Dierks Bentley and Cross Canadian Ragweed entertained a couple thousand troops, their families, and civilian support staff at Lackland AFB in San Antonio yesterday.

Thanks to the Spirit of America Tour, the artists spent much of the day on base—touring the grounds, meeting fans, dining with their hosts, and then playing a free evening concert at the Lackland amphitheater.

Dierks Bentley took the stage first, much to the delight of dozens of female admirers thrilled to watch their crush in the fading sunlight. Sound problems a couple songs into the set forced a half-hour pause, time Bentley used to sign autographs and pose for pictures. With power restored, Bentley continued to step through hits off his 2003 self-titled debut and 2005's Modern Day Drifter, closing with a rocking "What Was I Thinkin'."

While Bentley may be the major label star, Cross Canadian Ragweed headlined this show. And for good measure, as not only was the band playing near its adopted hometown of New Braunfels, but it also was playing before a highly appreciative crowd that sang along with many of the songs.

Ragweed sampled liberally from its seven albums, including next week's new release, Garage (review). Highlights included the rocking "Dimebag" and "Blues for You" from the new album; the audience-requested "Carney Man," which frontman Cody Canada introduced as "the silliest song ever written"; the band's signature "Boys from Oklahoma," which took on an extra anti-establishment edge when performed on this federal installation; and two songs Canada wrote for his Army-veteran father, "Brooklyn Kid" and "Long Way Home."

While Bentley and Ragweed performed under the spotlights, they repeatedly deflected attention to the young airmen gathered in front of the stage. With a basic training class set to graduate this weekend, Canada reminded the young men and women, "Wherever you go, you have one primary job, and that's to come back home safely."

But for one night at least, the new airmen were able to set aside thoughts of far-flung missions in foreign lands, instead immersing themselves in good old American rock-and-roll.

Note: Additional photos are available.

Despite the heat, this was simply an amazing weekend. Here are the artists whose sets I saw, listed in order with * indicating partial sets:

FRIDAY
Austin Collins
Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon
Mofro*
Steve Earle & the Dukes
Nic Armstrong & the Thieves*
Patrick Davis
Grupo Fantasma
Keane
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

SATURDAY
Split Lip Rayfield
South Austin Jug Band
Aqualung*
Buddy Guy*
The Weary Boys
(...left ACL Fest @ 4 pm)
Wilco @ Stubb's (official ACL Fest aftershow)

SUNDAY
Eisley*
Rachel Yamagata*
Brave Combo
The Bravery*
The Decemberists
Wilco
Coldplay

Look for a detailed account of the weekend tomorrow. For now, enjoy a few snapshots from a wonderful, if exhausting, weekend.

Postscript: The weekend recap is now available.

Austin American-Statesman writer Michael Corcoran offers a touching remembrance of blues legend Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, who died this weekend at age 81.

"A lot of people play music for the wrong reasons," he said in October. "I never played to get women, though I had my share. I didn't do it for the money, though it pays the bills. I realized early on that I could create something beautiful that would build love within the people who came out to hear it."

Austin roots rockers Black Water Gospel celebrated their new self-titled album (review) with a CD release party Saturday night at Jovita's. Local indie label Fat Caddy Records helped organize the festivities. The label and bands generously donated the $5 cover to Katrina relief efforts, matched dollar-for-dollar by Compass Bank.

The compelling lineup featured Brian Keane, Austin Collins, and of course Black Water Gospel. Unfortunately, the 7:30 start time roughly coincided with kickoff of the UT-Ohio State football game.

A couple dozen folks—mostly friends of the bands—opted to record or simply ignore the game. They were rewarded with a solid acoustic set from the singer/songwriter Keane, playing off his summer release I Ain't Even Lonely as well as some crowd-pleasing covers, like a soulful take on Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U." Austin Collins followed with a full-band set, demonstrating the band clearly is ready for its ACL Fest debut later this month.

The game ended just as Black Water Gospel took the stage, and suddenly the crowd materialized at Jovita's. BWG clearly fed off the post-game celebratory mood, rocking through an exuberant 75-minute set highlighted by Juan Gutierrez's energetic vocals and Jesse Duke's vibrant guitar work. A guest organist added a welcome fifth member, complementing the rhythm section on some songs but stepping up with a few jazz/blues riffs on others.

