With grand excitement, on Friday, August 8, 2025, Linda and Howie (LinaZow) welcomed back to our Garden Salon Austin’s Otter Space Band as it concluded its Earth, Music, and Otter Space Tour of Arizona and New Mexico. The occasion marked the second time in just over a year that these environmental troubadours brought their consciousness-raising lyrics and catchy tunes to our area. Singer-songwriter Bill Oliver strummed his guitar and blew into his harmonica; Virginia Palmer delivered backup vocals and bongos; Beth Galiger tripled on fiddle, flute, and sax. First set began with a rousing rendition of “Dancin’ in the Dirt,” which Bill had played at our wedding campout 20 years ago and which still serves as LinaZow’s unofficial theme song.
The event deviated from our normal potluck format, but patrons instead ate up witty inspiration and acoustic tales of rivers, forests, mountains, and deserts—all with an activist focus. Happy guests brought abundant and diverse beverages and their own chairs. The overjoyed crowd filled the entire garden space, even as far back San Vicente Street. All could hear the music just fine. Some knew the band in Austin, others heard a radio broadcast the day before, and a handful attended last year.
Greatest hits included “Have to Have a Habitat,” “Woodpecker Rebellion,” “Friend of the River,” “Barton Springs Eternal,” “When I Look In The Sky,”and “Never Say You’re from Texas When You’re in New Mexico.” Between sets and medleys, the group invited audience members up to perform their own tunes or join the chorus: Susan and Burt Mittelstadt, Kelly Cranston, Paul Hirt, and Zow himself.
We rightfully deem the concert a rousing success. Cannot wait to invite them again!
See here more Otter Space vids.
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