Earworm

Fall Semester 2015

Earworm The Year in Review Which albums were successful and which weren’t | Page 12

Upcoming Austin Concerts

A list of concerts coming to Austin in 2016 | Page 20

Top Tips for Concert Goers What to bring and leave at home, and what to do in the crowd | Page 6

HAAM

The organization behind musicians’ health | Page 8

Meet our great staff of writers and designers!

CONTRIBUTORS

2 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

“Well actually...”

CURRENT FAVORITE ARTIST: Grimes

FAVORITE COLOR:

“You are a cool person.”

CURRENT FAVORITE ARTIST: Sylvan

Esso

FAVORITE COLOR:

blue

Purple

My uncle, Kevin

FIRST CONCERT:

FIRST CONCERT:

Bethany Bissell

Florence and the Machine

Elena Alcala

“That’s not how it works!”

“Awkward Turtles Unite!”

CURRENT FAVORITE ARTIST: Bon Iver

CURRENT FAVORITE ARTIST: Pentatonix

FAVORITE COLOR:

FAVORITE COLOR:

FIRST CONCERT:

FIRST CONCERT:

Purple

Lindsey Stirling

Elias Little

Purple

McCartney

Paul

Caroline Hemphill

“I know the feels...”

CURRENT FAVORITE ARTIST: Twenty One

Pilots

FAVORITE COLOR:

blue

FIRST CONCERT:

Pierce the Veil

Kye Fisher 3 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

How to build a guitar, local punk bands, and HAAM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

Staff Biographies A Letter from the Editor

2 4

Music Festival Do’s and Dont’s Kye Fisher What to do and bring to music festivals

Healthcare From the Heart

6 8 12 14 16 20 22 26 30 32

Elena Alcala The HAAM orginization that provides healthcare for Austin musicians

Year in Review

Bethany Bissell The most and least succesful albums of the year

How to Build a Guitar

Elias Little How to build an acoustic guitar in 10 steps

One Time, at Bandcamp...

Bethany Bissell An article about a music streaming website called Bandcamp

Who to See in 2016

Caroline Hemphill What music artists and bands are coming to Austin in 2016

Luthier Land

Elias Little How people who create instruments affect Austin’s music

Where the Music Begins

Caroline Hemphill The history and facts about the South Music Store

Top 5 Concert Venues in Austin

Elena Alcala The best concert venues in downtown Austin

Set Fires, Stop Fighting

Kye Fisher An Austin-based punk band that uses its music to influence change

Letter Fr o

m The Editor

Dear Reader,

At the beginning of this semester, as our group browsed

the Internet for inspiration and tried to come up with an idea that would bring a unified theme to our magazine, I never would have expected the journey to take us so far in just a few months. We delved into the complex world of typography and Adobe programs. We learned how to edit photos and create a layout for our feature stories. More importantly, however, we were able to get to know each other and learn how to work as a team. We helped each other with design quandaries and brainstormed ways to get our photos taken and interviews done. However, I think what we got to know the best was not a person, but a city: Austin has more hidden musical treasures than any of us ever could have imagined.

I hope our magazine offers you a small glimpse into this world and inspires you to search for more.

All the best, Elena Alcala, Earworm Editor-in-chief

5 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

MUSIC FESTIVAL do’s

&

dont’s

What to do and bring so your experience is the best it can be

By Kye Fisher

Backpacks

Make sure the backpack you bring is sturdy. String backpacks are nice, but may break in the crowd. If you do bring a string backpack, pack safety pins.

Water Bottles

Snacks

Make sure to bring at least one!

There are usually spots to fill up around the festival grounds.

Stay hydrated.

Make sure to pack some snacks like granola bars and pb&j’s.

The food at the venue will be expensive and the lines are long.

Sunscreen You will be in the sun for hours.

Avoid sun burn and bring some sunscreen. *Some places wont allow aerosol can sunscreen.

Portable Charger

A jacket and extra shirt

There’s nothing worse than having a dead phone. Stop at your local dollar store and pick up a cheap portable battery if you dont already have one.

Ear Plugs Dont worry, you’ll be able to hear the music.

You will thank me when you can hear the next day.

6 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

Even if it’s hot, the jacket can be used as a pillow, or a thing to sit on.

Bring an extra t-shirt so you can change if you get wet or sweaty.

Hair Ties

Hand Sanitizer

Especially There will for those probably of you with be port-along hair. potties.

Bring more than one in Make sure to bring a little case they break. bottle for after you go.

Sharpies A lot of artists will do meet and greets and signings. Bring sharpies in multiple colors.

Find the Bathrooms You will have to use the bathroom sooner or later. It will be hard to find in a crowd, so locate the bathrooms when you first arrive and dont hold it for too long.

Bring a Buddy

Get a Map and Schedule

Make sure to bring a friend so that it’s more fun!

If no one can come, make a friend; people at music festivals are usually friendly.

To make sure you see all of the bands you want to see and dont miss anything or get lost, make sure you get a map and schedule.

Eat a Good Breakfast Eating a balanced breakfast is absolutely neccesary for having enough energy to make it through the day.

Eat some eggs, bacon, and fruit.

Take a Break

Expect No Service

Dont forget to take a break every once in a while. Your body can only handle so much in a day, so make sure to sit for 10 minutes between performances.

Don’t be suprised when your service is terrible; it happens to the best of us. Make sure you have a back up plan for if you get sepearted from your group.

