Gain Magazine

Gain

Magazine

Waterloo Records- 30 Years of Live Music The history of Waterloo records.

(Pg. 6)

The Hole History

The history of Hole in the Wall bar and venue.

(Pg.12)

Cultural Gemstones

How Spider House Cafe and Ballroom keeps Austin music alive.

(Pg.18)

The Evolution of ACL

How ACL has changed and evolved over 15 years.

(Pg.24)

Is the Live Music on the Way Out? Insight on where the live music scene in Austin is headed.

(Pg. 30)

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3-Editor’s Page 4-Contributors 6-Waterloo Records: 30 Years of Live Music

Exploring the history of the iconic Waterloo Records and how it hosts local talent.

10-Top 10 Local Bands in Austin 12-The Hole History

The Hole in The Wall has been entertaining Austinites for 42 years and counting.

16-Most Memorable ACL Years 18-Cultural Gemstones

The Spider House Cafe and Ballroom in the heart of downtown keeps Austin culture alive.

22-Top 5 Downtown Venues 24-The Evolution Of ACL

The world-renowned festival draws massive crowds year after year.

28-Timeline of Austin Music 30-Is the Austin Live Music Scene on the Way Out?

Discussing the state of where Austin music might be headed.

FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader,

Ella Stapleton Editor and Chief @ellaleestapleton

It is has been an absolutely amazing experience for all of the members of this magazine in the duration of creating this magazine. This four month journey has allowed us to all grow as journalists and designers. We started as five high school students with little to no experience in the world of magazine and now we have created an entire magazine. It has been a very insightful and a once in the lifetime experience.

Our goal in creating this magazine was to bring the people of Austin and all over closer to music than ever before. We are all Austinites who have a passion for music and the story of the live music scene in Austin. We interviewed local artists, record labels and people in the music scene throughout Austin. Gain Magazine is magazine that focuses on the more personal side of the music scene, trying to attract tourists and newcomers to get out and listen to the live music and support the Austin artists.

Thank you so much for giving us your time and reading our magazine.

Thank you,

Ella Stapleton Editor of Gain Magazine

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Page Designed by Marisa Martinez

Ella Stapleton is an Austin native currently attending the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. She is on the varsity swim team and has been a competitive swimmer for the last four years. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family as well as creating art.

Marisa Martinez was born and raised in Austin Texas the music capital of the world and attends LASA High School. She plays competitive volleyball for Texas Shock and enjoys spending time with her friends family. Marisa enjoys all aspect of Austin and exploring the live music side is something she has always been interested in. She started playing flute in the sixth grade and got into region band her eighth grade year.

Music has always close to her heart if it wasn’t making Spotify playlists, she was attending live concerts with her friends.

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Creighton Tisdale Has lived in Austin for his entire life, and plans to stay until college. Creighton attends LASA High School He has always enjoyed sports, and is very involved in school work. He has played trombone since sixth grade and still has an affinity for it. He lives far away from a lot of his friends from school, and wishes he lived closer. His mind constantly has background music, whether he likes it or not.

Alex Villarreal was born and has been raised in Austin, Texas for his whole life. Alex attends LASA high school and when he is not studying or doing homework you can find him on the soccer field practicing. He enjoys going to live music concerts with his friends and family and says that music has had a very big impact on his life.

Jacob Rasmussen is a lifelong Austin resident who attends LASA High School. He has been interested in music since early childhood, and he played violin for eight years before switching to guitar, primarily due to an interest in more contemporary styles of music, such as Texas blues, doom metal, and rock from the ‘60s and ‘70s, as well as live music, which he was exposed to a lot early on.

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Walking into the store customers of all ages are captivated by the store. An employee greets you with a smile into an edgy, retro atmosphere that smells of dust and memories. A black ramp marks the entrance into a world of music. Aisles upon aisles of CDs engulf the main room in a colorful blend of stacks. There’s a room in the back full of records stacked all they way down the wall. From the Beatles to One Republic, Waterloo Records has something for everyone to enjoy. The owner greets you with a genuine smile and deep blue eyes behind the lines. Waterloo Records main focus is customer service, and making the store an engaging environment for music lovers to feel right at home.

