Sunday, March 18, 2012
at the home of Sarah Sharp and Buffalo Speedway
Austin, Tx 78723

Doors 5pm. Concert at 6pm.
BYOB!
Advanced tickets $15

On Friday Feb 24, 2012, The Jitterbug Vipers played 2 gigs. The 1st one was at The Elephant Room. It was one of best gigs ever. I texted right after to tell my husband that it felt like one of my top 10 shows of all time. The Elephant was standing room only. We Vipers played with total ease & mutual adoration. It was a raucous love fest, as usual. Afterwards, we headed over to The Volstead Lounge for a Gypsy Jazz Jamboree that featured several bands.

We played one quick set and were rather eager to pack up and get out of the way for the next band. Slim starting loading out his gear immediately after our set. It had to be only a couple of minutes after we stopped playing that I noticed police lights outside. I thought someone was getting arrested. I was chatting with a guy named Bobby Hale while I counted the tips. Neal Kassanoff approached me and said, “Sarah the ambulances out there are for Slim. He’s in the road.”

I remember saying, “No he is not. Don’t say that.” even though I knew he wasn’t kidding. As I walked out to a sea of flashing lights, the first thing I saw was Francie Meaux Jeaux standing, crying, staring at the ground with 2 people wrapping their arms around her. I looked down and sure enough, it was Slim. He was motionless, surrounded by EMS, face down with goalpost arms, but the bottom ½ of his body was twisted in a way that I remember thinking, “That is not a normal body position that happens in nature.” I have vague memory of the EMS talking in the walkie-talkie about the rotation of Slims hips and neck and thinking that what he had just said sounded very bad.

I got down on the ground with my head next to Slim’s ear and slipped one hand under his head, which was turned to the side. The EMS were there with me. My hand was full of blood. I had no idea whether Slim was alive. I just started talking. “Slim, It’s Sarah. I’m here. You’re going to be OK.”

NOTHING…

“Everyone who loves you is right here. Francie is here.” At the mention of Francie’s name, he suddenly tried to lift his head.

The EMS said, “Slim, you’re going to have to stay still. You have to keep your head still.” At the same time, the EMS said to me, “Ma’am, what you’re doing, it’s working. I can’t tell you how much you’re helping him right now. Keep doing it.”

So I kept talking, “Francie is right here and she’s OK.” At the second mention of Francie’s name, he tried to push up on his elbows. The power of their bond cannot be overstated. Slim lives to protect and love Meaux Jeaux and to play music. PERIOD.

I motioned to Francie to come over and start talking to him, but just then, the EMS asked us all to move out of the way and they put him on the stretcher. I told Francie that Slim had just tried to push up. He was going to be OK. “Francie, I’m in charge. You don’t have to think. I’ll get your stuff and Bobby’s going to drive your car. You are going to ride with me to the hospital.” Everything I said to Francie, she just said, “ok”. If you could hear Francie say it, it would sound like “okaaaaaaay” the intonation of half wimper, half question.

I asked a police man to move his car, which was one of several blocking the roads, so that I could get Francie from the spot where she had stood frozen since I first walked out into that scene. I didn’t think I could make her walk. When Slim was hit, she had heard the impact, turned around and was confused for a moment, wondering why her bass was in the road, before she saw Slim next to it.

Here is what a stranger wrote on their FB wall that night. We ended up having mutual friends and their post made it to me a few days later, as news got around about Slim.

“I just saw the worst thing I have ever seen. A hit and run accident on E. 6th. I saw and heard the man get hit by a brown SUV. I watched the driver back up and peel out. I watched bystanders try to chase him down and dive out of the way as the determined felon made as if to run them down. Dealer plates. Vanished. The worst of humanity. I have seen a lot of sad, bad things. This was worse than those. If you pray, maybe pray now. Pray the bad guy gets it in the end and the white haired gentleman finds his way to better at Brackenridge. Fuck. This world…”

At the ER, we waited maybe an hour before we could see Slim, but a social worker came out and told us that he was talking, that they were doing a CT scan. After a while we found out that he had no broken bones. Lots of nervous giggles… No broken bones? Really? And then we found out that he had no bleeding on his brain. REALLY??? There is a reason why they call Slim Richey the Most Dangerous Guitar player in Texas.