Use Social Media Use social media to see when and where bands will be doing signings. Make sure to also follow hashtags and other accounts in the area.

Be Kind to Everyone Everyone is there to have a good time, just like you!

Dont let your anger get the best of you, be kind to everyone.

Have Fun! Make sure you have fun! You get to see some of your favorite artists live and even meet some of them! try to enjoy yourself. Have fun!

7 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

Photo by Wikipedia 8 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

Healthcare From the Heart

An Austin nonprofit that holds the music community together

BY ELENA ALCALA

Musician Hilary York says she fell in love

create an organization to help solve this problem.

with Austin during a visit while she was still in

HAAM’s mission is to provide access to afford-

high school. Later, while hitchhiking across Eu-

able healthcare services to Austin’s low income,

rope, she wrote her first song. She later returned

uninsured musicians, with a focus on wellness and

and earned an English degree from the University

prevention.

of Texas, taking guitar classes and working up

the courage to perform her songs at open mics.

care partners to come together in this collabora-

Gradually, she was able to make a career out of it.

tive effort to provide services for our musicians,”

But being a working musician was more difficult

says Reenie Collins, current executive director of

than expected, she says. After her marriage fell

HAAM.

apart, she had no more health insurance and found

herself in a difficult place.

the city’s key healthcare players into the operation.

Seton Healthcare System provides primary care, St.

“In 2007, I started to get insurance from [The

“Robin’s dream was to pull together health-

Eventually, Shivers was able to bring many of

Health Alliance for Austin Musicians]. It’s just

David’s Foundation helps with dental care, SIMS

been phenomenal,” York says.

Foundation does mental health, Estes Audiology is

hearing care, and Prevent Blindness Texas contrib-

HAAM was born in 2005, when Robin Shiv-

ers, a local philanthropist and activist, noticed

utes vision care.

many of her musician friends were waiting until

they were very sick to get healthcare, simply be-

ago, there weren’t a lot of options. There was

cause they couldn’t afford expensive doctor visits.

always the Medical [Access] Program, MAP, but

She used her connections to bring together city

there really weren’t health insurance options, and

leaders, musicians, and healthcare professionals to

certainly not affordable health insurance options,”

“When HAAM was created over ten years

9 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

says Kit Abney, Seton’s Director of Community

“We [want] people to care about our musicians

Insurance.

because if you’re a music lover you understand

that our live music industry is what creates Austin’s

At its start, the organization needed a way

to raise funds. John Kuntz, who owned Austin

unique cultural identity,” she says.

music store Waterloo Records and was an original

HAAM board member, came up with the idea for

Live Music Capital of the World.” The live music

HAAM Benefit Day, a city-wide celebration of mu-

industry brings in billions of dollars to the Austin

sic. The idea was unlike anything Austin had ever

economy, according to Collins. Without it, Austin

seen before — musicians would perform at local

would be a completely different city.

businesses, and these businesses would donate at

least 5% of their profits for the day to HAAM. The

year, with an extremely successful Benefit Day

idea quickly grew from 53 participating businesses

and a renewed promise to provide healthcare to

to over 200, and became a hallmark event in the Austin music community.

“We do so much for these

musicians year round, and this is the one time we ask them to do something for us,” Collins says.

After all, Austin has marketed itself as “The

HAAM celebrated its tenth anniversary this

Austin’s struggling musicians.

“If you’re a music lover The new Affordable Care Act you understand that our changed the landscape, but cerlive music industry is whattainly didn’t eliminate the creates Austin’s unique need for an organization like HAAM. cultural identity.”

“When Texas didn’t expand

The musicians are happy to comply. The last

Medicaid [after the Affordable Care Act was

HAAM Benefit Day, in September 2015, had hun-

passed], it left this gap for those people that are re-

dreds of musicians involved, including York. She

ally at the lowest income level. And again, that’s a

says the assistance HAAM provides is so necessary

lot of musicians that are just starting out. They are

for professional musicians.

living below the poverty level,” says Abney.

“Your body is your instrument. [Healthcare

It is these musicians, who are covered by

is] just something that we all need. If you aren’t

neither the Affordable Care Act nor Medicaid, that

taking care of your body, then you can’t go out and

HAAM is now focused on helping.

play shows. I know musicians who have just had

surgery, and they can’t play, and that’s how they

tin musicians for as long as possible,” says Collins.

make their money.”

Collins says that HAAM’s work benefits the

whole city, not just the musicians who receive care.

10 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

“We really just want to continue helping Aus-

Photo by Nick Simonite Photo by Jerry Milton

Photo by Flickr

BELOW: Paying for healthcare on an uncertain paycheck and without the help of insurance is a daunting task for many musicians, especially if they need specialty care or surgery.

LEFT: HAAM Executive Director Reenie Collins poses at HAAM headquarters.

She is focused on aiding the poorest of Austin’s musicians.

BELOW: Austin musician Hilary York performs at the Continental Club. She is one of thousands of local musicians who have received care from HAAM in the last ten years.

11 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

YEAR IN ( MUSIC) REVIEW

By Bethany Bissell

Best-sellers

Reviews *Stats from MetaCritic

*Stats from HighSnobiety

Units Sold(in mill.)

