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poster art by Christina Fajardo
Thanks to our friends all over the world who got
together to help us out. An amazing benefit concert was held Feb.20
in Austin, TX, and the turnout was huge and heartwarming. Thanks to
Winker and
Carrell Grigsby for these first great photos. What a supportive community Christine
and I have chosen for ourselves. We couldn't imagine being anywhere
else on the planet. Special thanks to Craig Calvert. Chris
Slaid Cleaves on stage at Scholz's Beer Garden
Eliza Gilkyson, Chris, Christine, Eliza's son Cisco
Ryder
Darcie Deaville and Ray Wiley Hubbard
A humble and happy Chris and Christine
Click this thumbnail for a 600 by 800 pixel collage of
Winker's and Jeffrye's photos
Bruce Rouse caught in one of Winker's crowd shots.
Rest in Peace, Mr. House Concert
From the Austin Statesman (I think)
The cool thing about not having socialized health care or universal health
insurance isn’t the huge amounts of money we’re saving in taxes; it isn’t
having an abundance of affordable health care providers, or the mind boggling
selection of quality, brand name prescription drugs (enough, in fact, to make
you think you have adult ADD). No, the really awesome thing about the current
health care “anti-crisis” – at least here in Austin – is all of the cool
benefit concerts produced to help pay for the medical costs of folks unlucky
enough to be unhealthy or unrich or uneither. It’s true that not all benefit
concerts have the star power and panache of say, a Live Aid or a Farm Aid, but
there are still plenty of aids for your benefit buck – yet another happy
coincidence of Shrub Sr.’s diabolically compassionate “thousand points of
light” budget gut policy – an idea spawned from a hopelessly naive notion that
people, like Christ himself, are fundamentally compassionate. Ol’ 41 was at
least partly correct. A lot of people are compassionate and it’s a good thing
they’re around to clean up the mess of nitwitted right wing policies like
school vouchers, privatized social security, and abstinence focused sex ed.
Yes, America needs an abundance of dumb, broke crackers, otherwise dishonest,
scheming rich white dudes would never get elected. Hell to that dang ol' chief
and whatnot. So let’s just go ahead and enjoy these unintended spoils while we
can before the flood of compassion dries up into a dusty little pit of
conservatism, shall we?
This Sunday at Scholz, a whole chorus of compassionate
souls will be singing in a benefit concert for local musician Chris Gage, who
is recovering from a recent back surgery. Gage is a veteran guitarist/pianist
who has performed with a mind-boggling array of musicians - people like Roy
Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, and the Greencards to name a few. He’s also a father
of two, a respected producer and engineer, and a loving husband to
chanteuse/Blue Bell babe Christine Albert – exactly the kind of model citizen
you wouldn’t want to let slip through the cracks of failed social policy. Come
on, spending your tax savings on a couple of beers on a Sunday afternoon isn’t
such a bad way to weave a safety net, especially when you’ll be entertained by
talented folks like Eliza Gilkyson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Stop the Truck, Abi
Tapia, Sarah Hickman, Bruce Robison, and Slaid Cleaves. |
January 20, 2005
Yesterday, January 19, Chris had
back surgery to repair a ruptured disc. Dr. Randall Dryer in Austin,
Texas did a superb job clearing away the rupture and the piece of disc
that had been sitting on top of Chris's nerve since December 27. He
is home now and resting easy, with orders to walk, drink water and lie
down for a couple of weeks. Compared to the relentless pain he has
been in for three weeks, this is a welcome relief. There is an end
in sight and progress to be made everyday!
Our community of friends, family,
musicians and fans have been incredibly supportive during this crazy
month. When you are a mom and pop operation, it hits hard when pop
goes down! I have been carrying on musically with help from
talented compadres and will continue to do so for a few more weeks.
We hope to have Chris back on stage by Valentine's Day and in the studio
(with lots of breaks to walk around, drink water, etc) before then.
He has been a real trooper.
A person's true colors shine when coming out of anesthesia and Chris chose
to sing selections from Mary Poppins and the Jon Emery arrangement of "Hey
God". I knew he was going to be okay.
love,
Christine
January 21, 2005
Hi everyone,
Chris here. Christine's misleading you with those photos...I wish
I were out fishing in Wimberley. Actually I'm hobbling around the
MoonHouse and laying on the couch. I'll be here for a while.
Today is a little better. Sharp pains this morning but it got better
once the 'pain management bottles' starting loosening their lids.
Thanks so much for all the emails and movies and food and get well
wishes. I'm following doctor's orders and hope to see you all very
soon.
Please make sure and enjoy each minute of the day. Life is good.
Love, Chris
January 24, 2005
Nurse Ratchett here. The patient is being good, although snapping
back to rock and roll status is not going to be as quick as we had hoped.
I can see that this is a lesson is patience...for both of us. We are
hoping for Valentine's shows that include Chris Gage, but meanwhile he has
to be lying down or gently walking around the house looking at all the
things he can't do and can't bend over to pick up. He has
figured a way to pet our needy cat Angel with the end of his walking
stick. Sitting for more than a few minutes is not in the picture yet
so computer time is very brief. Thank you again for the ongoing
encouragement and support!
love, Christine
January 28, 2005
Chris got a thumbs up from the doctor yesterday...he was impressed with
his progress. All this good energy coming his way is doing the
trick. We're anticipating a limited return to the stage for Mr. Gage
in mid-February, although we have postponed our out of town shows in Waco,
Crockett and Mineola. Put February 20 on your calendar...a day of
music at Scholz's Beer Garden in Austin, Texas to benefit Chris and help
with these big ole bills! (Sara Hickman, Eliza Gilkyson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Slaid Cleaves, Cowboy Johnson,
Jon Emery,
Michael Austin and more!) Our friends are amazing!
love, Christine
January 29, 2005
Christine's at Gruene Hall this afternoon with a band of great musicians,
and I'm home being good. Took a long walk, watched two movies, and
drank water. 9th day of recovery. That's all I'm allowed to
do, it seems. I can't wait to get out in the real world!
