18 minute read
Iconic Music Venues
HOLE IN THE WALL PHOTO BY GINO BARASA. Walking into The Continental Club, you can still feel its original 1950s rockabilly vibes — no matter what band is gracing the stage. You can almost imagine a row of vintage Cadillacs dotting South Congress Avenue and smell the hair grease as you step inside. That’s because in the late ’80s, the new owner decided to return the club to its former glory and even retouched the outside murals. While today the swanky supper club turned burlesque bar turned music venue plays just about any genre, it tends to stick to its roots with classic local performers like Dale Watson, Charlie Sexton and The Peterson Brothers. But some days you can stumble upon a once-in-a-lifetime show, like Robert Plant playing with Patty Griffin or Johnny Depp playing with ZZ-Top. Or, if you’re lucky, you will catch a show in the intimate upstairs Continental Gallery, which feels like a living room concert just for you.
continentalclub.com Year Opened: 1957 Music Genres: Rockabilly, Blues, Country, Swing Famous Performers: Johnny Depp, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Plant, Wanda Jackson
didn’t originally start as a live music venue. Named after the Hole in the Wall Gang from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” the joint began as a restaurant dishing up blue plate specials for $1.29. Eventually bands began to show up and beg to play music near the University of Texas Austin, and the Hole quickly became a go-to spot for Austin’s folksmen, like Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley before transitioning into a weird 1980s venue and then settling nicely into a place where musicians felt like family. The sound quality here might not be ideal, but it’s a fun (albeit slightly dingy) place to sip cold brews and listen to bands try out their new songs.
holeinthewallaustin.com / Year Opened: 1974 / Music Genres: Rock, Folk Famous Performers: Townes Van Zandt, Doug Sahm, Blaze Foley, Fastball, Spoon
Even if you’ve never set foot inside of the Saxon Pub, you surely recognize its 16foot ornamental knight out front. Open since 1990, the Saxon has hosted well over 30,000 musical performances. The club often books six bands a night, performing from happy hour to last call. However, because the booking typically schedules the main headliners before the very end of the night, the Saxon is hugely popular with older folks who can’t stay out late on a school night – or want to fight the crowds downtown. It’s also a small but comfortable setting. Kris Kristofferson likened the intimate setting of the 150-person venue to “playing in his own living room.” Raise a shot for the bust of the late Rusty Wier that adorns the club to honor the Texas musician’s legendary 15-year run of Thursday night shows, which were said to sell more booze than any other nights.
thesaxonpub.com / Year Opened: 1990 / Music Genres: Rock, Blues Famous Performers: Bob Schneider, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, Monte Montgomery, Hayes Carll The history of Stubb’s Bar-B-Q as it stands downtown is a wee bit hazy. Originally, Christopher B. “Stubb” Stubblefield had a barbecue joint in Lubbock in the ’60s and ’70s, where many famous musicians would, quite literally, sing for their supper. Eventually that original eatery closed, and Stubblefield moved to Austin, where he’d cook up some ’cue at the legendary Antone’s Nightclub. But it wasn’t until a year after his death that Stubb’s Bar-B-Q reopened in an historic 19th-century building on Red River Street as a restaurant and live music venue. Nowadays, it’s where some of the biggest names in the music industry stop by on their tour through Austin. The indoor venue hosts smaller, more intimate shows, while the 2,200-capacity Waller Creek Amphitheater is one of the largest stages in Austin.
stubbsaustin.com / Year Opened: 1995 / Music Genres: Everything Famous Performers: Any and everyone from Bob Dylan to Adele
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its significance as one of the last remaining original Chitlin’ Circuit music venues, Victory Grill has a long history in East Austin. Johnny Holmes, a booking agent and band manager, opened the Victory Grill on V-Day (August 14, 1945) as a gathering place for black soldiers returning from the war, and the venue soon became a hotspot for touring black musicians during the time of segregation. Although it thrived, it eventually fell into disrepair and remained closed for many years, until Square Six stepped in to help preserve the historic venue, including its original bar and stage. Nowadays, you can nosh on fried chicken and catch live jazz and R&B shows most weekends.
historicvictorygrill.org / Year Opened: 1945 Music Genres: Blues, R&B, Jazz Famous Performers: Etta James, James Brown, Billie Holiday, B.B. King, Tina Turner
During the wake of a major renovation of the Texas Union Building on the University of Texas campus, the Cactus Cafe was created by the staff of the Texas Union, which had a rich history of live music and performances stretching back to the ’60s. Originally operating as a coffee shop, there wasn’t even a permanent stage when it opened, but the tradition of the Texas Union eventually cultivated Cactus Cafe’s reputation as one the finest listening rooms in Austin, known especially for its acoustics. To discover the “next big thing,” stop in for the club’s weekly Songwriters’ Open Mic on Tuesday nights.
