Via Colori 2009

The 2009 edition of Via Colori took place a few weekends ago, and went off without a hitch – on Sunday. Unfortunately, Saturday's events were rained out, which didn't allow the street painting to even begin. Some musical events did take place on Saturday, though, so it wasn't a complete wash (pun intended). Sunday featured a bunch of our favorite acts, including Elaine Greer, Wild Moccasins and Buxton, on top of the fabulous works of art being created all around.

Read all about Sunday, November 22nd at the 2009 Via Colori Street Painting Festival after the jump.

I arrived early enough on Sunday to catch most of Elaine Greer's set on the Whole Foods Market Cafe Stage. Although she sings pretty happy and wholesome folk songs, apparently she had to sensor herself right before I'd arrived, leaving out "shit" from her song, only to drop the same word during her stage banter directly after its finish. Oh well, at least she gave it her best effort! The rest of the set, which featured her main collaborator Austin Sepulvado from News on the March on guitar and accordian, was full of perfect Sunday afternoon hangover relief. It was easy listening enhanced by the cute and clever vocals of Greer, and the outstanding musicianship of Sepulvado. We recently lost Greer to the music-sucking city of Austin, where she has already joined the ranks of another of our favorite groups, The Sour Notes, but she still plans to frequent our fair city on a regular basis. Check her out as soon as you can.

Elaine Greer

Next up were the Wild Moccasins on the Bud Light Lime Main Stage, who are slowly morphing into the modern-day version of The B52's. I think when they covered their songs for The Hootenanny a few years back, they also soaked in their complete persona. Their songs are a bit more poppy, and much less weird, but their image has equaled that of the group famous for such hits as "Rock Lobster" and "Love Shack." One thing they've also taken on is a solid live performance. They've built up enough strong songs, and are much more road weary than they were when we first caught them two years ago. The sprites of the past have turned themselves into a live Houston powerhouse, cutely tearing up packed houses wherever they perform. I have a feeling bigger things are soon to come for the Moccasins, so catch them now in town before they disappear for months at a time on the national touring circuit.

Wild Moccasins

Their was a thirty minute gap in between the Wild Moccasins set and the day's headliner Buxton, so I decided it to be my best opportunity to check out what the festival is centered around, the street painting. Many different sponsors were assigned an artist that used his or her allotted square to form a chalk masterpiece. The squares were fair game, and featured everything from 3D Mona Lisa's to abstract impressionism that would even make Jackson Pollack proud. With one day taken away from their time schedule due to the rain, many artists didn't accomplish a finished project, but the process of art in motion was well worth the trip downtown for the free festival. Several pieces did get finished, though, with artists showing up extremely early in the day to begin their work. For a second year in a row, I've been incredibly impressed with Via Colori's meshing of art and music, and their ability to consistently draw an impressive crowd out for the charitable event. I will never miss a Via Colori, especially if @Annie325 is still bringing in the bands.

The day's events concluded with a healthy set from folksters Buxton. While a pretty heavy presentation was taking place about the producers of the festival, The Center For Hearing and Speech, before Buxton's set, lead-singer Sergio Trevino was physically nervous on having to debut a tear-jerking solo song after the speech. Fortunately, the new song went over well, and was quickly rushed into something a bit more fast-paced. Over the course of the set they peppered in three more new songs among several past favorites. I unfortunately don't recollect the titles of those new ones, even after drunkenly asking bassist Chris Wise what they were later in the night. Maybe one of those guys can fill us in with a comment below. The set was not as rocking as the one I caught from them a week before at the Westheimer Block Party, but it definitely fit with the mellow Sunday afternoon vibe, and as always, was a good one. We shall see what happens with Buxton over the next few months, but without revealing too much, grand things are brewing for the quartet from LaPorte.

Buxton

Even despite the rainy Saturday, Via Colori was once again a success. I hope they continue this event for years to come!

Check out a bunch more photos...

---

Elaine Greer

Wild Moccasins

Buxton

Can't wait for next year!

-Eggs