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
austin music
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
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
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Hear the music from The Breaks played on their Saturday Night Hip-hop show
Living in Austin as a Musician
Listen back to our Views and Brews discussion recorded live at The Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas as we ask What is Austin Music and Can it Feed Your Family?
KUT’s Rebecca McInroy along with Graham Reynolds, Redd Volkaert, Leslie Sisson, Thor Harris, and Brannen Temple to talk about collaborating across musical cultures; what it means to sustain a musical scene; and what musicians need from the city and the community in order to thrive.
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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
V&B Extra – Crisis in Music [Part One]
V&B Extra – Crisis in Music [Part Two]
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:
V&B: Austin Music Census
In this episode of Views & Brews, guest host Matt Reilly of KUTX talks with Nikki Rowling, of the Titan Music Group, and Don Pitts, from The City of Austin Music Office, to discuss what recent data, published in The Austin Music Census, tells us about the health of the Austin music scene. Is the live music capital of the world on the verge of losing it’s musicians, because they can’t make a living in the city? Is Austin a place to discover new music? What can be done, by the city, the musicians, and the general public to ensure Austin music remains alive and kickin’?