Parker celebrates with her partner Photo: AP

History has been made…deep in the heart of Texas.  Where the doctrine of the conservative right usually reigns, a mold has been broken.  Houston, TX is the largest city in the United States to elect an openly gay mayor.  Annise Parker has done it – and she has not only proven herself worthy of the job, but has also proven that when it comes down to it, even a city in the conservative south is growing less and less concerned with a candidate’s gender and sexual orientation and more concerned with the issues.

The LGBT community is celebrating Parker’s win as hope for a more promising future.

“The fact that an openly gay candidate wins for mayor in the nation’s fourth largest city, in the South, in Texas, shows that when Americans get to know gay people as people, not as stereotypes, their resistance to treating gay people equally reduces,” Evan Wolfson, director of Freedom to Marry, a gay-marriage advocacy group, told USA Today.

All of those anti-gay campaign efforts in Houston led anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups failed to sway the opinion of the majority.  What is that old saying…oh yes, stick and stones may break my bones but…Annise Parker has won anyway!

Clear your schedules tonight ladies!  The very lovely, very talented Robin Smith is headlining tonight at Antone’s downtown!  If you haven’t gotten the chance to check Robin out yet, fear not — you no longer have to miss out on seeing the girl that everyone is talkin’ about!  Doors open at 8 pm, and opening acts include Tavana and Kalu James — both amazing artists as well!

And because we KNOW you want to know more about Robin…we’ve included an intriguing short biography that will allow you to get a glimpse into the life of this rising star… 

“Singer/Songwriter Robin Smith’s lyrics not only paint an intimate portrait of her own life, but also of the lives she sees around her. Her keen ability to explain some of life’s stickiest situations, of love lost and love found in her lyrics is poetic yet playful. The combinations of her powerful strumming, soulful voice and metaphorical words create a sound that can stop the most important of conversations in mid-sentence.

Growing up in the midwest, Robin got inspired to do music mostly by listening to artists such as Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Ani Difranco and Patty Griffin. At the age of 18, she got her first guitar and began teaching herself how to play. Robin has played many local venues in her home town of East Grand Forks, MN and surrounding areas but will never forget her first performance at Urban Stampede; a local coffee house and music venue of that area. ” I was so nervous, and forgot the lyrics to a few of my own songs but it was my first real taste of performing and even though it was mainly in front of family, friends and a few locals it brought a sense of strength and determination to my life which has never left. There is nothing more satisfying then reaching for a dream and despite all struggles finding a daily sense of hope and purpose, that was my first experience with those particular emotions.”

In 2005, Robin felt a pull South and transplanted herself to the “Live Music Capital of the World”, Austin, Texas. She quickly was embraced by the Austin music scene and became a familiar face in the establishments around town. ” I had never been to Austin before I decided on moving there but did have many people suggest it. Something about Austin just felt right and when I entered the city for the first time I felt like I was at home there. I just knew it was all going to alright and that I would have great experiences. Musicians here pull you in and you become a family of sorts, inspiring each other andpushing each other. It’s been unbelievable living here!”

Robin’s music career is moving at a fast pace in all the right directions. She can be found playing weekly at many different local Austin venues including Antone’s, The Parish, Momos and festivals in surrounding areas. Her 1st album is do to be released in 2010. Stay tuned…”