The plan was to check out a friend's band at the Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston Street, NY) and then go from there. Stephanie and I went to grab a bite at Kai Kai (78 E. 1st St/ btwn Ave A and 1st Ave) which is a small and charming Thai restaurant, serving great food at dirt-cheap prices.

Then we headed over to the Mercury Lounge to catch Andrew Vladeck and the Spurs (www.andrewvladeck.com). They were pretty good, not bad. Andrew's stage presence is extremely charming and entertaining. After watching Andrew play, we had a most pleasant surprise. The band following Andrew's was an Austin band, The Gourds. Wow! I have declared myself an official Gourds fan!

It was the best live music I've heard in such a long time! They are wonderful, fun, refined and extremely entertaining musicians. I recommend them to all. Their music is adapted from a variety of genres, including; folk, bluegrass, country, Tex-Mex, Cajun, hip-hop and psychedelic, which gives them a very signature Gourds sound. During their three and half hour show, they used the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, drums, organ, fiddle and an accordion. If you have an opportunity to see them live, don't hesitate, it's quite an experience.

Aside from their music, the bonus of being at a Gourds show is their audience. The place was packed with wall to wall Alpha, meat-eating, horse-riding, charming Texan cuties.