Austin duo makes music ‘good for soul’

NORTHEAST HARBOR – The singer-songwriter duo Albert and Gage will bring their Texas sound back to Neighborhood House for another electrifying performance this weekend.

Christine Albert and Chris Gage have been one of the leading acoustic acts in Austin, Texas for nearly a decade and are yearly visitors to the Northeast Harbor venue thanks to the Austin-Acadia Connection.

Austin-Acadia Connection founders Lee Haynes and Dee Karnofsky make annual trips to Austin to check out the local talent, take in a few shows by their favorite performers and encourage them to play in Maine. Albert and Gage are right at the top of their list.

“We simply think that Albert and Gage are good for the soul and should be seen at least once each year,” said Haynes, a physician who moonlights as a concert promoter. “If we lived in Austin, I expect we’d be at Donn’s Depot every Wednesday for their weekly gig.”

Anyone who has caught Albert and Gage in person can attest to their personal and musical chemistry. Their energy on stage is infectious, as is the obvious joy they show in making music together. Their musical roots range from country, rock, swing, folk, blues and French chansons. The blend of their voices and guitars creates a unique sound whether they are playing originals or songs written by many of their close friends in the Texas music community.

Gage is known as a master of the guitar, piano and accordion who can effortlessly switch instruments during sets, while Albert has been described as a “wondrous singer with a beautiful focus and unrestrained grace.”

Massachusetts fiddle player Rob Griffin, a frequent performer in the clubs and studios of Austin, said the duo was “one of the best acts I’ve ever seen down there. Whenever I’m in Austin, I try to make sure I catch one of their gigs. Chris is really a fantastic player and Christine is an amazing singer. They sing great harmonies together.”

When reached at her Austin home last week, Albert said the couple has always received a warm welcome when performing in Maine and she was looking forward to their fourth visit north. She said that once they get here, her and Gage usually stay in the area for a few days, relaxing, reading books and enjoying the landscape.

“I really love Maine. I was raised in upstate New York before moving to New Mexico then Texas and I’ll always have a place in my heart for New England,” said Albert. “Maine’s got a little bit of wildness to it that reminds me of the West. I love the land, the area is just incredible. I really do love it there.”

Albert said she and Gage have accumulated a wealth of material over the years and usually play whatever strikes their mood on stage. She enjoys singing the French songs of Edith Piaf as much as she does those of Texas buddies Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. They’ll play everything from classic country-western to their own original songs.

“As singers we really enjoy singing different styles and material. Our voices fit together really well,” she said. “We never write a set list, we just get up there and sort of feel it out.”

Since teaming up in 1996, Albert and Gage have released four compact discs: 2003’s “Christine Albert TexaFrance-Encore!” 2001’s “Burnin’ Moonlight” and “One More Christmas” and their 1997 debut, “Jumpin’ Tracks.”

They have toured nationally as members of Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s band and opening acts. They have performed at festivals and concert series in 12 countries. They are musical veterans, each having had a long and prolific career before creating their musical partnership.

The show will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Tickets are $15 and children under 12 are free. Tickets are available at the door or may be purchased at Grasshopper Shops in Ellsworth and Bangor, at the Music Bar in Bar Harbor, or can be reserved by calling 288-4365 evenings.