Cory Morrow gave nearly 400 of his most ardent supporters a sneak peek at his new album, Nothing Left to Hide (review), on Saturday. The special "Behind the Curtain" show at Austin's La Zona Rosa featured a catered dinner, Q&A session, full-band concert, and a gift bag filled with exclusive goodies. Read our full writeup on the event.

If you couldn't make it, you still have a chance to listen to the concert and Morrow's extensive commentary introducing each song. XM Radio recorded the concert for future airing on its X Country channel.

Tomorrow, Morrow will treat the 6th Street crowd to a free evening show from atop the Blind Pig pub. To accommodate the expected crowds, portions of 6th Street will be closed to thru-traffic from 6 to 10 pm.

Austin's Guy Forsyth has a bona fide regional hit with "Long Long Time" — his expression of bewilderment at our consumerist culture gone wild. And with this week's release of Love Songs: For and Against he finally has a full album to support the runaway hit single.

Monday night Forsyth celebrated the new album with a private concert at Paggi House, hosted by Propaganda Media and featuring a guest list of some of Austin's high-profile media and music types. I'll have the full album review soon, but Monday night I was blown away by Forsyth's passion and range.

After the party we headed to the Saxon Pub with Jill and Heidi from McGuckin Entertainment PR to see the South Austin Jug Band. With a new album out next month on Blue Corn, the bluegrass jam band treated a good-sized crowd to favorites both old and new. The boys from SAJB — joined for a few songs by the wondrous Warren Hood — certainly know how to put on an entertaining show.

Austin's Bob Schneider is in the midst of a successful West Coast tour. And he just finished a series of dates opening for Shelby Lynne … or is it the other way around?

With too many people leaving venues after the high-energy Bob Schneider, promoters decided to switch the order, with headliner Shelby Lynne essentially the opening act for a few of her own tour dates. Apparently the audience desertion at the Marquee Theater in Tempe was the last straw.

According to at least one fan in LA, it doesn't appear Ms. Lynne was too happy about the arrangement. And according to Reuters, neither were some fans. Can't be healthy for the ego, that's for sure.

It's taken 33 years, but it appears Willis Alan Ramsey is finally set to release his second album.

The Cactus Cafe has CD release shows scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September 2-3.

If you've never listened to his self-titled debut, you really should ($15.99 from Lone Star Music). Ramsey inspired a whole generation of country/folk singer/songwriters, and his songs have been covered by such artists as Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Lyle Lovett.

He's perhaps best known for writing "Muskrat Love," a hit for Captain & Tennille—but the duo truly bastardized the song (see "Muskrat Candlelight" on Willis Alan Ramsey…still goofy, but without the schmaltz).

An amazing crowd packed Carlos 'n Charlies yesterday for "Comin' Home," a celebration of the late Kirby Standley and fundraiser to help his family with medical and other expenses.

What started with a trickle of folks for the 1:45 set by Wade Bowen and West 84 turned into a packed house by the time Jason Boland and the Stragglers took the stage at 3. The event's organizers did a masterful job alternating between full-band sets on the outdoors stage and acoustic songswaps indoors.

We could only stay for the first half of the shows, leaving as Cory Morrow wrapped up. We missed out on Roger Creager and Cross Canadian Ragweed, among others. But we enjoyed the live music and the refreshing lakeside breeze, and were glad to be able to support the Standleys and many of Kirby's friends in the Texas music community.

With a quiet weekend at home, I was able to make it out to a couple of shows.

Friday night I had my first chance to see Larry Hooper, a promising young singer/songwriter, at Jovita's. Hooper lists Slaid Cleaves and Townes Van Zandt among his influences, and he describes his own style as a "folk-rock-bluegrass-country thing." While he mixed in a few covers, he mostly performed his own substantial originals. With a voice somewhere between Steve Earle and Randy Rogers, Hooper certainly has the talent to make a splash on the Austin music scene.

Saturday evening it was off to Midnight Rodeo to see the Eli Young Band and Cooder Graw. Although they were limited to playing for an hour or so, this was the best performance I've seen from the Eli Young Band. Celebrating this week's debut of its first national single, "That's the Way," EYB filled the venue with its loud, infectious energy. Unfortunately, the more low-key Cooder Graw wasn't able to sustain the momentum. Although with dozens of couples happily sweeping the dance floor, perhaps I was feeling let down just because I was left out.