Albums

0

2)Drake, If You’re Reading This

3)Ed Sheeran, X

“Lamar straight up owns rap relevancy on Butterfly,” -Rolling Stone

2) Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell METACRITIC SCORE: 90 1,431,000

“Sufjan Stevens' new album, Carrie & Lowell, is his best. ” -Pitchfork

3) Sleater-Kinney, No Cities to Love

3

METACRITIC SCORE: 90 0

Songs

2,011,000

3

0

1) Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly METACRITIC SCORE: 96

3

1) Taylor Swift, 1989

Best Reviewed

1,428,000

Units Sold(in mill.)

“Sleater- Kinney’s most focused, accessible and often furious work.”

-Record Collector

Worst Reviewed 1) Man Without Country, Maximum Entropy

1) Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk”

2)Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

5

METACRITIC SCORE: 45

0

“If you don’t like music, then you’ll adore Maximum Entropy.”

-Pop Matters METACRITIC SCORE: 51

3,450,000

“Any attempts to reinvent the wheel fall flat with an almighty thud.”

-DIY Magazine

3) Prince, HitNRun: Phase One

5

0

12 EARWORM MAGAZINE

2) Kodaline, Coming Up For Air

5

0

3)Wiz Khalifa, “See You Again”

4,883,000

METACRITIC SCORE: 54 3,073,000

“[After referencing three songs] The rest are mediocre to bad to horrifying.”

-Pop Matters

Genre Run-Down of consumers

Rock: 29% purchase It’s been a big year for...

Walk The Moon

62 Weeks On Chart

Single:

Shut up And Dance Peaked At

#1

Hip-Hop: 17% It’s been a big year for...

The Weeknd

of consumers purchase

Single:

Earned It

of consumers

Pop: 15% purchase It’s been a big year for...

Taylor Swift

53 Weeks On Chart

*Stats from Billboard

#1

Peaked At

#1

consumers Country: 11% ofpurchase It’s been a big year for...

Single:

Sam Hunt

Break up in a Small Town

Grey) Peaked At

Bad Blood

feat.

Kendrick Lamar

(For Fifty Shades of

42 Weeks On Chart

Single:

31 Weeks On Chart

Peaked At

#3

13 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

A 10-Step Guide On How to Build An Acoustic Guitar

By Elias Little

Guitars are one of the most popular and common instruments in the world, but how are they made? There are many different ways guitars are made, from being 100% handmade to being made by machines. These are the basic steps that are used when making a guitar, whether it’s handmade or machine made, this is how.

Step 6: Cut out the fret board and glue that to the neck

Step 5: Cut out the neck and headstock, and roughly shape them

Step 7: Cut fret slot and add frets, and finish shaping and sanding the neck

Step 8: Glue the neck into the body, and finish sanding everything

14 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

All information from Guitar Making by Jonathan Natelson and William Cumpiano, and “Building an Acoustic Guitar in your Kitchen� by Steve Summerford. All photos of Collings Guitars

Step 1: Select your woods, and collect your materials

Step 2: Cut out the top piece from spruce and cut the sound hole, then cut the back from a hardwood like maple or Mahogany

Step 4: Add a neck and tail block to the back piece, and braces to the inside of the top and bottom pieces. Also cut kerfed lining to attach the sides

Step 3: Cut out strips for the side pieces out of a hardwood, then bend them to fit

Step 9: Make the bridge and nut, then add those along with the other hardware like tuners, and bridge pins

Step 10: Add a finish to the guitar, then string it up!

15 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

One time, at Bandcamp...

Online music purchasing site allows artists contact with fans

By Bethany Bissell

E

very time

ing, managing a store,

necting a fan to music,

honey and Nirvana,

someone pur-

or dealing with a record

from tour dates to merch

currently producing

chases Austin-

label,” McKinney says.

to the actual music,”

for Beach House and

based musician Ian McKinney’s(best known

Bandcamp is a

The main pur-

Dum Dum Girls) and

pose of Bandcamp is to

Milk! Records(home to

for scoring popular video ing to their home page,

serve as an online store

international sensation

game Octodad) work

“makes it easy for fans

for many independent

Courtney Barnett) have

from Bandcamp.com,

to directly connect with

musicians, and record

contributed their art-

the website sends him

and support the artists

labels who also utilize

ists’ work to Bandcamp.

money through PayPal.

they love.” It allows art-

Bandcamp. Labels such

Butch Webster, founder

Bandcamp takes a 15%

ists to upload their work,

as Sub Pop (previously

of Austin label iNSECT

revenue share and PayPal

select a price (with a

produced for Mud-

Records, put his label’s

takes some as a process-

“pick your price” option),

ing fee, leaving him

and embed to outside

with 75 cents for every

websites.

dollar earned through

website that, accord-

VS SOUNDCLOUD

• Rarely-used album/ EP review feature

• While-streaming comment-by-thesecond feature

music, which to many

• Artist payment

• No artist support

artists is preferable than

• Website embedding

• Website embedding

• Downloadable

• User playlists

• Artist-only

• User uploaded

dent musician, it offers

to McKinney, this is a

direct contact with the

good rate in comparison

people listening to your

to other popular online music stores.

the opposite,” member

a super cheap way for

of Austin duo Penny and

musicians to self-release

Sparrow Kyle Jahnke

their work without wor-

says, “[And] it [acts] as

rying about web host-

a one-stop-shop for con-

16 EARWORM MAGAZINE

BANDCAMP

“For the indepen-

Bandcamp. According

“Bandcamp offers

FACE-OFF

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/ Weatherby48

Kyle Jahnke(left) and bandmate Andy Baxter(right) of Penny and Sparrow. records on Bandcamp

mote it within the site,

some of Bandcamp’s

[and] sharing an album,

because they embed well

by the artists or Band-

larger acts in categories

but nobody will know

and look nice.