Thanks for the great cards in my mailbox. Love, Chris
February 4, 2005
Free these chains that bind....I made it around the block today. No
more excuses. Take me to the gigs!!
February 5, 2005
Okay, don't take me to the gigs. The spirit is willing but the body
is weak. After being so immobile for 6 weeks I'm in such a hurry to
be normal that I'm prone to overdoing. Today's walk was slow and
tentative. I can report that the neighborhood dogs are all fairly
calm today. A couple days ago I was approached by a large pit bull,
(this is South Austin) and I was concerned that he might want to
jump up and play with me. Fortunately his owner had his eye on him
and called him back. I kept walking and looking straight ahead.
All I need now is to be knocked down by a pit bull with no history of back
pain whatsoever. Christine (bless her heart) is on her way to
Houston to perform at Anderson Fair. Robbie Gjersoe is playing lead
guitar, and Cowboy Johnson is going along to sing some wonderful Mickey
Newbury songs. Thanks, guys. Chris
February 14, 2005
Happy Valentine's Day. Chris here...I made my first foray into the
world of entertainment last night. Instead of watching the Grammys (
we were rooting for Eliza Gilkyson...congratulations on the nomination E!)
we took the French show to the Uptown Marble Theatre in Marble Falls, TX.
They let me show up late, and theatre manager Bill Small did most of my
heavy lifting. Christine did the rest, she's pretty strong.
Anyway, the show went great, and it was healing to be back at the piano.
Paul Glasse was on mandolin, having recently survived a run-in with a Ford
F-350. He looks great, and sounded wonderful. I've decided not
to play the accordion for a while, but Michael Austin learned all my
important parts on the clarinet!! We're playing again tonight at the
Wild Basin, and then I've got another week to heal up. Donations are
pouring in for the silent auction at the benefit concert this Sunday.
Pam Golightly has been an angel, as have been Craig Calvert, Rene Britt,
Paul Barker, Nancy Coplin, Susan Emery, Christina Fajardo and a host of
other volunteers. Thank you. Wow. We've gotten baseball
tickets, bicycles, guitars, furniture, restaurant coupons, CDs, musical
performances, massages and even a night on the town with Winker (estimated
value: priceless). Our humble thanks to everyone that's
gotten involved. This is all in addition to the beautiful
people that have sent or stopped by with money, food, movies, cards,
emails, support and company.
February 14, 2005
Okay...Happy Valentine's Day from me too! This is a busy day every
year. We squeeze in romance around loading PA, sound check and show.
Chris was amazing last night and his energy is returning.
Interesting how massive amounts of pain killers for six weeks can make a
guy groggy. He's only on Advil now and his spirit is coming through.
We're looking forward to Europe March 1, although the thought of all those
hours on the plane is still a little intimidating. But, walking
around Sachsenheim, Germany will be lovely. Chris has discovered the
joys of daily walking and I am not about to let him forget it! Thank you again friends. Our
community has been there for us beyond belief.
love, Christine
February 16, 2005
I just have to say again how grateful we are. Follow the
link above and you will see how beautifully the benefit for Chris is
shaping up. He is in the studio this week,
working on the final mix for Abi Tapia's new CD. He's
not quite his old self, but getting there. He'll be a new,
improved, water drinking, yoga doing, power walking
health nut before you know it!
love, Christine
February 24, 2005
Wow. What an event. The benefit on Sunday was beyond what
any of us expected. I have friends still calling to say that they
have carried a hopeful warmth in their heart all week because of
it...something we need during this challenging time in our world.
Despair was overpowered by generosity of spirit and the power of many
coming together! All of the music was incredible. Eliza forged
ahead through airport delays and cancelled flights, determined to make it
in time to play. The audience hung on, she took the stage at 10:30 and
proceeded to blow everyone away with her beauty and strength. Thank
you to the hundreds who came, the volunteers, the silent auction donors,
the musicians, Scholz's, on and on. A burden has been lifted!!
Chris can continue his healing now, minus the financial stress that has
been weighing us down. Our gratitude runs deep. (scroll down
to the bottom of the page for Chris's thank you!)
love, Christine
February 28, 2005
Well, tomorrow morning we fly to Germany and Switzerland for a two week
tour. Chris is "kind of"
up for it...we're both a little concerned about the traveling and the
flight, but the Alps will do us good. Thank you again to our
community around this planet that has been so generous and kind this year.
love, Christine
April 4, 2005
In case anyone checks this page,
(we're blown away by how many have), I want you to know that I'm doing
much better. It's now a little over 3 months since my injury, and
I'm doing most things quite normally. It's hard to bend over to the
floor, in fact I'm not supposed to...., but I've always got helpers
willing to plug in my guitar cords and pick up dropped picks off the
floor. I've discovered this magical moment halfway thru every day
where I lay on an ice pack for 20 minutes, throw the ice to the floor, and
fall asleep within the next 30 seconds. Where has this been all my
life? The little nap gives me the energy and support to move from
the studio/office/webmaster part of my day to the piano/guitar/entertainer
part of my evening. In fact, it's 6:15 and I play at Donn's Depot
tonight (every Monday) at 9:00 pm. So, it's off to dinner and
an ice pack. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Thanks for all your concern.
Chris
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