Francie and I joked… worst case, maybe he’ll be confused for the rest of his life, but Francie already goes through life confused, so that’s not so bad. They’ll be 2 peas in a pod. He’s alive! What other 74 year old man on earth could take a hit like that and not break a fucking bone? (Francie brings out my cursing. No better occasion. There was lots of cursing.)

When we saw him, he was asking the same questions over and over.
“Was I hit by a car?”
“Yes Slim…..” and then various versions of further explanation
“Where was I?”
“Outside our gig. We were playing at Volstead Lounge”
“Never heard of it”
“It’s on E. 6th St. We went there after the Elephant gig. We were playing the Gypsy Jazz Jamboree”
“What was I doing?”
“You were taking instruments to the car.”

It went on for at least an hour, same sequence of questions, non-stop. Then a few more sentences started to make their way into the cycle.
“Was it my fault?”
“Tell them that I need to pee. Tell them that I’d like some water.“
There was a moment of relief, that Slim was still there in that banged up head when he asked for water, his daughter Sera told him that they said he couldn’t have any, in case he needed surgery and he responded, “Tell them I said fuck you.”

At one point, the doctor lifted up the bandage on Slim’s forehead and blood actually spurted up, out, and across the floor, leaving a straight line of droplets, like I’ve only seen on TV.

Slim spent three days at Brackenridge. I relieved Francie for several hours at the hospital on Saturday, watching Slim throw up in a bucket, leaving the room each time he needed to pee in the jug & trying to get APD to put us in touch with the officer who filed the case. The main number of APD said all we could do was wait for the traffic office to open on Monday and call them and hope that the report was in the system, but that it takes a few days. Slim was asleep 99% of the time. I took one of his lucid windows to show him the one photo that I had snapped in the ER (with Francie’s permission) and ask him if he was ok with me posting it. We agreed that though graphic, it might make an impact that would inspire people to find the MF who ran him down.

Hanna from Moonshine sent cookies. Christian and Charles, owners of the Volstead Lounge brought a beautiful vase of flowers and were so genuinely concerned and upset and offering to host some kind of benefit at their club. It was VERY thoughtful. Our drummer Masumi brought books and was very hands on, constantly stroking Slim’s arm, rubbing his feet. I’m not so hands on in these situations. I was grateful for her being so nurturing.

By Sunday, Slim was awake a little more, but not significantly better. He was still unable to hold food down. (I didn’t realize at this point that the nausea was because of a concussion. Duh!) I called APD and had Francie talk to them, thinking they might be more helpful to the wife, but they just transferred her to the traffic office… knowing that the office was closed on the weekends. We were starting to hear a lot of discouraging stories from other hit & run victims and their loved ones… that the APD had far bigger fish to fry and far too few resources and they were not likely to solve our case, because Slim had not been killed.

So Francie and I set up shop in room 935 with our laptops and went to work, trying to figure out who we knew at APD, the TV stations etc. I called Fox first, because they have so many bands play on the morning show and we’ve all been on there a bunch with various bands. Camille Williams from Fox responded immediately and arranged an interview at the scene. Then it was an avalanche or requests from other stations and press, thanks in no small part to friends like John Jordan who aggressively alerted every media outlet they could. When you’re the victim of a hit and run, it helps to be a local music legend. We feel very fortunate that Slim’s case is getting attention, because we want to CATCH THAT BAD GUY!

On Monday, when the nurses were fetching a wheelchair to discharge Slim, he sat up to get ready to get out of bed. It made him vomit (dry heave) violently. He hasn’t held down food since the accident. Afterwards, he said that when he sat up, his vision went like what you see when a film is off the reel and tumbling over itself. The nurse confirmed to me that this was because Slim has a concussion and she said that he needed to be sure to move very slowly when he needs to change positions.

