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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

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Jackie Venson Artist Feature

For the first 50 days of quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic, Austin musician Jackie Venson live-streamed hours of musical performances from her home. She awoke at the end of the meditative marathon to a new normal for Austin musicians: no touring, no in-person shows, and no idea of what would come next. But in her calmed state of mind, Venson focused on her practice and her music, and used her platform to stand for Black musicians and Black lives. Last month, she received the honor of playing her first ACL Live performance – a culmination of her patience and perseverance in this uncertain year.

Video by Julia Reihs.

The Venues

In this episode, you’ll hear from the owners two Austin venues. Brodie Elkins tells the story of Scratchouse which closed due to the pandemic. Then Maggie Lea and Tamara Hoover talk about how they’ve kept their venue, Cheer Up Charlies, afloat and explain what it’s been like to get ready to reopen.

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify

Follow Cheer Up Charlies: Instagram and Twitter

Resources:

Music Venue Alliance Austin

Red River Cultural District

National Independent Venue Alliance

Amplified Sound Coalition

Austin Texas Musicians

Pause/Play: Episode 3

Other articles:

‘We Deserve To Be Saved’: Austin Music Venues Rally For City-Backed Relief Fund”

by Andrew Weber

“In Live Music Capital of the World, venues feel let down by Austin”

by Deborah Sengupta Stith”

Prepared for the Worst: Being a Musician During COVID-19

From finances to healthcare access, being a musician during a pandemic isn’t easy – even in the Live Music Capital of the World. In episode two of Pause//Play, the new podcast from KUT/KUTX Studios, Austin musicians Mobley and TEDDYTHELEGACY tell their stories of survival and creativity. Video by Julia Riehs

The Pause

What happened to Austin’s live music scene after the shutdown of SXSW?

On March 6th, 2020 the Austin City government canceled SXSW.  That decision had an economic ripple effect throughout the city. It also marked the true beginning of the COVID-19 crisis for Austin. In this episode, hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen explore why Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World.  They’ll look at the effect that the cancellation of SXSW and the subsequent shut down of the bars had on Austin through the experiences of some of the musicians, venue owners, venue staff, and music non-profits who make up this live music ecosystem.

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify

Pause-Play Episode 1

Armadillo Bonus: Springsteen, Zappa, & More

Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear first-hand stories of some of the most memorable Armadillo shows: An unknown kid from Jersey named Bruce Springsteen plays for hours–and the show cost one dollar. Jerry Lee Lewis destroys the Armadillo’s piano. Joan Armatrading shows the power of musical discovery. And Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart bring the “weird” to Austin.

Armadillo Bonus: Punk Rock and New Wave

Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear how the Armadillo became the unlikely home for punk rock and new wave in Austin: Joe Ely blows away the Clash. The Ramones put their bodies on the line. The Runaways inspire an Austin musician to form one of the most popular bands of all time. Hardcore punk gets a Texas flavor. And the Armadillo crowd won’t let the Police leave until they play their entire set–again.

Back Home To The Armadillo

In August of 1970, a music venue opened on the corner of Barton Springs Road and South First in Austin, Texas. The building was an old National Guard armory—no air conditioning, no seating, just a giant cavernous space that frankly, was not well suited for music. Yet this local eyesore would go on to change the identity of Austin, culturally, politically, and artistically. Its reverberations would be felt far and wide, helping turn Austin into the Live Music Capital of the World. This is the story of how that happened. This is the story of the Armadillo World Headquarters.

Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historic music venue. Hear an hour-long oral history featuring staff, musicians, and fans. They trace the Armadillo’s immense impact as a music incubator, community gathering space, and home to hundreds of life-altering concerts: Willie Nelson to Frank Zappa. The Runaways to the Ramones. Freddie King to the Clash. You’ll learn why 50 years later, the Armadillo World Headquarters is still a beacon for Austin’s past, present, and future.

Armadillo Bonus: Blues, Jazz, and Funk

Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear first-hand stories about the blues, jazz, and funk greats that made the Armadillo such a live music destination: the supernatural abilities of Freddie King and B.B. King, the Pointer Sisters in their funk heyday, and the raucous welcome given to jazz icon Count Basie.

 

Armadillo Bonus: Cosmic Country, Artwork, & More

Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear how Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings turned the Armadillo into a cosmic country destination. Plus, first-hand stories about the iconic artwork, Leon Russell’s home base, a particularly memorable John Prine show, and seeing the Austin Ballet at the Armadillo–complete with a pitcher of beer.

Omarion & Pettiness

This week on The Breaks:

  • Confucius explains why he’s a fan of Omarion’s pettiness towards Lil Fizz.
  • Confucius and Fresh discuss Lil Uzi Vert’s twitter rant about his record label, Generation Music Group.
  • Austin artist Jake Lloyd talks about his headlining show at Stubbs on December 7th and his views on being an urban artist in Austin, Texas.
  • Fresh explains why GoldLink’s comments on Mac Miller and the Grammys made him uninterested in supporting the artist.
  • Confucius asks people to let their successes be the narrative of their lives in his Confucius Says segment.