camp itself. The home

such as Staff Picks and

about it if you don’t pro-

“It’s a little expen- page has six attempts:

Best Selling, the “Fan

mote it elsewhere,” McK-

sive but overall it’s the

a “Bandcamp Weekly”

Spotlight,” where two

inney says, “I could be

best solution out there,”

list of favored artists

active fan’s recent pur-

wrong, but I think most

Webster says.

that week, a plug to the

chases are shown, and

of the people who come

“Bandcamp Blog,” where

a “Selling Right Now”

to the site already know

inney, Bandcamp’s major

artists are mentioned

option, where albums are

what they’re looking for

flaw lies in the lack of

frequently(the blog has

shown as they are up-

rather than browsing

in-site promotional abili-

1,688 followers), a por-

loaded. McKinney says

around looking for new

ties. When an album is

tion with three records

these features have not

music and stuff. You’ll

uploaded to Bandcamp,

labelled “New and

helped him.

probably snag a few curi-

there are no especially

Notable,” a “Discover”

successful ways to pro-

feature, which displays

According McK-

“Bandcamp is great for hosting, selling,

ous listeners here and there, but you’ll still need 17 EARWORM MAGAZINE

“For the independent musician, it offers direct contact with the people listening to your music.”

that Bandcamp would

addition to that, Band-

annual fee, and then you

like me to use their Dis-

camp has begun an artist

can offer your subscrib-

cover/Artist Subscrip-

“subscription” program.

ers all sorts of cool stuff.”

tion services, honestly,”

This system allows art-

McKinney says, “I tend

ists to charge subscrib-

scriptions are in place

to use Soundcloud to

ers monthly or yearly

in hopes of creating

post one-off tracks and

at a rate the artists have

consistent income for

demos to gauge people’s

chosen.

independent musicians.

reaction, and to post

“A subscription

The Artists Sub-

Subscribers get access

finished content with the

is a way for your big-

to an exclusive website,

hope that it will circu-

gest fans to show their

where blog-like posts

late around a little more.

ongoing support for

from the artists can be

It’s just a little bit easier

your work,” Californian

found and musician can

to get feedback there

Bandcamp founder

have conversations with

via user comments and

Ethan Diamond says in

the fans.

to promote the album

shares, etc. I also spend a

the video posted on the

somewhere else, too.”

lot of time just listening

Subscriptions informa-

subscription is great

to music on Soundcloud,

tion page of the website,

because you get predict-

websites that artists use

which I can’t say I’ve

“You set a monthly or

able income and lets you

to promote their work

done on Bandcamp so

outside of Bandcamp.

much.”

There are many

Records from (iN)SECTS Bandcamp has

like Tumblr are useful

been trying to incor-

and social streaming

porate more social

applications like Sound-

aspects into their web-

cloud allow for more lis-

site, including a feature

tener interaction: they’re

in which after one has

more likely to comment

purchased work by an

or like.

artist, they get an email “I probably use

Soundcloud in the way 18 EARWORM MAGAZINE

alerting them of new releases by the artists. In

All Album art Courtesy of Butch Webster

Social media websites

“As an artist, a

connect directly with

Work by Ian McKinney

your most loyal fans,” Diamond goes on, “And

Octodad

All Skate

American Hunk

An EP under the name TV Dads. Electronic, mostly instrumental. Listen to “All Skate!”

Full length album with A score for a vidsome sweet cameos. It’s eo game. Listen to not as punk as it looks. “Octodad(Nobody SusListen to “Your Mother” pects a Thing)”

The Story of Incompetence

NOLA13

Phone Ghost

Super fun collaboration with Frances Zaander, who doesn’t have a Bandcamp. Listen to “Smokin’ Joe”

Crazy cover album featuring Stacy Webster. It’s weird. In a good way, of course. Listen to “Eye of the Tiger”

A score for director Jean Patrick Mahoney’s short film, Phone Ghost.

About a phone ghost Listen to “Cat Door”

McKinney says

I’ve seen, it’s pretty simi-

else on the store.”

Bandcamp, especially

that, while he has con-

lar to what (for example)

sidered using the feature,

Apple Music is trying to

constantly changing and

McKinney says, “Post-

he’s decided against it

do with Connect, where

adding features. How-

ing to something like the

because he hasn’t been

they integrate a fan club/

ever, the overall concept-

iTunes store might give

making music consis-

Tumblr page directly

a successful one- has

you more visibility, but

tently since its launch

into their service. It’s

remained the same. It is

with Bandcamp you get

and he lacks the social

super important for art-

a platform for indepen-

to set the price, and can

media skills and time

ists to engage with their

dent musicians to gain

offer your music in any

commitment.

audience, of course, and

support from and be in

format you like, DRM-

I think it could be really

contact with their fans.

free, AND your audience

as a fan, a subscription to one of your favorite artists is just awesome because it means you’ll never miss a release, you can be a part of their creative process, get access to subscriber-exclusive material, discounts on merchandise, and whatever else the subscriber decides to include in the subscription.”

“My personal

Bandcamp is

independent artists,”

hangups aside, I can

rewarding for everybody

appreciate what they’re

to have that sort of “ex-

there’s any reason

any kind of account to

going for with it,” McK-

clusive” experience be as

for a musician not to

purchase/stream your

inney says, “From what

accessible as everything

host their music on

music.”