A good friend and fan of Slim came out to an impromptu ‘soft benefit’ for Slim Monday night. When I described to him Slim’s nausea and messed up vision, his eyes got watery and he started to tell me about how a real-deal concussion like Slim has might affect him for the rest of his life. If anyone can make a full recovery, Slim can. I just PRAY that he can recover and that his hand-eye coordination isn’t messed up and that he doesn’t suffer from depression, which is apparently a very common side effect with this type of concussion.

When we were loading Slim in the car at the hospital, I asked to see the bass and snapped these photos. I said to Slim, “I think that bass took one for the team and that’s why you are alive. The car must have hit the bass first.” Slim agreed. I’d be interested to know how fast the driver must have been going to do that to a bass inside its case.

As of today, Slim has less nausea, we’s walking slowly and a little without a cane. He still has to change position very slowly. He is starting to have brief stints on the phone and computer. He sent out his usual weekly email gig list to all his fans yesterday and it started with this:

BULLETIN:

Slim was run over by an SUV hit-and-run on Friday and will not play the next few days.  The Jitterbug Vipers are in Houston playing without him and will play the next few gigs with one or more awesome substitutes.

Two impromptu benefits have popped up in Slim’s honor. Tonight and Tomorrow night.  We have not been involved in planning these. In fact, we kept saying it was too soon, but these events took on a life of their own. UNSTOPPABLE – the love .

The Big event that we are involved in planning is going to be April 1 at Threadgill’s, with a silent auction, bands etc. More on that soon. There is a Chip In page for Slim’s recovery and Francie’s bass.

Jeremy TheArtist saw the incident. We haven’t met him in person yet, but he created this incredible drawing and he’s given us permission to use it for posters and T-Shirts for all of the events.

Please pray that APD finds the bad guy!!!

No one got the license plate number.

What we know for sure: LARGE, DARK SUV, PAPER LICENSE PLATES HEADED WEST ON 6^th ST around 11pm.  Would show some sign of damage on the front, driver’s side.

Also what we have heard from witnesses: possibly Maroon, Brown, or Red. Possibly and Escalade, Possibly a Hispanic male driver.

The Case: Austin Police Department case# 120552201  Detective Harrington 512-974-8543.  Detective Harrington welcomes any tips.

Slim spent 3 days at Brackenridge hospital and is recovering from a concussion at home.  We don’t know when he will be ready and able to play again. The bruising on his brain causes extreme nausea, especially when he makes the slightest move.  Yesterday, when the nurses were fetching a wheelchair to discharge Slim from Brackenridge, he sat up to get ready to get out of bed. It made him vomit (dry heave) violently.  He hasn’t held down food since the accident.  Afterwards, he said that when he sat up, his vision went like what you see on a movie screen when a film is off the reel, and the picture is rolling over itself.

Last night, I described this to a friend & fan of Slim who is a doctor. His eyes got watery and he started to tell me about how a real-deal concussion like Slim has might affect him for the rest of his life.  If anyone can make a full recovery, Slim can, but a bruise on your brain at age 74 is no small thing.  Francie and I joked that we could handle Slim being a little confused, because that’s already how SHE goes through life J, but I just PRAY that he can recover and that his hand-eye coordination isn’t messed up and that he doesn’t suffer from depression, which is apparently a very common side effect with this type of concussion.

When we were loading Slim in the car at the hospital yesterday, I asked to see the bass and snapped some photos.  I said to Slim, “I think that bass took one for the team and that’s why you are alive. The car must have hit the bass first.”  Slim agreed.

We don’t know the full extent of what they will need, but we know right now that they need a new bass and that Slim has lost his income and has hospital bills on the way.  I thank you for lifting Slim and Francie up and rallying to help them however you can!!!  YOU CAN DONATE HERE.

All Jitterbug Viper gigs will continue with a sub for Slim.

SLIM RICHEY AND HIS HIDY HIDY HOS LOVE YOU!!!

