EL HUESO DEL FRAILE AND HALF MOON D-TOWN ANCHORS

By Juan Montoya
Located a scant two blocks away from each other on different downtown city streets, two entertainment spots have become the de facto anchors of the resurrection of the city's center.
El Hueso del Fraile, operated by owner/musicians Laura and Adrian Foncerrda and their children Adrian and Luis who are also musicians in their own right, is located at 837 E Elizabeth St. at the corner of Ninth Street.
In their own words: "The Hueso's specialty is a cozy, warming atmosphere where you can sit and enjoy music genres from all over the world while enjoying an exquisite coffee or tea and eating a delicious sandwich or dessert. We are a family run coffee shop and take pride in the value of the art and are working hard to give Brownsville a place to enjoy and appreciate the arts."
Open daily, they cater to the public with the traditional offerings of a Bohemian coffeehouse with a voluntary wine donation available.
This past Thursday night they hosted Delta Dave Handleman and his son Rio Grande Valley Sam who mesmerized us all performing amazing renditions of classics like "Ain't Misbehaving," "Love in Vain," as well as other blues and Broadway and Ellington favorites and even some Billie Holiday tunes.
(We want to thank John Clark for his photo of Sam and Dave.)
The father-son duo got a chance to showcase their talent partly because of the absence of Delta Dave's usual sidekick Doc Scully was on the road to Modesto, Calif. We won't comment on the change of partners, Doc being a kind of sensitive guy (you know how those artistic types are), but those of us who saw little Sam grow up at home with Lou and Dave nurtured on his father's massive album collection must say we were pleasantly surprised at the smooth delivery on his electric lead.
Dave and El Rrun-Rrun's staff go way back to the days when we were all wrtiters at the Brownsville Herald. In those days, Dave could recite baseball stats with the best of them. When he finally left the life of an ink-stained wretch, he took up teaching, his mate Lou's profession. Together they raised Sam and Erica, the apple of Dave's eye.
Many new musicians take full advantage of the open mike at El Hueso so don't be surprised if you hear bluegrass, country, folk (of all nationalities), and of course, Canto Nuevo. When Adrian and Laura and the boys get on the stage, be prepared to hear a true family performance with Laura playing instruments, some of which many of us didn't even know existed.
Around the corner and two blocks up is George Ramirez and Ben Neece's Half Moon, rapidly becoming the place to go for live music, mixed drinks and good conversation from the city's connoisseurs of music, local politics and academics.
As its name implies, the Half Moon has evolved from the back room of the old tannery on the corner of East Adams and 11th Street when it was known as the Crescent Moon. There is, its owners imply, still another half moon to go as the partners make ready the rest of the building.
Manager Juan Castillo advertises that mixed drinks, cold beer and wine, coffee, and other beverages, and pastries are available. And if you get there early, you might get to pig out on the parrilladas from El Tejon, authentic carnes asadas whose owner Henry Sanchez Jr. prides himself in overseeing to make sure they're done right.
There are, in addition to the hired musical acts, random and spontaneous music jams. Ben and the Earthmen are house performers and Emilio Crixell and the Bluzanos are also regulars.
This Saturday, the Half Moon Saloon welcomes The AwayOuTT local rock band who play classic and modern rock. There is no cover charge with free parking and a smoking patio courtyard. Castillo encourages you to come early and stay late.

It's been a long time since live music graced the 1800 crica downtown architecture. You will be amazed at what the partners have done to the inside of the old tannery. If you're tired of the plastic superficiality of the franchise night club scene, take a cruise downtown. Either El Hueso or the Half Moon will do right by you.