Opened in 1982, Waterloo records is an Austin based record store that holds free live concerts two to three times a week. The store is a place for music lovers alike to purchase CDs or records, and enjoy music. Big names in the music industry like Willie Nelson, Charlie Sextant, Abby Smith, Ben Harper as well as international bands and artists have all performed at Waterloo Live. This store adds to Austin’s eclectic music vibe also its employees and owner John Kunz.

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Panoram of Wa-

Growing up in Brisbane, Australia John Kunz consumed himself in music. He owned several record chains before coming to Austin and opening Waterloo Records in April 1982. Having owned Waterloo for over 30 years now, he has seen the music scene change over time in Austin.

“Oh boy, that’s one of those things where the more it changes the more it stays the same, and the more it stays the same the more it changes,” Kunz says.

“When I got here Austin was 250,000 people while now the greater metro area is 2 million so that’s an folding increase in 40 years that’s pretty astounding.”

The music scene has been growing because of Austin’s surge in population of 885 million, however some venues have taken a turn for the worse. Clubs in Austin are suffering or forced to shut down because they can’t to keep the business going. “The affordability issue is the biggest kind of crisis out there because many of the musicians make a honest-at-best income, and even though they musically provide the heart and soul of this city,” Kunz said.

The Bluehealer, a local band in Austin, came together in 2015 after working on previous projects together has performed at Waterloo twice. Dees Stribbling, the drummer for the Bluehealer band explains from a band’s perspective the atmosphere at Waterloo live concerts.

“It was nice seeing a lot of our friends out in the audience, as well as avid music listeners who go to Waterloo to check out new music, no matter who is playing,” Stribbling says.

The Bluehealer band supports the Austin scene and enjoys performing every time they come into town. Not only performing at Waterloo live, they also performed at ACL this past year.

From a musician’s perspective on streaming music from your phone just is not the same as listening to the CD or record. “Sometime’s that perfect recording can bring you back to a moment in time (for good or bad) and that feeling can just not be recreated. That’s the power of music,” Stribbling said.

Gain | page 8 Interior of Waterloo Records.

The Bluehealer band supports the Austin scene and enjoys performing every time they come into town. Not only performing at Waterloo live, they also performed at ACL this past year.

From a musician’s perspective on streaming music from your phone just is not the same.

Waterloo records holds free live concerts two to three times a week at the stores location. This gives customers an opportunity to hear a variety of genres of music as well as the free aspect as well. It also promotes the artists or bands performing as well as the store.

“ I always say our events are like the free samples of the grocery store. You’re going to get a little bit that you’re going to ‘I really like this I want more’, and you can go to the concert and go ‘eh that’s ok’ but they often times play for tips,” Kunz said.

In a world where technology has taken control with platforms for streaming such as Spotify and Youtube, records and CDs declining in demand. In result, records stores are struggling as well as artists and bands. “ I almost wish every band out there had an effects pedal where they could say ‘here’s how we sound live, and here’s what we sound on an iphone through a pair of earbuds.’

CD’s at Waterloo Records.

And the difference between somebody coming and purchasing a vinyl record or a CD and having that opposed to streaming on Spotify or Youtube, sorry to say but that’s the McDonald’s equivalent,” Kunz said.

Interest from the younger demographic has escalated in Austin’s music scene.

“Emo’s is an all ages club and everything that we do at waterloo is free and all ages. and it’s kind of hard to pass up those two things in combination and for that matter all the other record stores in town when they have in store performances those are free and all ages,” Kunz says,

Austin is the music capitol of the world for a reason. There is live music happening all around town day in through day out. The amount of bands and artists who strive in performing in Austin contributes to the scene.

“There is a whole lot of live music going on here, all the time.