“I don’t think

doesn’t need to set up

19 EARWORM MAGAZINE

Who to See in 2016

By Caroline Hemphill

There are always tons of concerts in Austin. Here are some to look out for in 2016.

Vance Joy

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

-Stubb’s Barbeque -Mar. 8 -Vance Joy is an Australian musician with an alternative pop style.

He broke out with the huge hit, “Riptide.”

-Ticket prices start at $43.00.

-Bass Concert Hall -Jan. 13 -Macklemore is a rapper famous for his songs “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us.” Ryan Lewis is his producer.

-Ticket prices start at $55.00.

JAN

FEB

Mutemath -Emo’s East -Feb. 25 -Mutemath is an alternative band with elements of synth, dance, pop, and rock.

-Ticket prices start at $44.00.

20 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

Herman’s Hermits

-One World Theatre -Mar. 18 -Herman’s Hermits is a pop band that was popular for young teens in the 1960’s.

-Ticket prices start at $225.00.

MAR

Selena Gomez

-Frank Erwin Center -Jun. 17 -Selena Gomez is a popular singer in the pop music industry. She’s known for her catchy songs like “The Heart Wants What It Wants.”

-Ticket prices start at $62.00.

They Might Be Giants -Stubb’s Barbecue-Outdoor Stage -Mar. 31 -They Might Be Giants is generally classified as alternative rock, but have a very wide range of sounds.

-Ticket prices start at $34.00.

APR MAY

JUN

Twenty One Pilots

JUL

-Jul. 6 -Austin360 Ampitheater -Twenty One Pilots is a popular band with many different types of songs and no obvious genre.

-Tickets start at $54.00.

Janet Jackson -Frank Erwin Center -May 26 -Janet Jackson is a pop artist who was very popular in the 1980’s.

-Ticket prices start at $13.00.

21 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

22| EARWORM MAGAZINE

Luthier Land By Elias Little

M

any people enjoy the

cians use nearly everyday for their

“One hand feeds the other, … it’s

music that great guitar

job. To the musicians it’s like a pair

really true,” says Van Wilks, one of

players and other musicians pro-

of clothes: something they can’t go

the most renowned guitar play-

duce from their instrument, but

without, and if it breaks they don’t

ers in Austin. “I’ve seen [Austin’s

how would they be able to do that

have a choice but to get it repaired. music scene] grow from hardly

if their instrument broke? What or

“It’s kind of like car work,” says

anything, to politicians saying

who could fix it? The person who

Todd Sloan, the owner of West-

they’re responsible for it. Which

made it originally. They are the

bank String shop, a repair business all of us musicians kind of resent.”

ones who secretly allow the music

mainly for instruments in the vio-

Wilks says that the Austin mu-

scene to happen. The behind the

lin family in Austin. “When that

sic scene has grown with the

scenes people you never hear

little red light comes on, or the

city, both of which have grown

about. Those who work hand in

check engine light, sooner or later

tremendously over the past few

hand with all the musicians yet

you’re going to have to go see a

decades. With Austin calling itself

rarely get recognized. Austin, the

mechanic. People who try to do it

“ The Live Music Capital of the

live music capital of the world,

themselves create more problems.”

World” there is quite a bit of live

would not exist if it weren’t for luthiers.

Almost everyone knows about guitars or violins or other stringed instruments, but very few people know who makes and repairs them: Luthiers. “A luthier is one

“One hand feeds the other, ... it’s really true.”

music here. In order to play live music the musicians need their instruments in working condition.

Though repairing instruments might seem like a small task, if no one repaired instruments then the live musicians couldn’t work,

who makes stringed musical

Luthiers repair the instruments

which would greatly affect the

instruments,” as defined by the

that the musicians use and need

Austin music scene.

Merriam-Webster dictionary.

in a good condition, in order to

“Most of the luthiers and or re-

They build and repair stringed

work; without them Austin’s music

pairmen that I know play music to

instruments that many live musi-

scene would be very different.

some extent,” says Dick Dubois 23| EARWORM MAGAZINE

a long time guitar repairman in

luthiers do for them, and allow

many great or trustworthy luthiers

Austin.

them to play music as a job, but

in those cities. So if it weren’t for

“You know [luthiers are] the

they rarely recognize the luthier’s

all the luthiers in Austin, musi-

behind the scenes people,” says

efforts at concerts and gigs. The

cians would either have to find

Wilks, “The audience member out

luthier’s work is practically un-

luthiers and repairmen in other

there might not realize that guy

known to the general public.

towns, and there might not be a

up there, or girl, playing guitar

“It would be more difficult to

great selection to choose from,

tonight [might not be] had it not

work,” says Wilks when asked

or they would have to ship their

been for this master craftsman,

about how the music scene would

instrument off to someone they

to [make] that guitar, whip that

be without all the luthiers here,

trust that might be far away which

“Because if you need something

would cause many problems and

and there weren’t these people

hurt the music scene if they just

here that are qualified to do it, it

needed a quick “tune up” before a

would be more difficult. I think

gig that night but couldn’t get it.

Photo by Dick Dubois

guitar into shape so the guy can play it.”

Since Austin’s music scene is so essential, and because luthiers

“You know, [luthiers are] behind the scenes people.”

However, Wilks says that there are a lot of luthiers here because of the music scene. He says that they move here for work, and there’s a

and the music scene go hand in

the players would still be here, but

hand, luthiery in Austin is also an

I think it goes hand and hand.”

essential part of the music scene.