While it may have been too late for Keane and Collins, the crowds did arrive. Black Water Gospel showed its appreciation with a fantastic CD release show.

I could write about seeing The Greencards at a packed Gruene Hall this past Saturday, or about the star-studded Ten In Texas CD release party at Threadgill's. I could, but I won't.

I will write about my experience working with those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I'll write about it becaue I'm pissed off at the lack of federal government coordination, and because I'm amazed at the resiliency and community evident among those who have endured this unimaginable migration.

Today I volunteered at Austin's main shelter at the Austin Convention Center. I spent 6 hours in the makeshift computer lab helping people fill out online FEMA registration and claim forms. This process should take 15-20 minutes, according to FEMA's site. But it frequently took 45-60 minutes because FEMA's servers kept bouncing, often requiring forms to be abandoned part-way through and the entire process to be re-initiated. And in many cases this instability meant not being able to complete the process at all, as the forms sometomes were unavailable for a half-hour or more.

Even if I couldn't help them complete their forms, people wondered if I could help get answers to their outstanding questions. "If I called FEMA last week but lost my claim number, will I still be eligible for the intitial $2,000 financial assistance offer?" "If I've never had a Louisiana photo ID, can I get one in Texas so that I can be eligible for one of the short-term residency offers from a local hotel?" For these and other questions I roamed the halls looking for volunteer supervisors, only to find no one with more information than myself; I hiked to the command center, only to be turned away by well-meaning Austin police; I called hotlines and helplines, only to be met with helpless futility.

Is this the assistance promised by FEMA in its stated mission "to provide leadership, coordination, and management in reducing risks and helping disaster victims"? Is this the most compassionate response our federal government can muster for citizens in their time of need? Is this the best service we have to offer, well over a week after Katrina slammed ashore?

But throughout it all, despite the roadblocks and frustrations, I was continually amazed by the vitality and spontaneous community among our Austin guests.

Attempts to help were met with smiles and thanks, even from those I was unable to help. Several times people I had talked with hours before would stop by when passing through the hall, just to say hi and commiserate about the conditions. Somehow the evacuees have managed to remain grateful, even when something tougher than grace would perhaps yield - if not better results - at least an emotional release.

And there is an overwhelming sense of spontaneous community building. One of the first things you see upon entering the convention center is the makeshift beauty parlor / barbershop, where local and displaced professionals offer new hairdos and basic makeovers to evacuees - just because they can. Down the hall some kids have positioned a basketball goal between the temporary chapels, offering exercise and competitive 3-on-3 to teens and young adults seeking to pass the time. Even in the computer lab one can witness the formation of new friendships and the sharing of common sorrows.

It's been a long and tiring day, but I have no right to complain. After all, my home is intact, my family is well, and my life will continue on more or less as normal. So instead, I am thankful for the opportunity to help in some small way today. I am hopeful that FEMA and related government agencies can work through their inefficiencies and finally live up to their promise. And I am spiritually buoyed by the resiliency and community evident throughout the evacuees here in Austin.

No matter how much we may screw things up with our governments, our bureaucracies, and our organizations, basic human goodness remains alive and well, even under the toughest of circumstances.

Austin-based singer/songwriter Daniel Makins entertained a packed house Wednesday night at the Cactus Cafe. Makins dazzled with both his on-stage wit—which helps bridge between-song spans devoted to tuning his aging but treasured Gibson—and his musicianship.

Earlier this year he received recognition in the New Folk Contest at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and he timed the Cactus Cafe show as a warmup for this weekend's Gig Harbor Folk Festival, where he will perform as winner of the festival's songwriting contest for "Moonlight" (listen to the song).

And clearly Makins has support from the local music community. Austin Collins, Graham Weber, Paul Eason, and Stayton Bonner were among the fellow singer/songwriters in attendance.

Judging by the enthusiastic crowd response, which included a standing ovation at the end of the hour-long set, that support base is expanding. As well it should, for Makins has a convivial, James Taylor-like folk sensibility that is hard to resist.