Listen to this episode of The Breaks

Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify or Stitcher

Hear the music from The Breaks played on their Saturday Night Hip-hop show

This Song: Ian Graham from The Well on “Ocean Size” by Jane’s Addiction

Ian Graham, guitarist, songwriter and singer for the Austin psych metal band The Well, describes how hearing “Ocean Size” by Jane’s Addiction when he was a kid showed him how powerfully music could convey a feeling by  transporting him “to somebody else’s movie.” He describes how poetry, songwriting and playing music as a teenager helped him feel less alone in the world and saved his life and explores what he loves about the metal he makes in The Well.

The Well is KUTX’s Artis of the month!

The Well’s new album Death and Consolation out next week!

See The Well live at their release show next week at Barracuda

Check out more of The Well’s Tour Dates

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

This Song: Dana Falconberry (rerun)

February is “Love Austin Music Month” and to celebrate This Song is re-running this episode with singer and songwriter Dana Falconberry.  In it she talks to host Elizabeth McQueen about the profound impact that being in the band “Peter and the Wolf” had on her when she first moved to Austin. It’s two Austin musicians, talking how Austin Music changed their lives. Enjoy!

Listen to the episode of This Song

 

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

Listen to Dana Falconberry’s new single “Who Will Be the Only One.”

Check out KUTX’s “Love Austin Music Month” page to find ways to support the Austin Music Scene

Listen to music by Peter & the Wolf

 

This Song: Shy Beast

Shy Beast front woman Mariclaire Glaeser describes how the music of the Cardigans helped her navigate a difficult childhood, bond with her older brother and find her musical way.

Shy Beast is KUTX’s Artist of the Month for January

Listen to this episode of This Song

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

Watch the video for  “Leave Me/Let Me”

Listen to Shy Beast’s MyKUTX Guest DJ Set

Watch Shy Beast’s Perform “Leave Me/Let Me” in Studio 1A

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

This Song: Zettajoule

On this episode of This Song,  Meggan Carney and Matt Sheffer of Austin’s Zettajoule tell us how Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill (A Deal With God)” and Rufus Wainwright’s “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” helped them expand their ideas about the possibilities of  pop music and explain what  inspired them to record their new low-fi electronic EP,  Always Looking Up, on an iPhone.

Listen to This Episode of This Song

 

 

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

 

Zettajoule is our KUTX Artist of the Month

Watch Zettajoule’s video for “No Thank You”

Check out Zettajoules MyKUTX Guest DJ Set

 

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

 

This Song: Shakey Graves

For an artist who got his start as a one-man band, it may come as a surprise that one of Shakey Graves favorite pieces of music comes from one of the most famous musicals of all time. On this episode, Austin’s Shakey Graves talks about his childhood love of the “Overture” from Phantom of the Opera and how it helped him explore his own theatricality on his latest album, Can’t Wake Up.

📸 Julia Reihs/KUTX

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

Listen to Shakey Grave’s new record “Can’t Wake Up.”

Check out Shakey Grave’s Tour Dates

Listen to Songs from Episode 130 of This Song

 

This Song: Run the Jewels // Belcurve

This week we talk to two very different groups about partnerships and the inspirations that guide their voices.  First we hear from El-P and Killer Mike from the hip hop collaboration known as Run the Jewels. The two rappers start out talking about early influences (Prince’s “Beautiful Ones” and Ice-T’s “6 In The Morning”)  and end up expressing their love and respect for Southern Rock, The Clash, Outlaw Country and early hip hop and rap. Next, Sarah Castro and Matt Parmenter of the Austin-based Belcurve explain how their collaborations steer clear of the ordinary and how Kathleen Edwards, PJ Harvey and Tom Waits helped them create their shared musical vocabulary.

Subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

 

Listen to Songs from Episode 60 of This Song

 

Check out Run the Jewels’ Tour Dates

Listen to “Talk to Me” from the Run the Jewel’s upcoming record “Run the Jewels 3.”

Listen to “2100” from Run the Jewels

Check out Belcurve’s Tour Dates

 

 

Texas Standard: September 13, 2016

Reading writing and, racism? Public outrage today over a textbook which claims to teach Mexican American history. We’ll explore. Plus, sick of traffic? Science to the rescue. Texas A&M has a plan to move cargo off the road so cars can go…could be huge for cities like Houston, we’ll have details. Also a Texas metropolis nipping at the heels of the nation’s top 10 export cities. Any guesses? We were surprised, perhaps you will be too. And officially it calls itself the Live Music Capitol of the World but city leaders worry about an unhealthy exodus of musicians. Too late for a turnaround? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

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