cactuscafe.org / Year Opened: 1979 / Music Genres: Country, Americana, Rock Famous Performers: Townes Van Zandt, Nancy Griffith, Guy Clarke, the Dixie Chicks, Lyle Lovett
CACTUS CAFE PHOTO BY JEFF SLADCIK. ELEPHANT ROOM PHOTO BY KIM YARBROUGH. Descending the stairs into the dimly lit subterranean jazz club of the Elephant Room transports you to the beatnik era of West Village. Amidst all of the downtown hustle and bustle of a scorching Texas summer and blasting tunes of whatever karaoke is happening on “Dirty Sixth,” there’s a quiet tsk, tsk, tsk of a jazzy cymbal and a sea of red candles. As Austin’s premiere jazz music venue for 30 years, the Elephant Room was aptly named when the owners discovered that the basement served as storage of the largest collection of mastodon bones west of the Mississippi. It’s still business as usual here, where jazz is performed starting at 6 p.m. every single day.
elephantroom.com / Year Opened: 1991 / Music Genres: Jazz Famous Performers: Clint Eastwood, Norah Jones, Quincy Jones, Terance Blanchard Ernie Watts, Joe Lovano, Tom “Bones” Malone For any Austin country music fan, there is no more sacred ground than the Broken Spoke. It’s one of the last original buildings still standing amongst condo buildings on South Lamar, and it’s still the honkiest, tonkiest time in town. Owner James White, who recently passed away at 81, opened the Broken Spoke in 1964, started building the structure the day he received his honorable discharge papers from the U.S. Army. Before his death, it was business as usual for White, who greeted almost every patron with a smile. With its rustic interior, the Spoke may not be the swankiest place to dance in Austin, but its dance floor is still one of the most boot-scootin’ boogie good times. Don’t skip the chicken fried steak in the front restaurant area before cutting a rug with a partner in the back, and make sure to check out the photos of all the famous singers to grace the stage.
brokenspokeaustintx.net Year Opened: 1964 Music Genres: Country Famous Performers: Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Kris Kristofferson, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker
Angela Tharp opened Flamingo Cantina on Halloween 1991 as a place to house her food trailer. Nestled in between two buildings on Sixth Street, the original spot was a space where Tharp sold tacos and beer, and friends’ bands would perform. In early years, the P.A. system had to be set up every night, and the venue was shuttered whenever there was rain. Finally, in 1996, Tharp threw an event called “Flamingo Fest” at Fiesta Gardens to raise enough money to put up a roof. The food truck is gone, but the “good vibes” music remains in this small venue. Patrons can even enjoy Winston’s Kitchen’s authentic Caribbean cuisine every Wednesday, when the Mau Mau Chaplains, Austin’s godfathers of reggae, hold down their weekly residency “Dreadneck Night” for12 years and running.
flamingocantina.com Year Opened: 1991 Music Genres: Reggae, Ska, Latin, Worldbeat, Hip-hop Famous Performers: Lee “Scratch” Perry, Buju Banton, Mahotella Queens, Celso Pina, Capleton, members of Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, and Blackalicious You can’t miss the Little Longhorn Saloon when driving down Burnet Road. The cozy live music venue was apparently outfitted with a steeple when then-owner Dale Watson was officiating a wedding there. Now, it feels appropriate as every Sunday, Ginny’s (as its often affectionately called after previous owner Ginny Kalmbach) gathers patrons around for its version of church — the famous Chicken Sh*t Bingo tailgate, where lucky winners will take home loot based on where a chicken has, well, you get it. Originally founded as Dick’s Little Longhorn Saloon, the bar became its current iteration in 1993 when the original owner passed away and left the bar to Kalmbach, who had been a waitress there since 1981. Since then, the honky-tonk institution wins over guests with ice cold, cheap beer and performances nightly by some of Austin’s favorite country musicians, like Two Hoots & A Holler, Alvin Crow and Billy Dee & Redd Volkaert. Pro tip: Don’t forget your dancing shoes.
thelittlelonghornsaloon.com / Year Opened: 1963 Music Genres: Country / Famous Performers: Dale Watson
Like many other iconic venues on this list, Emo’s wasn’t always situated on East Riverside, and it’s hard to talk about the current Emo’s without discussing its original spot. Many Millennials who grew up in the capital city may recall the seedy, disgusting bathrooms of the original music venue – as well as fondly remember the numerous punk rock gigs spent sweatily moshing near the outdoor stage. The rough-aroundthe-edges club opened a second outpost east before shuttering its Red River locale in 2011. The new venue now boasts a state-of-the-art sound system, complete with quality lighting and staging capabilities and attracts popular as well as up-and-coming acts from all musical genres.