Chanel used our song in this video called ‘Making of the Spring-Summer 2012 Ready-to-Wear campaign’

It’s behind the scenes of the photo shoot by Karl Lagerfeld with models Saskia de Brauw and Joan Smalls

‘If You Come Over’ by Kaliyo (Andrea Perry & Sarah Sharp)
Writtern by Andrea Perry & Sarah Sharp
Produced by Andrea Perry, Lead vocals: Sarah Sharp, Drums: Larry Aberman, all other vocals and instruments: Andrea Perry

When we first saw the images from Chanel’s Spring 2012 ad campaign we imagined models Saskia de Brauw and Joan Smalls doing half-pike’s off the double bars over the Atlantic. The campaign video shows that the shoot by Karl Lagerfeld was a bit more staid than that, but no less beautiful than the final images let on. Set in the South of France — Antibes to be more specific — the all-white looks, pretty jewelery and sun-spotted coastline have us dreaming of faraway vacations soundtracked by Kaliyo (Andrea Perry & Sarah Sharp) “If You Come Over.” Get in on the daydream in the video above.

Read more: Chanel Spring Ads – Fashion Videos – Harper’s BAZAAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  My new year has already hit full throttle, which is exciting and often pretty overwhelming.  I’m paying my neighbor to play with my kids for 2 hours, so that I can tackle the most essential items, like this newsletter. If you want to learn to be more efficient with your time, HAVE KIDS. I’ve never been more productive, with any bit of time I get to myself.

The biggest thing I need to ask is that you take a few minutes to vote in the Austin Chronicle Music Poll. Suggestions below.  The Jitterbug Vipers were number 2 Jazz band last year. WE WAN’T TO BE NUMBER 1!!!

http://www.austinchronicle.com/feedback/musicpoll/11/

JITTERBUG VIPERS: BEST JAZZ BAND; BEST AUSTIN BAND
SLIM RICHEY: ACOUSTIC GUITAR
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY: BEST ELECTRIC GUITAR
SARAH SHARP: BEST FEMALE VOCALS
MASUMI JONES: BEST DRUMMER/PERCUSSIONIST
MEAUX JEAUX: BEST BASS PLAYER
THINK LIZZY: BEST COVER BAND (Buffalo’s band)
ANDREA PERRY: BEST PRODUCER (Various/Kaliyo) 

This makes a big impact on our booking, especially to be able to play outside of Austin and say we won something.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for voting. Please tell your friends!!

The 2nd most important thing is to make sure you know that I will be playing my own tunes ON MY BIRTHDAY - Jan 26 at Flamingo Cantina. This is a rare night of me PLAYING ORIGINALS and I will have th honor of doing it in-the-round with Ginger Leigh and Kellye Gray. I really hope you will plan to come.  We play 8-10. Doors open at 7pm. $15 cover.

I just got back from meeting in LA with FirstCom, which has bought 27 songs from Andrea Perry & me since Oct 2011.  We are starting to see lot’s of little placements… Regis & Kelly, Tia & Tamera, Access Hollywood…  little nibbles. We are praying for a big bite!

We have had some more significant song placements overseas, ESPECIALLY in Poland – a very popular TV show called Przepis na ?ycie TVN has featured 2 different songs on 2 different episodes & the biggest, hippest clothing store in Eastern Europe: Reserved, used us in their Fall Women’s campaign. That’s our song Trapeze, on the link. Oh and Smart Cars used a song on the online TV show  ‘Smart.Studio’ in this episode about Frankfurt.

The Jitterbug Vipers have a steady stream of great shows.  Tonight we are at The Elephant Room. 6-8pm.  If you haven’t seen us in a long time, we continue to get better. We are real band with our own culture and inside jokes… not just some people playing jazz gigs. It’s a big love-fest/party. You have to come check it out!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
VIPERS on Twitter
Sarah on Twitter
FB page for my newest band – Kaliyo (kah – LEEyo)

XOX
SS

Viper Mad by The Jitterbug Vipers live at The Elephant Room in Austin, TX 11-18-11.

Slim Richey – 1938 Gibson Kalamazoo Acoustic guitar. Sam e year Slim was born!
Francie Meaux Jeaux – bass
Masumi Jones – drums

Viper Mad is a Sidney Bechet tune.