Maloney shines as he professes his adoration for Fisher, who he says he's had a musical crush on since first hearing her play. There's just something about that voice, he says.

But Maloney is hardly the only one who has that musical crush on Fisher. Her Allison Fisher Band plays some of the best vintage Gulf Coast R&B to be heard around these parts, and has a steady following of its own at the Big Top.

It fits right in with that bar's strange old circus vibe; the music is a bit old, a bit earthen, but perfectly in line with the Big Top's retro vibe. It's a fine line to keep that retro sound from spilling over into kitsch, but Fisher's talents safely keep those sorts of questions at bay.Her voice is one of the best you'll find in Houston, and hearing her belt out those old blues hits should be a requirement for any proper Houstonian, vintage-music lover or otherwise.

The same could be said for Belmont member Nick Gaitan's other band, too. Nick Gaitan and the Umbrella Man, veteran players of this vintage craft, has been paving the way for acts like Belmont Four for years now, largely thanks to the group's Thursday-night residency at the Big Top.

Much of Umbrella Man's catalogue is steeped in vintage Gulf Coast tunes, a sound that begs to be danced to live. It's not quite as clean as Belmont Four's brand of vintage music, but Gaitan and company's sound still gets the toes tapping with Rodriguez's reedy accordion and the leader's thumping bass lines.

The musicians in the band, which often include Maloney on steel, are adept at infusing vintage swing with the sounds of Texas country and zydeco. As soon as the band takes the stage, couples flock to the bar's small dance floor.

In the end, Louis Armstrong's observation was spot-on. The memory of things gone is important, and luckily, such memories survive, thanks to the bands who are eager to play those old tunes or sing those old songs from long ago.

The Belmont Four opens for Nikki Hill Friday at the Continental Club, 3700 Main. Doors open at 9 p.m.

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