As Wilks says, without all the

The Austin luthiers and repairmen

luthiers here it would be much

Photo by PicasaWeb

don’t get nearly as much credit for

harder to work as a musician.

lot of job security here because of

the music scene compared to how

Dubois also says that he gets a lot

all the musicians. Collings gui-

much effort they put into allow-

of customers from neighboring

tars, a guitar manufacturer on the

ing it to happen. Musicians will

cities like Dallas, Houston, and

outskirts of Austin near dripping

be grateful for the work that the

San Antonio because there aren’t

springs, makes “world class”

24 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

guitars and is “one of the premier

ing how his relationship with the

guitar builders in the world” ac-

luthier is important.

it being the live music capital of

cording to Wilks and Dubois,

Wilks shows how for a luthier to

the world, as they say, everyone

respectively. It also attracts some

be good and get work, they not

of those guitar players, anyone

of the best luthiers in the U.S. to

only have to be good at their job,

who’s playing any instrument with

come and work there. Often some

but they also have to have a nice

strings is depending on a luthier

personality. How a luthier acts

sooner or later” says Sloan.

really affects if the customer will

want to come back.

a string instrument needs a luthier

“It’s kind of like a mechanic, or

or repairman at some point, and

“It’s kind of like a mechanic, or whoever cuts your hair.”

of those luthiers end up leaving

Collings to do their own work, but still stay in Austin. For example, John Allison, a Collings alumni who now owns his own shop in Austin and makes high quality

“Anyone who’s playing any instrument with strings is depending on a luthier sooner or later”

guitars in his own unique way.

whoever cuts your hair. Once you

“I remember years ago, taking

get comfortable with a person

[my guitar] to this guy who just

whose services you like, you tend

“When you think about

Every musician that plays

because of this it provides good job security for luthiers giving them a reason to move to Austin and work here. This builds upon itself, as more musicians move to

grabbed it, started playing it show- to come back...” says Dubois.

Photo by Meikan Little

ing how good he is, banging on

Not only are there a lot of mu-

Austin, more luthiers come for

it real hard. I [said] ‘I’m not quite

sicians in Austin, which gives

work, and as more luthiers come,

ready for the repair right now’ ‘I

luthiers incentive to come here,

more musicians come because

don’t have any money’ I just made

and job security, but a lot of them

they can easily work there. This

up some excuse because it didn’t

are repeat customers. They come

is one of the reasons that Austin’s

feel right. I don’t care how good he

back over and over whenever they

music scene has grown to the im-

might of been. I didn’t like his ap-

need some work done on their

mense size it is today, and at the

proach” says Wilks when explain-

instrument.

very roots of it are the luthiers.

25 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

Where the Music Begins

The story of South Austin Music

By Caroline Hemphill 26 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

THE STORE IS CHOCK-

is gone. The store is appropriately

brothers and two older sisters. He

FULL with what seems like 1,000

named South Austin Music, and

had always known he would go to

varieties of mandolins, amplifiers

is one of Austin’s most popular

college.

and who knows what else. Rows

music stores.

of guitars take up any room that is

South Austin Music

always told me when I was a kid

available in the store. They stand

(SAM) is an iconic shop. They sell

in high school, ‘You’ll be the one

in racks on the floor, hang off of

ukuleles, a crazy selection of gui-

to go to college.’ So I kind of knew,

the wall, and dangle from the ceil-

tars, and practically anything else

when I was growing up in school,

ing. There’s hardly room to walk.

you could imagine. It’s located,

that I was going to college,” he

“[My brothers and sisters]

Large portraits of musical legends are painted in black and white at the tops of the walls, and are partially covered up by the long lines of guitars.

Classic rock blares from speakers that are nowhere to be seen. Everything, from the music playing to the

A sample of the inventory at South Austin Music

colors in the room, contributes to the unique atmo-

where else, in South Austin, on S.

says. “It doesn’t really matter what

sphere. The store only opened ten

Lamar Blvd, and was founded by

business you’re in, I figured having

minutes ago, but it’s quickly filling

Bill Welker 29 years ago, in 1986.

a business education would be

with people. In walks Bill Welker,

When deciding to open the store,

helpful,” he says.

owner and founder of the store.

Welker says he “just went for it.”

Falls, Texas, when he was going to

It’s as if this store is

So how did SAM get

Welker lived in Wichita

screaming, “Austin music cul-

started? Welker was the young-

college. His brother, who had a job

ture” into your ear until its voice

est of five siblings, with two older

with a music companty, had to 27 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

talk to many owners of music

you walk in, these questions fly

famous customers.

stores for his job. He knew of one

away immediately. Every person

store in Wichita Falls called Mc-

who works at SAM says that the

for Willie Nelson’s band,” Welker

Carty Music. He got Welker a job

customer is every employee’s

says.

there, and Welker worked there

number one priority (for reasons

for the six years he spent earning

other than just money).

sicians like Jon Dee Graham. But

his business degree. When he got

“I love just talking to people and

not only musical legends come

“We did some amp repair

SAM has also helped mu-

back

getting them

in. Alejandro Rose Garcia, a.k.a.

to

what they’re

Shakey Graves, came into the

Aus-

looking for,

store several times before Welekr

tin, a

whether they

realized that the was talking to a

golden

know it or

rather well-known musician.

oppor-

not,” says

tunity

Sean Crooks,

desire to help people out, and not

a 15-year

just make a sale but to build better

employee at

relationships,” Welker says.

awaited

A portrait of Ray Charles, musical legend, on the wall of South Autin Music

him:

SAM.