emosaustin.com / Year Opened: 1992 Music Genres: Everything from Drag to Punk Famous Performers: Johnny Cash, Hole, Arcade Fire, Jimmy Eat World, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan
might be the new kid on the block in terms of longevity, but this Red River live music venue has played host to both musical legends and local newcomers alike on both its indoor and outdoor stages, and is likely to stand the test of time. The Mohawk boasts “all are welcome,” and that could be said of its musical tastes. Austin’s music venues mostly started by focusing on a particular genre, and the Mohawk may have been one of the first to embrace all of them. We highly recommend perching at one of the top levels of the Mohawk’s patios to overlook the outdoor main stage, as well as the entire audience jamming out, but there’s really no bad place to enjoy a show here.
mohawkaustin.com / Year Opened: 2006 / Music Genres: Anything from Indie Rock to Rap Famous Performers: The Roots, Of Montreal, Liz Phair, Future Islands, Big Freedia, Built to Spill Although not currently in its original location (in fact, it’s the sixth location), Antone’s is still one of the top live music venues in Austin and is known for being the stomping grounds of the city’s favorite guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as its numerous stories of famous musicians who would randomly stop on by or even jump on stage — like Bruce Willis and Bono. Since 2015, it’s been nestled properly on East Fifth Street in a space fitting for the caliber of bands that come through and offers easy viewing from almost every spot and a great sound that reverberates the room.
antonesnightclub.com Year Opened: 1975 Music Genres: Blues, Rock and Everything in Between Famous Performers: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Gary Clark Jr.
A New Face In Town
NASHVILLE-BASED COMPANY PURCHASES AUSTIN’S BLOCK 21, WHICH INCLUDES ACL LIVE, AHEAD OF HISTORIC BRAND’S 48TH SEASON
By Bryan C. Parker Photos by Brittany Dawn Short
AUSTIN AND NASHVILLE HAVE ALWAYS SHARED A LOVE of live music, but the pair will have a more substantial shared interest thanks to a new deal between Ryman Hospitality, the group that owns the Grand Ole Opry, and Stratus Properties, the company that owns and operates ACL Live at the Moody Theater. The $260 million sale includes all of Block 21, home to not only ACL Live but also its smaller sister venue 3Ten, Urban Outfitters, a Starbucks and the W Hotel and Residences, along with additional commercial and retail space.
Ryman originally made public their intention to purchase the property in December 2019, but the deal fell through in May of last year due to uncertainties stemming from the ongoing pandemic. However, last October, Ryman again made clear their goal to purchase the property, and the deal appears all but done, save a few final formalities.
The agreement unites two of the nation’s preeminent music cities, and could help the Austin City Limits brand reach an even wider audience.
“You look at what Ryman Hospitality has done with the Ryman Audito-
rium and the Grand Ole Opry — these are brands like Austin City Limits, that have a lot of history and a lot of integrity,” says Tom Gimbel, General Manager of Austin City Limits. There is perhaps no name more associated with country music than the Grand Ole Opry, which takes place as a twohour stage show that is simultaneously broadcast via radio. The performance and broadcast were founded in 1925 and have run consecutively for almost a hundred years. In short, there’s likely not an entity on the planet better suited than Ryman Hospitality to serve as the new brand ambassador for Austin City Limits.
“We’re thrilled they’re the ones coming in to take over the building,” Gimbel said. “We can tell based on their track record that they really get it — they honor and respect what Austin City Limits is.”
Among the new benefits to the brand is Ryman Hospitality’s access to the music industry infrastructure long associated with Nashville. One joint venture of Ryman and its subsidiary Opry Entertainment Group is the Circle Network — a television channel that plays country music around the clock. Although no deals have been inked just yet, that outlet might prove enormously advantageous to both the ACL brand and Ryman.
“We’re already talking about how to take some ACL classic country episodes — people like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and others — these episodes that have been sitting in our vault for decades now will be able to be seen and enjoyed by fans.”
Austin City Limits as a television program operates roughly 20 nights in any given year and is distinct from ACL Live as a venue. But venue Vice President Ed Bailey echoed Gimbel’s sentiments.
“Ryman offers all kinds of strategic opportunities to make the experience more than even what it is today,” Bailey says. In his estimation, that means more shows, collaborating on booking and making it more of a natural destination for music tourism. “The Ryman is a magic fit,” Bailey says.
Though Gimbel says Ryman may look to improve the facility itself, he expects little to change from a fan’s perspective, as booking will still be handled by the same team that has managed the brand for the last four-plus decades. The program is currently planning for its 48th season, which Gimbel says will continue to build the stalwart legacy of the show. Some of Gimbel’s personal favorites over the years include Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Radiohead and Arcade Fire.