Way more than your regular city.

Because of the sheer amount of performers and venues, we have challenges here that require creative solutions,” Stribbling said, Waterloo’s live performances were inspired by helping out smaller bands get their name out there and promoting new albums.

Waterloo Records focuses on smaller, local bands to give them a shot for record labels and promoting their music to the public.

“A great music city, and a great music store go hand in hand.

Waterloo does a great job promoting and supporting local music through events throughout the year. May there always be record crates there to dig through,” Waterloo Records reflects the Austin music scene which is successful because of the popularity that comes with it. There are many dedicated customers that shop there to keep the business going 34 years strong. Waterloo records is a store for all age demographics and strive on customer service and having all types of music for a varied interest across the board.

Many live performances have been performed at Waterloo Records that come with stories and memories. Bands and artists from all around the world perform here as well as national and internationally. This record store has a special quality that supports the Austin scene and many dedicated customers who come for the customer service and the variety of live music, CDs, and records.

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“ ” -Dees Stribling

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Top 10 Local Bands In Austin

3.

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Mid 60s rock and roll

Beach pop garage band

Phsyc pop with intricite harmonies

Dance/electrnic with style

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bar and live music venue

For the past 42 years Hole in the Wall bar and venue has been quenching the people of Austin’s thirst for true and simple live music. The atmosphere throughout the bar is very much alive and moving, leaving people wanting more. From upcoming new bands to many historical figures of music, this bar and venue has seen it all.

Throughout the decades the bar and venue has been able to stay afloat and do what it does best, entertain people with pure and true live music.

Hole in the Wall has been around since June of 1974 and has seen its fair share of trouble and craziness.

Many music icons like Spoon, Shakey Graves and Gary Clark Jr. have all played on the old wooden stage in the front that is now part of what makes this dive bar such a staple for live music in Austin. Through the different owners and the one short closing of the bar, this live music treasure chest has been able to keep being what locals love it for, a true authentic place where live music thrives and grows.

Photo of the Exterior of Hole in the Wall a local music Bar.

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Owner of Hole in the Wall, Will Tanner, has been working at the bar for just about nine years. Tanner believes that Hole in the Wall is a great incubator for new and upcoming bands. “If we believe in the music we will keep having them back and really try and foster their growth,” said Will Tanner. Hole in the Wall is a constant place where young bands are trying to make a name for themselves and make it big.

Austin is very well known for its live music scene. Musician and guitar tech, Jim Fredley, has been playing in Austin for just around 17 years and currently works as a guitar tech for Kelly Clarkson. Fredley believes the “vibe” or atmosphere of the venues in Austin is something very special, “I’ve been playing in Austin since about 1999 or so. The vibe in the venues varies, but mostly the places I’ve played

most expensive place to live in the world and the 23rd most expensive place to live in the USA. With the price of living is so high many bands find it hard to thrive in Austin. SXSW Senior interactive Festival Manager, Julia Ervin, was the tour manager for artists such as Katy Perry and Idina Menzel. “Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult for a working band to afford to live here and support themselves by just playing

Interior Logo at Hole in the Wall

Many locals believe that there is something special about Austin that makes it such a great place where music can be free and untampered. Hole in the Wall Austin has so many different options for music. Many people have their goto bars or music venues and Hole in the Wall is one of over 100 bars and venues that locals and tourists enjoy, but what sets Hole in the Wall apart from the many other places is its history. Many popular bars in Austin lack this trait that Hole in the wall very much has. Legends not only in music have played or sat and had a drink in this bar, which most new bars cannot say.

have been playing in Austin since about 1999 or so. The vibe in the venues varies, but mostly the places I’ve played have been small to medium size bars where, on the good nights, it’s crowded and there’s a raucous atmosphere,” Fredley says.

Due to Hole in the Walls size, when it is a crowded night people are very close and are all packed into one of two rooms to listen to music being brought forth that night.

