A tribute to songsmith Escovedo

[Guest guest]

A tribute to songsmith Escovedo By Walter TunisCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Escovedo

8 tonight and Saturday at The Dame, 156 W. Main St. $20. (859) 226-9005.

Initially, the ideas behind Por Vida -- a two-disc tribute to the songs of master Texas songsmith Escovedo -- were-immediate and practical. The album was designed to quickly raise money to offset medical bills accumulated while he was-sidelined for two years with hepatitis C.

But the project soon took a vastly more-personal turn. Por Vida was filled with performances by inspirational elders ( Cale), heralded peers (Lucinda ) and younger disciples (Los Lonely Boys) singing Escovedo's sterling songs back to him at a time when he couldn't perform them himself.

"So many of these artists were people I have tried to emulate in some small way over the years," Escovedo said. "I tried to gather something from them, to learn from them. They were masters as far as I was concerned. To have them give this music back in such a giving and generous way was amazing."

Por Vida's popularity also has led to-formation of The Fund, an-organization devoted to financially assisting other musicians diagnosed with hepatitis C as well as creating public awareness of the causes and potential cures of the chronic disease.

"Por Vida raised a lot of awareness about insurance benefits for musicians and artists -- or rather, the lack of it -- in this country and also about hepatitis C in general," Escovedo said. "I get people coming up to me all the time asking me questions about what they can do, who they should see and what types of-alternative healings there are.

"You see, I was so fortunate in the response I got from the community at large. I mean, the overall love, concern and compassion from everyone who sent in a drawing, a postcard or even a donation was really the medicine that got me through this. Without all that, this would have been a much different story. So it feels really good to be in a position to help-other people."

Tonight and Saturday at The Dame, Esco-ve-do plays his first Lexington concerts since March 2003. Backing him will be guitarist-songwriter Jon Dee Graham (formerly of Esco-vedo's '80s band True Believers), violinist Voelz (formerly of Poi Dog Pondering; see album review, Page 6), bassist Mark Andes (formerly of Spirit and Heart who last played Lexington with Willis) and three longtime artistic allies: cellist Standefer, keyboardist Bruce Salmon and drummer Munoz.

The DesChamps Band

8 tonight at St. Ann Seton Country Fair 2005, 1750 Summerhill Dr. Free. (859) 273-1318.

9 p.m. Saturday at Natasha's Cafe, 112 Esplanade. $5. (859) 259-2754.

Years before Escovedo became one of the more distinctive artists to emerge in a fertile Austin, Texas, music scene, there was Uncle Walt's Band. The acoustic, neo-country trio led by the harmonies and champion songs of-Walter Hyatt, Champ Hood and Ball-became a mainstay of Austin saloons and honky-tonks but was seldom afforded opportunities to flourish outside of Lone Star country.

That's especially curious, given that the band formed in Spartanburg, S.C. -- home to, among others, Southern rock mainstay The Marshall Tucker Band. Now say hello to The DesChamps Band, a quartet of college-age-pickers that includes the late Hood's nephew Marshall Hood on guitar. Bassist Jeff Brown,-fiddler Matt Parks and guitarist Rob Teter complete the lineup.

Also based in Spartanburg, The DesChamps Band mixes country, bluegrass, swing and more. It has also enlisted occasional help from some family friends. Ball has appeared with the quartet at select Nashville performances while ex-Tucker drummer Riddle has produced studio recordings by the band. Expect a tune or two from Uncle Walt's Band this weekend.

Interludes

• He's long been a regular in Louisville and Lexington concert halls. Now fort gets to host veteran New Grass Revival bassist-singer Cowan and his current Americana/jam band brigade. The Cowan Band performs tonight at the Brick Alley, 325 St. Clair in fort with Joanna Hay and Jeff Ellis opening. (6:30 p.m., $25). Call (502) 875-0025 or (859) 948-2710.

• Looks like there is no rooma for Zooma this summer. The entire Zooma Tour featuring Trey Anastasio and Ben Harper, which was to have included a June 22 show at Riverbend in Cincinnati, has been scrapped. Press releases only cite "unforeseen circumstances," although poor tickets have been rumored as the cause of the tour's cancellation. Refunds for the Riverbend performance are available at point of ticket purchase.