“The quality of talent this year that we’re going to feature may rival some of the best seasons we’ve ever had,” Gimbel says. However, the bookings — which he calls “superstar talent” — are under wraps until the first tapings are announced later this spring. Gimbel says many of music’s most notable acts laid low during the pandemic, and he predicts a return to the road for some beloved icons. Gimbel also said that the program expects to welcome back full-capacity in-person audiences for the first time in two seasons, and stressed that the highest level safety protocols would be encouraged for guests and artists. For fans, that means ACL TV’s practice of giving away a bounty of tickets for free is back in action after a temporary hiatus. Austin music lovers will want to keep a close eye on the show’s website for taping and giveaway announcements as the start of the new season approaches. acltv.com
Leading Cinematic Creativity
ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE’S NEW CEO DRIVES EXPANSION
By Britni Rachal Photos by Brittany Dawn Short
AREWARDING WORKOUT DRIVEN by intensity, increased endurance and teamwork — brought together with the calm, yet forceful rippling of water as the sun rises over Lady Bird Lake. At any point of the year, as early as 6 a.m., you can find Alamo Drafthouse’s new CEO, Shelli Taylor, at Texas Rowing Center, exercising the mind and body, ahead of a full day of leading one of Austin’s most loved cinemas.
Both Taylor and her 18-year-old son Rory row in the master’s program, a community of competitive rowers of all ages who prepare for spring and fall race seasons.
“In some ways it’s meditative because you have to be so intensely focused on what you are doing, but what’s most beneficial for me is constantly having to be coached,” says Taylor, adding that the experience is often humbling. No matter how good they are — whether beginner or experts — rowers must constantly fix things, under the guidance of others, in order to grow.
“In my professional role, I don’t get much feedback. Rowing makes me a better leader because it reminds me of what it feels like to receive feedback,” explains Taylor.
Boosting a person’s confidence with good, specific, productivity-building feedback is a priority for Taylor, a key force for creating an empower-
ing atmosphere of teamwork and passion at all of Alamo Drafthouse’s 38 locations across 10 states, including five in Austin.
Taylor moved to Austin in 2018, bringing with her an extensive and impressive background including VP roles at Starbucks in China and Taiwan, a VP role at Disney English in China and C-suite experience at United Planet Fitness Partners. Though she’s lived around the world, Austin quickly made an impactful impression; in fact — one of her initiatives is to use Alamo Drafthouse to help maintain Austin’s core culture, within a rapidly changing city.
“Whether it be your neighbors or people you see in grocery stores, I find that everyone in Austin is truly welcoming and friendly,” said Taylor. “I appreciate the little day-to-day touches. We can’t take this for granted; it doesn’t exist in every city. As we try to retain ‘Austin weird’ we need to also retain Austin’s heart and soul.”
Another initiative for Taylor is to expand upon Alamo’s creative, playful experiences, some which have been unprecedented within the cinema industry. A relentless pursuit of getting everything right — whether the sound or presentation — in amazing team members is also constantly on the minds of Taylor’s team. Currently with around 3,500 employees across the U.S., Alamo is strategic in finding top talent to share their love for great film experiences.
Since opening its first theatre in 1997, memories of Alamo are now embedded within generations of Austinites, who often share their favorite experiences with Taylor. An Alamo “rolling show” which allowed patrons a chance to watch a horror movie in a cave — and an infamous rattlesnake experience that frightened guests with fake rattlesnakes on the floor, after living rattlesnakes visited the theatre earlier — are just some of the stories shared with Taylor and embedded in the memories of long-time fans.
Resiliently navigating through COVID-related obstacles, under Taylor’s leadership, the company continues to expand and will soon open new locations in Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Staten Island, and in Houston-area: Sugarland and League City. A “My Alamo” approach is taken at all franchises, aiming to be so hyper-local that the customer experience in each location allows patrons to believe Alamo is locally owned and operated in their city. Taylor also hopes to bring a version of Alamo Austin’s “Fantastic Fest” to each location.
Local dining options are also growing this year in Austin, thanks to longtime chefs, Trish Eichelberger of 17 years and Brad Sorenson of 7 years. Described as big and bold — just like Alamo, a macho chocolate shake is in the works, along with a special buffalo chicken dish, and new, unique takes on both pretzels and popcorn. Movie-goers will also notice a revised return to an old favorite. Pickles are coming back to the menu now that some supply chain issues are resolved.
With this focus on food, drinks, captivating experiences and innovation — Taylor believes the movie theatre industry will continue to win back momentum, as Austin’s locally-based chain helps to drive the way, as a leader in cinematic creativity. drafthouse.com