With the addition of large music festivals like Austin City Limits (ACL) and South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin music has taken off and so has the price of living. Austin has now been ranked as the 63rd

around town.” SXSW is not to blame for this, but with more and more people moving to Austin the price of living will continue to grow.

Booking agent for Atomic Music Group, Todd Gardner, works with the artists Ian Moore, Rosie Flores and Supersuckers and has been listening to music in Austin since he was a child. “Growing up in townthere weren’t a lot of people and there wasn’t a ton of other things to do. Bands and venues were a way for people to get together and be social.” Music in Austin is still a great way for people to bond, create memories and socialize.

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“ “Ive been playing in Austin since about 1999 or so. The vibe in the venues varies, but mostly the places I’ve played have been playing in Austin since about 1999 or so.

The vibe in the venues varies, but mostly the places I’ve played have been small to medium size bars where, on the good nights, it’s crowded and theres a raucous atmosphere - Fredley

Will Tanner, The owner of the Hole in the Wall

All photos taken By Alex Villareal

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Hole in the Wall bar

Orginal Front Stage at Hole in The Wall

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Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) has been around since 2002 and hosts a wide variety of musicans and genres.

ACL has had its ups and downs, but is still striving on with 2016 being its 15th year aniversy. Every year ACL changes piece by piece adding new technology, bands, and artists. Over the last 15 years there has defiently been some hightlights and some lowlights throughout the festival. This record is a demonstration of the most meomerable years of ACL for the general Austin area. With many more years to come of this annual very succesful festival it is good to reflection on some of the most influencal years of the festival since its opening in 2002.

In 2002 when the festival first opened with only 67 artists and only lasting for two days now the festival goes on for two consectituve three day weekends in Austin with over 200 bands. With rain storms, muddy days, scorching hot tempertures, ACL Festival still happens every year without an issue.

It has had many good years and some not so good years but through it all the crowd and the bands still always show up year after year to listen to the wonderful music and have the ACL Fest experience.

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By Creighton Tisdale

An exterior view of the Spider House Cafe Photo Credit: Creighton Tisdale

Keeping the Austin culture alive

A

ustin, Texas would not have the legendary status it does if not for the venues upon venues featuring local talent. Over 250 bars, concert halls, and venues featuring live music exist in the Austin area. In Austin Texas, the urban hotspots give the city personality and without them, Austin would be just the next city over. Cultural gemstones pepper the city, and allow Austinites to always have somewhere to go if they are looking for a show. Rated “one of the 10 best destinations in America,” by USA Today, Spider House Cafe and Ballroom in the heart of Austin is considered a city essential.

With the University of Texas

in session, young adults in the masses are present in the epicenter of downtown. It’s no surprise why Spider House Cafe and Ballroom, located directly north of campus, remains an ultimate display of Austin culture. For over 20 years, the cafe has continued to be an emblem of Austin culture.

The venue consists of a cafe with an outdoor patio, all with seating for food and sometimes music on the patio, with a ballroom nextdoor. The ballroom, which not always open, draws in the crowds on a performance night along with drinks and music.

Owner Conrad Bejarano now has four kids, one in elementary, middle, and high school, and another in college.

He is not able to spend as much time at Spider House, since he has to take care of his family. Bejarano acknowledges that he cannot stay up all night for a performance now that he has more personal responsibilities with his family, but accepts this to be true. “So getting up at six each day to help out, you can’t stay up till 3 in the morning much, unless its a early show.”

Bejarano opened the doors of Spider House Cafe in 1995, and when a former plasma donation center’s lot became available next door, he seized the opportunity to expand his business. He was going to transform it into an I Luv Video, a video store he had connections to, but soon came to

Gain | page 19 to a realization. “I had friends and employees asking if they could use it for their Halloween house, art shows, band show, and play,” he said. The deluge of suggestions led him to decide to create an event center out of the lot, and this was arguably the most beneficial decision that he ever made with his business.