As soon as anyone walks

A prime location in a very musical

city.

serve the Austin music communi-

help them with their endeavour,

ty and be an established business

whether it be finding a guitar or

to lose, you know?” Says Welker.

that they can count on for years to

searching tirelessly for a certain

“I started out with nothing... But

come,” says Welker.

what I had was a very positive at-

titude, and a desire to be success-

success of the store so far, that

ful.”

goal is very much within reach.

“I didn’t have anything

That positive attitude took

“My goal is to continue to

“[We have] a genuine

in, someone will be there to

And based on the major

Mac McNabb, who lives

Several mandolins taking up all the space on a SAM wall

him far. Now, Welker owns a

around the corner from SAM, has

store with many employees and a

been coming to the store at least

devoted group of regular custom-

once a week ever since it opened.

size and shape of guitar pick.

ers. One would wonder why these

What he says he loves most about

customers are so unswervingly

SAM is that everyone is his friend.

hang out,” Mc Nabb says. This

loyal to the store, but as soon as

sums up most long-time

28 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

SAM has even had some

“It’s just a cool place to

customer’s opinions about the

store accurately.

the store will feel the “vibe” Jesse

talks about immediately. That’s a

to choose from, but we also have

amount of care that employees

thing that not many stores have.

used instruments, and even older

give the customers really sets SAM

Because SAM has been in the

instruments called vintage instru-

apart, making it clear why every-

same place with the same people

ments,” Welker says.

one claims to love it so much. But

for so long, they are able to create

the differences don’t end there.

a community and spread that feel-

pert on music stores could wak in

ing to everyone who shops there.

and see that there is an extensive

keep coming back to SAM, but the

selection of instruments, ampli-

staff members say they love work-

ferent because, first off, we provide

Welker says that the

Not only do the customers

Anyone who walks into

“South Austin Music is dif-

has a vast instrument selection.

“We have new instruments

Even one who isn’t an ex-

fiers, and pedals for guitars.

ing there.

if you’re just starting to

“[My favorite

“It doesn’t matter

thing here is] the com-

get interested in playing

radery. You get to meet

or you’ve been playing

interesting people, great

for years: There’s a lot

players. It’s a hub of the

of stuff in here,” Welker

music community [in

says.

Austin],” says Richard

Jesse, an eight-year music

mandolins, ukuleles,

teacher at SAM.

and even kazoos. If

“The main

More guitars, taking up every available space in the store

Guitars, banjos,

you need something to

thing [I like about the store] is just

friendly service. Everybody feels

make music, SAM probably has it.

the family. That’s what everybody

comfortable in here,” Welker says.

is, family, as far as it goes here,”

amateur ukulele-ists, South Austin

says Crooks.

many long-time customers like

Music is the first place to go. The

McNabb, so obviously they think

friendly people, community vibe,

great vibe the store has.

Welker and the staff are doing

and extensive selection keep them

something right. But is there a

coming back. It’s been 30 years,

ergy that’s created in small, local

third thing that is different about

and SAM is still going strong.

stores,” he says about what matters

SAM?

most to him at SAM.

Jesse also mentioned the “The vibrance, the en-

Welker says that SAM has

For pro guitar players and

Of course there is. SAM 29 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

Top 5 Concert Venues in Downtown Austin

By Elena Alcala

Austin is deservedly known as “The Live Music Capital of the World”. With so many venues to choose from, going to a concert can be overwhelming. Here are downtown Austin’s best known venues.

1. The Moody Theater 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701 The Moody Theater, located in the Second Street District, is widely known as the home of the popular ACL Live television program. According to it’s website, the theater has hosted country music icons such as Willie Nelson and Miranda Lambert, as well as indie artists like Vampire Weekend.

2. Austin Music Hall 801 Red River Austin, TX 78701 Only a few blocks from the Moody Theater, Austin Music Hall is a large theater that hosts nationally or internationally touring musicians in front of large audiences. Seating capacity is 3,000, according to Ticket City. Past performers include B.B. King and the Cure. Austin Music Hall also plays host to spoken word and comedy performances.

3. The Elephant Room 315 Congress Ave. Austin TX 78701 The Elephant Room is a prime example of the quirky Austin music scene, with its underground location and signed dollar bills covering the walls. The venue’s website boasts a full schedule of jazz performers from both near and far.

4. The Long Center 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704 Perhaps Austin’s most diverse concert venue in terms of genre, The Long Center is the home stage of Austin’s opera, ballet, and orchestra, as well as the host of touring performers like Blue Man Group, and Ballet Folklorico. Its iconic green tiled outside and location on Auditorium Shores also make it a well known landmark.

5. Stubb’s BBQ 801 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701 Stubb’s is one of Austin’s many barbeque restaurants, but its real claim to fame is its many live music performances. According to their website, they were the first stop on the road to fame for artists like Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

30 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

4

4

2

3 1

5

31 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

SET

FIRES

STOP FIGHTING --A band where---punk gets political-BLXPLTN

32 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

By Kye Fisher

The crowd is jumping to

the rhythm of the music and the lights are flashing in shades of red, green, and blue. The bass vibrations and screams shiver Photo by Ryan Doyan

up the spines of the people in the crowded room, pumping their blood and making their hearts race faster and faster.

