Shakey Graves' very best Austin day
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Shakey Graves, left, and Stephanie Hunt (his wife) perform onstage at the Paramount Theatre last year in Austin. Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images
Folk-blues musician Shakey Graves is a very busy man.
Why it matters: Nearly 40 years old, he leads a new generation of Austin musicians even as he is a father to a young child.
- His new album, "Fondness, etc.," will be released May 15, he's performing this weekend at KUT Fest, and he and his wife, musician Stephanie Hunt, look after their 2-year-old daughter at their home in Buda.
- His solo, virtuosic, multi-instrumental rendition of "Roll the Bones" a dozen years ago remains mesmerizing. (Sample comment on YouTube: "The eye contact in this owes me child support.")
We caught up recently with Graves — born Alejandro Rose-Garcia — as part of our running series, his ideal Austin day.
Tell me about the new album.
"I made it in my house, the way I used to make earlier records. It's all made around and after the birth of my daughter — an old style with new themes. A lot about me examining the erosion and end of time."
How do you balance the life of a touring musician with parenthood?
"I'm really hoping to find a silver lining with both of them. Everyone has a job of some sort, and I'm very grateful this is mine. I try to balance the guilt of having to leave and sometimes tour — I kind of luckily make the rules, where they can come and travel with us on the road."
How does your ideal day start out?
"I wake up at 6.45am to take my kid into town, to her early pre-pre-school. I'll eat some of the scraps of the breakfast I make for her."
What happens after drop-off?
"Ideally, I go from that to playing at Rippner Tennis in South Austin, to an early morning clinic. After that, I'm at Bouldin Creek Cafe. I grew up around the corner from there. I order the kool hummus sandwich — but hold the hummus. It's basically just a salad and chipotle-pecan pesto on a bun. Or I might get the slacker's banquet — a bowl of beans and rice and a side of broccoli."
What will you do for fun?
"If I'm being optimistic, sometimes go to American Drifter, the vintage store behind it, where I've had incredible success. I've bought two entire western suits from there that fit me like a glove."
- "Then after pickup, I might go to Deep Eddy and meet up with my wife and we might have some family time and then migrate to Pool Burger."
- "Or after pickup, I'll take my daughter to the Austin Nature and Science Center. It's trapped in this 1980s architecture — it looks like Jurassic Park. She absolutely loves it."
What are you doing for dinner?
We go to Jalisco's — it's standard Mexican food. My daughter now just refers to it as 'The restaurant.' The food comes out stunningly fast, which is great with the ticking clock that's a 2-year-old. I've been getting the carne asada plate, which comes with a bonus cheese quesadilla for the kid."
Are you singing her to bed?
"We sing ridiculous songs throughout the day that are not remotely beautiful."
What do you do to unwind?
"We have become Survivor fans. It's our nice weekly sugar injection."