'What a beautiful night'- Sexton benefit packs Antone's

“Well we all need someone we can lean on,” Bill Carter sang Monday night at Antone’s, backed by Bob Dylan’s two most recent lead guitarists- Charlie Sexton and Denny Freeman- and the night’s beneficiary Will Sexton on guitars.

“Let It Bleed” was a perfect last set number of a night when the Austin music community turned out enmasse to help Will Sexton, the 39-year-old they’ve known since he was 11, who has massive medical bills after suffering a stroke Dec. 1.

“This is why I would never live anywhere else,” said bassist Courtney Audain, a native of Trinidad. “What a beautiful night.” The club was packed early on, with a line, quite literally around the block. But no one complained about the wait to get in.

And even the fire marshal seemed to be a Will Sexton fan. Even at $30 a head on a Monday night, I’ve not seen Antone’s so jampacked since Buddy Guy played SXSW a few years back.

Musical highlights included Patty Griffin doing “Angel Flying Too Close To the Ground” and Lou Ann Barton joining Roky Erickson and Will on “Starry Eyes,” which although vocally ragged (rehearsal anyone?) had everyone smiling. Terry Allen’s rollicking four-song set, with Richard Bowden playing some amazing fiddle runs, was my favorite of the night.

Co-host Andy Langer made light of the controversy surrounding the new KGSR and some of the heat he’s taken as the new kid at the new home of Matchbox 20. During a live auction segment, he came on to the stage with an expensive custom guitar and a painting. “I’ve got a $5,000 guitar under one arm and a $5,000 piece of art under the other, so for all you people who think I’m worthless, you’re wrong,” he said.

Those who weren’t able to attend, but would still like to contribute can do so at the ChipIn account set up for Will.