The only sound to be heard is the shredding guitar and mesmerizing synth that floods

From left to right: TaSzlin Muerte, Jonathan Horstmann, Khattie Q

through the ears of the crowd and the sound of people as

member Khattie Q or “Lil K Big

working on your art. All your

they scream the lyrics at the top

Q”(guitar, screams)— is becom-

free time should go to your art.

of their lungs. When the song

ing more well known in and out

[Your] friends are hanging out?

ends, there’s a roar of applause

of the Austin area.They are hop-

You’re writing, practicing, or in

after the few moments of si-

ing to create more of a name for

the studio. Skip the Jordans and

lence. For this band, the jour-

themselves, working day in and

the fancy purses. Buy equip-

ney had begun.

day out like someone would in

ment. It pays for itself in the

any full time job.

long run. And be patient. Your

our first song, Stop & Frisk, we

trees will start to bear fruit

knew we were on to something,”

long, hard process, and getting

whatever music you’re trying to

says Khattie, the original mem-

“discovered” can take even lon-

do, go back to the foundation.”

ber of the Austin based band,

ger. Although they are famous

says Khattie.

BLXPLTN (Blaxploitation).

now, that wasn’t always the case.

They had to work hard to get

a summertime garage band or

“Javelin” Horstmann (bass,

exposure and be where they are.

quick beat you can tap your

synth, vocals), TaSzlin Rico

foot to,” says Rebecca Smith, a

Muerte or “TaSz” (electro

invest in your art. Employ your

15 year-old Austinite, and fan

drums, vocals), and former

friends and family, they’re your

of the band. “They are known

“After the applause after

This trio — Jonathan

Starting a band can be a

“Save your money, and

“They are way more than

biggest supporters. Always be 33 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

who may not be as engaging.”

When they first started, they

songs about changing racism,

weren’t expecting to become

and they are working on creating

anything big.

a better tomorrow.”

Performing around the

loves us, and she pushed us to

country at music festivals like

believe we were bigger than a

Afropunk has helped to create a

house party punk band,” says

better name for BLXPLTN and

Muerte, lead singer of BLX-

get fans from all over.

PLTN. After they found and

hired a manager, they had to

“I love how they were

“We got a manager who

Photo by DeShaun Craddock

for their

aware of what is going on among

able to combine punk music

worry about recording studio

with informing the public about

costs, producer costs, getting

racism. I think it’s a great way to

online distribution, replicating

enlighten people,” says Smith.

CDs, hiring a Public Relations

“When I listened to them and

(PR) company, and starting their

learned about them, I fell in love

own label, Wolfshield Records.

other communities outside their

with how they were able to con-

own,” says Horstmann. “We hope

vey their message. It was so

self/herself why someone would

to start a conversation about

want to go see a band that makes

the systematic mistreatment of

music about politics. Enlight-

people of color, queer people,

ening people is a major part of

and immigrants.”

their goal. Often people aren’t

aware of many of the issues that

University of Texas at Austin

are happening around them un-

(UT Austin) African and African

less it is happening to them.

Diaspora Studies department,

“[We want to] enlighten

band members talk about how

people who come to shows who

being a person of color affects

are generally socially aware, but

them in the punk / rock com

BLXPLTN’s first album, Black Cop Down

34 | EARWORM MAGAZINE

A person may ask him-

Bassist Jonathan Horstmann performing at Afropunk 2014

At an interview in the

munity. Most of the punk

combine politics with punk. A

you just let me know.” This is

/ rock community is white, so

funky synth rhythm, wailing

when it becomes obvious this

when at a concert in the crowd

screams like an ambulance, and

song is meant to be a protest, or

or the mosh pit, they feel left

a fast beat pull you into this

a call-to-arms.

out. Being the only people of

song. The opening words, “Call-

color in a place can make you

ing all the casualties, of the state

it’s political songs, They also

stick out and make you feel un-

and soul. I’ve had an epiphany,

write songs about things other

welcome or unwanted. This has

that I can’t let it go,” explain how

than politics, as any bands does.

influenced them in major ways.

he (the lead singer of the group,

“We write about silly things and

TaSzlin Muerte) has realized the

breakups as well. ‘Blah’ from

that people of color, queer

systemic racism in the country.

[our album] Black Cop Down is

people, or any disenfranchised

He goes on to say, “Race superi-

a good example. It is about how

folks can rally to in the punk [or]

ority, illusion of control. If you

saying I love you becomes com-

rock world and not feel left out.”

wanna burn it down with me,

monplace and loses its meaning,”

“Watch your back if your black!

I’m sure that’s how it goes.”

says Horstmann. “In ‘Write’, we

“[We love] being a band

It was in February, 2012,

when they began to focus their

writing on subjects like institutionalized racism and police brutality.

“The murder of Trayvon

[Martin] is where the paradigm

BLXPLTN is known for

talk about how the pen is mightier than the sword. If you suffer from bullying, abuse, or stress, write about it, and get those words to where they need to be:

- Lyrics from “Start Fires”

by BLXPLTN where they can be heard.”

shift happened,” says Muerte.

The death of Trayvon Martin

From left to right: TaSzlin Muerte, Khattie Q, Jonathan Horstmann

try after his killer, George Zimmerman, was set free with no criminal charges. “Now, we can’t help it. It’s what we are thinking

Photo by John Hill

caused utter chaos in the coun-

about so we write about it. That’s what punk is.”

Their song “Start Fires,”

is a great example of how they 35 | EARWORM MAGAZINE