.

She’s seen Clinton perform before and she said he will make you move.

“It’s a big dance party. He’s in his late 70s now but has more energy than a lot of people that cross our stage,” she said.

If you’ve not been to the Aztec you should know that its atmospheric Mezo-American design rivals the Majestic next door.

“It’s really an experience to walk into the lobby and see all those architectural details,” Day said. “The chandelier that we have was installed in 1929 the day the stock market crashed.”

The triple billing show starts at 6:30, doors opening at 5.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic

WHERE: Aztec Theater

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Friday

COST: $39.50-$69.50

Then on Saturday night you can catch a legendary performer at a legendary venue.

“Oh yeah…John T. was an old friend of mine. I knew him real well,” Augie Meyers said.

Meyers is talking about John T. Floore, the creator of Floore’s Country Store. As to what Meyers expects to play, pretty much all of it.

“I’ll do my Tex-Mex and Hey Baby Que Paso and stuff,” he said.

Hey Baby Que Paso has been called the unofficial San Antonio National Anthem. The former member of the Texas Tornadoes and the Sir Douglas Quintet traces his time at Floore’s by the decades.

“Well, I started playing out there back in the late 50s, 59 and 60 me and Doug were both playing out there,” he said.

Meyers is talking about former bandmate Doug Sahm, with whom Meyers played in two successful bands. Reflecting on his many decades of playing at and going to Floore’s, he remembered fondly an era of pre-braided Willie.

“I saw Willie Nelson there. He had a flat top and a bow tie on. Charged a dollar fifty to get in!” he laughed.

Meyers just got back from a Canadian and European tour where high temperatures were breaking records.

“I come back here and there’s a heat wave here!” he said.

Saturday’s show is inside the air conditioned dance hall.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Augie Meyers Concert

WHERE: Floore’s Country Store

WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Saturday

COST: $20-$40

Then on Sunday, Billy Traylor said that the Austin Baroque Orchestra is offering something completely different.

“We perform most music written before 1800 and we do that using whatever instruments were in use at the time that the music we’re performing was written,” he said.

Those without even a critical ear can notice a different quality to the sound. And Traylor said there are many reasons.

“The strings themselves; they’re made out of gut, or intestine. As opposed to metal, which is what you get today,” he said. “And the wind instruments look completely different. Not usually so much that you can’t tell what they are. The woodwinds are all made out of wood, including the flute.”

Traylor said the music’s roots go back to a function that may be surprising for those who aren’t musical scholars.

“The rhythms very often are driven from court dances,” he said. “A lighter, springier, more agile sound.”

Their Sunday afternoon performance at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will have an informational talk beforehand, but he said the talks are fun, not boring.

“I keep it really informal. It’s not a lecture; I don’t even use the term lecture because it makes people think that it’s school and it’s not. It’s a concert and it’s supposed to be enjoyable,” Traylor said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Austin Baroque Orchestra

WHERE: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday, talk at 3:30 p.m.

COST: $10-$30

Jack Morgan can be reached at Jack@TPR.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii.