When you get off of an airplane at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the first thing you see is a plaque on the wall proclaiming Austin as the "Live Music Capital of the World". With more live music venues per capita than Nashville, Memphis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas or New York City, it's tough to argue the point.
Live Music From Concentrate
The city's live music scene is most concentrated downtown, just north of the Colorado River, with dozens of clubs situated side-by-side on Fourth, Sixth, and Red River Street. Other pockets of venues are scattered throughout the city, most notably on South Congress Avenue a couple miles South of downtown. Walk down Sixth street on a weekend night in July and you will very quickly see what all the fuss is about. Amongst a plethora of bars with names like Chuggin' Monkey, The Library, Iron Cactus, and Red Eyed Fly, the sounds of country, rock, metal and dueling pianos mix together, offering up a new artist to almost any musical taste. The Passing Of A Legend
This Mecca of live music was arguably started (or at least fostered) by one Clifford Jamal Antone. Antone opened the original Antone's in 1975, bringing blues and soul legends to Austin including Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Fats Domino, Buddy Guy, and Junior Wells, to name just a few. When Antone passed away in May of this year, the city as a whole felt the loss. Will Wynn, Mayor of Austin, said, "One of the primary reasons Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World is because of Clifford Antone." Antone's is still one of the most popular clubs in Austin, with music drifting from its entrance most nights. A host of Austin favorites such as Bob Schneider, Monte Montgomery and The Gourds can be found gracing the club's stage on any given night, and both the musicians and crowd can usually be referred to as "regulars".
Making Noise
While Sixth Street and the surrounding area is where the legend starts, sometimes a street-corner bar can't quite handle the rider for a regional or national tour. When this is the case, you're most likely to find the shows at La Zona Rosa, Austin Music Hall, or The Backyard. Whether providing sound for five-hundred or five-thousand, many of the venues here make use of a mixture of house and rental gear. Many of the small- and medium-sized venues have house gear that gets used for the bulk of shows, supplementing with fills, monitors, and consoles when necessary.
Although many of the acts that perform at the larger venues bring in their own P.A., these facilities are sometimes asked to provide house audio. In most of these cases, venues like the Music Hall and The Backyard have standard turn-key systems that are brought in by local audio powerhouses such as Big House Sound and Miller Pro Audio.
A Taste Of Central Texas
NAMM's Summer Conference being held in Austin this year will allow many people to see the city for the first time. We've included some more detail on a few of our favorite music hotspots in Austin, but this is just scratching the surface. If you're in town for the conference or considering a trip in the future, be sure to pick up an Austin Chronicle when you arrive at the airport. No matter what your tastes in music are, you should be able to sate your hunger while visiting the "Live Music Capital Of The World".
Antone's
Capacity: 600
Location: 215 West Fifth Street
Recent Events: Wideawake, Bob Schneider,
The Scabs
From the Club:
Austin's Home of the Blues is located in the heart of downtown Austin and home to both local and national blues, rock, pop and country acts from around the globe. Offering music most nights of the week, the legendary Antone's is a favorite destination point for Austinites as well as visitors from out of town.
From the Editors:
To this day, Antone's is one of the best places in Austin to see live blues acts. The recent loss of founder Clifford Antone (see article) was a big blow to Austin's music community. To get a glimpse of just how eclectic Austin music can be, check out Bob Schneider on one night, then see him as front-man for The Scabs on another night.
Gear
Soundcraft Series 2 40-channel
Console
DBX 266 Compressors
Behringer Gates
Yamaha REV 500 Reverb
Roland SRV 3030 Reverb
Boss DE 200 Digital Delay
Ashly XR 2001 Crossover
Crown Macro-Tech Amplifiers
JBL Loudspeakers
Soundcraft Spirit 32-channel Console
Behringer EQs
Yamaha CP 2000 Amplifiers
QSC MX200A Amplifier
Austin Music Hall
Capacity: 3,000
Location: 208 Nueces
Recent Events: Velvet Revolver, Switchfoot, Willie Nelson
From the Club:
The Austin Music Hall is Austin's premier concert and special event facility. The building's art-deco interior creates a first class atmosphere for 3000 people. In addition to the venues regular concerts, the Austin Music Hall hosts upscale private and corporate events.
From the Editors:
Simply "The Music Hall" to most Austin natives, this warehouse is where many of the 'big name' rock shows end up. (In)Famous for its poor acoustics, engineers tend to push their GMs an extra 3dB for shows here, so bring your earplugs.
The Backyard (Like Oak Amphitheatre)
Capacity: 5,000
Location: 13101 Highway 71 West
Recent Events: INXS, The Black Crowes, Fiona Apple
From the Club:
The Backyard is located in the heart of Texas Hill Country in a natural, open-air setting enveloped in the shade of 400-year-old live oaks. Multi-tiered decks, fishponds and green terraced lawns illuminate the magic of the amphitheater's atmosphere. This one of a kind amphitheater hosts music as varied and eclectic as the people of Austin.
From the Editors:
Simply one of the nicest places in the world to see a concert…as long as the weather is nice. Several artists admit to having their best shows here. Situated on the edge of the city, be sure to have a designated driver for a night out here.
The Continental Club
Location: 1315 South Congress Ave.
Regulars: Toni Price, James McMurtry, Jon Dee Graham
From the Club:
This rare Austin relic opened in 1957 as a supper club featuring groups such as Glenn Miller. Continental's retro tone is present today with its classic neon sign and frequent vintage car-driving customers. Since the 1970s, it's been the casual setting for some great music: country, blues, rockabilly and singer-songwriters. Annual events include Elvis' birthday party. Many club-goers–including 20-something something tattooed cowgirls–use the back room for an occasional breath of air or a game of pool.
From the Editors:
For a true taste of Austin's signature weirdness, head down to South Congress for eclectic shopping, great Mexican food at Guero's, and some great music at The Continental Club. Along with Antone's, this venue has some of the best regulars in Austin.
La Zona Rosa
Capacity: 1,200
Location: 612 West Fourth Street
Recent Events: Joss Stone, Gavin DeGraw, Patti Smith
From the Club:
Austin's most eclectic venue hosts a plethora of local and national acts on its two stages. Expect to find everything from rock & singer/songwriters, Latin & world music to blues & jazz on most nights of the week.
From the Editors:
La Zona Rosa is an almost perfect cross between a large and small venue and is a stone's throw from the active night life on both Fourth Street and Sixth Street.
Gear
Soundcraft Series Four Console
BSS 1/3 Octave EQs
Drawmer Compressors
Drawmer Gates
Yamaha SPX 990 Reverbs
TC Electronic Delay
Crown Macro-Tech Amplifiers
Adamson MH 225 Mid-Hi Loudspeakers
JBL Subwoofers
Yamaha MC3210 32-channel Console
DBX 1/3 Octave EQs
Crown Macro-Tech Amplifiers
Phil Gilbert is a former Austinite who still heralds the city as home. He recommends catching a James McMurtry or Mr. Fabulous show at the Continental Club. E-mail him at pgilbert@plsn.com.
