Live in Austin

In 1984, while suffering from the debilitating effects of MS and seeking treatment, former Small Faces/Faces founder Ronnie Lane moved from his native Britain to Texas. Settling first in Houston, it wasn't long before he sniffed out the hotbed of a music scene that was Austin in the ‘80s and relocated to the famous college town. There the diminutive Lane became a beloved local figure, gigging with several local bands such as the Tremors and befriending fellow musicians and radio DJs alike. Those friendships are directly responsible for Live in Austin. Culled from several live radio broadcasts on KUT and KLBJ, the album is a hodgepodge of old chestnuts, previously unreleased material, and old folk ballads, played by a slew of local scenesters such as Alejandro Escavedo and saxist par excellence Bobby Keys. At this stage in his life, Lane no longer had the muscle control to play guitar and relied on his musician pals to accompany his, at times, quivering vocals. Because of that fact, this album is as bitter as it is welcome for fans. Here we have previously unreleased material from one of the great, unheralded songwriters of his time, but it's taken from a period when Lane's disease had all but eroded his once great musical gifts. Give credit to the folks at Sideburn for recognizing Lane's importance and for putting together such a great package, though. The liner notes are stellar, as are the many photos, and the inclusion of little spoken snippets show what a wily, humorous, eccentric character he was. Especially warm and funny are the two phone exchanges between Ian "Mac" McLagan and Lane, where the two reminisce about their old, boozy days with the Faces. Reviews are essentially recommendations to buy, or avoid buying, and it's difficult to suggest either for Live in Austin. On the one hand, it may very well be the last Lane release and it contains many great moments for fans looking for insight as to what the artist was like as a person. But the music is sub-par and often drenched in accordion, and his once distinct voice can be heartbreaking in its limitation.