Being a fairly well-known blues guitarist in Austin, Texas, is like being a retired old coot in Coral Springs, Florida. Who in town isnยt? But Alan Haynes stands out thanks to a tireless dedication to the blues and a rรฉsumรฉ thatยd make even the most well-established performers in the Live Music Capital of the World envious. Haynesยs solo work, stints as the leader of house bands at the Texas Opry House in Houston and Antoneยs Blues Club in Austin, and his session musician gigs (heยs played with John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughn himself) have made him a true musicianยs musician. Heยs been featured in the book Guitar Legends and on the covers of Southwest Blues and Buddy Magazine. (Buddy as in Buddy Guy. Who knew he had his own eponymous magazine like Oprah does?) What does Haynes do onstage these days? What doesnยt he do? He plays originals and blues classics like ยDiving Duckย and ยGoing Down Slowย and leads his band in smoldering jam sessions. Catch it all when he plays the Big Easy today at 9 p.m. 5731 Kirby Drive. For information, call 713-523-9999 or visit www.thebigeasyblues.com. $5.
Sat., Nov. 24, 9 p.m., 2007
This article appears in Nov 22-28, 2007.