Live music review: Lee Fields and Tameca Jones put soul in Austin Ice Cream Fest After Dark party

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All photos by Brandon Sandler

Hosting an ice cream-centered event during the unbearable hot months of summer here in Austin is a great idea. Complimenting the family-friendly daytime event with an After Dark program featuring soul singer Lee Fields & the Expressions with Austin’s reigning Queen of Soul Tameca Jones brought the popular fest to  a whole, new level as the Austin Ice Cream Festival did on Saturday at Fiesta Gardens in East Austin. 

Essentially organizers held two consecutive events, the family-focused daytime event with music from the lyrical, The Wild Now and Melat with ice cream eating contests, climbing walls, face-painting and a seemingly endless supply of free samples from the likes of Amy’s Ice Cream, Teo Gelato, Casey’s New Orleans Snoballs and more. Before sundown, that event wound down while the festival staff shifted to the nighttime theme. As we entered Fiesta Gardens through the Zip Fast line directly into the VIP area that held a bar, table games, photo booth areas and plenty of swag as well as great cocktails from local spirits purveyors Dulce Vida Tequila and Deep Eddy Vodka. 

The sweets sounds of local songstress, Tameca Jones filled the air as we felt the pull of the main stage draw us closer to Jones’ magnificent voice. With her band holding down a steady rhythm, Jones pulled out all the stops, covering popular songs like “Hotel California” but giving the traditionally alt-country tune a soulful Tameca-sweetened treatment. Only Jones could attempt that and still have fans bobbing their heads along to the music like they’d heard it done like that before. 

The set break allowed time to explore the various ice cream, gelato and shave-ice options available, We tasted the fantastic, alcoholic milkshakes, watched a brief but furious ice cream eating contest, sampled bites from Teo (our favorite), Amy’s and several others. We spied Do512’s crack photo editor Roger Ho doing his thing and generally soaked up the relaxed, festive atmosphere while Lee Fields and his band set up. 

Fields made a classic soul headliner entrance. His band took the stage first playing an instrumental tune as a sort of warm-up before an ecstatic Fields appeared in a fantastic, pink-paisley sequined jacket, sweat beading up on his forehead as he belted out his tune “I’m Coming Home.” Fans responded by roaring their approval as the Expressions again took over the stage acting as puppeteer to Fields’ histrionics and stage antics. His shows always have a festive air about them as if Fields himself cannot believe he’s standing there doing his thing for fans.

It was a glorious evening of rhythm and blues. Music fans got a rare small-format festival appearance from the resurrected sixties soul singer, Fields and heard a local songbird with beautiful pipes to boot. Jones’ performance was akin to having whip cream and cherry on top of one of those delicious adult milkshakes that were served earlier in the day. 

Fans have an opportunity to catch Jones’ next performance at the Historic Scoot Inn next month (8/3) with Austin’s The Nightowls. Details of that performance and more upcoming dates are available via Do512. 

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