The booking manager and marketing director of Spider House was not Adrienne Lake’s title from the beginning. Two

she started out solely in charge of marketing, but some time later, acquired her second position, having it tacked onto her job. On top of that, occasionally she manages some of the staff on special event dates, having to ask for extra employees in house on certain nights. She described this as being “like three jobs in one.”

“There wasn’t really any music then, but then it started to spread out, and it took over the patio out there, and then

they started having music out there,” Lake said. The patio is not as famous as the ballroom, but unless the weather is unfavorable, there are an abundance of diners seated outside. There is not a comprehensive label that can be placed on the selection of music showcased at Spider House. With such a wide variety in performances, Lake paraphrased her selection as “everybody from Dale Watson to the band Yacht,” and those in between.

Spider House Cafe’s patio from the outside Photo Credit: Creighton Tisdale

Bartender Nicholas Fong enjoys relaxing on the patio when he is not working, saying; “It’s a good place [to] have a drink and sit outside in the sun.” He recommended it as a first date meeting place and talked about the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere it presents.

It may seem easy to own a restaurant as popular as Spider House, but evidently, the popularity brings larger

challenges. Bejarano said how when “you try and do something cool and unique for the city and its people, there is the very small group and big that make it very challenging.” Bejarano noted that money does not contribute to the community or culture, and does everything with public interest in mind.

Spider House is open to all ages, and Bejarano has trouble when trying to think of

another bar that lets in families with children. He values the fact that he can allow “younger generations to experience an environment that is conducive to intellectual outreach to all ages of conversation” in a way “that is not destructive to your body or property.”

Bejarano wishes there were more venues like Spider House in Austin and across the country as well.

The venue is meant to be striking. Even its name

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The Spider House Cafe functions independently from the ballroom, serving food to its customers Photo Credit: Creighton Tisdale

catches someone’s attention easily, as Lake recounts how Bejarano’s old high school friend “named it Spider House because it sounded so ugly, and people would remember it, and he’s right.”

Spider House’s success is no secret when thinking of its musical aspect. Lake gave an overview of her job on busy nights. She said that since there are multiple spaces, sometimes there will be events in the ballroom and the chapel area at the same time, meaning that more people need to work to manage everything taking place. “[T]hat means we have to have extra people: maybe three bartenders and two door people and two sound people,” says Lake.

Although music is the location’s headliner, it draws in crowds regardless of ethnicity or age by hosting a wide variety of events that anyone can attend.

“We do comedy, we do, poetry slams, we have hip hop open mic, and then we’ve got live music. And we also do private parties and fundraisers. So, a lot of people approach me and say ‘We’d like to do this event,’” Lake said.

However, putting names on a list isn’t as easy as expected, especially since Lake, already booked into February, makes it look that way.

Sometimes musicians are not so easy to communicate with. Lake shares, “booking with bands of all levels, some of them are a lot more organized than others. Some of them are

“booking with bands of all levels, some of them are a lot more organized than others.”

really good at promoting themselves and getting the word out, and some of them are not.” Sometimes she will get to talk face-to-face with the band (preferably), and other times she will have to communicate via email with a business only agent.

Her current project is putting together a New Year’s Eve party, named “What’s Going On?”, based around the separate eras of music.

They will have 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s music all on different parts of the lot. Last year, she put a show together around local legend Roky Erickson from the 13th floor elevators, who was mentioned by both Fong and Lake when listing favorite performers.

Over half of Spider House customers are first-timers, but a

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good deal are considered the regulars, coming to the cafe daily to do work and hang out. This all contributes to the friendly nature of Spider House, (that, and Beauty and the Beast Music blaring from the speaker the instant an interview starts).

The cafe provides this aura of relaxation and welcoming nature.

It catches people off guard, since it is quite unexpected, and it beckons for everyone to come in and sit down

All sorts of old toys, posters, statues, and random items litter the walls, and it causes the cafe to look like it came straight out of a fairytale.

Spider House Cafe and Ballroom has a huge impact on Austin local culture, especially youth and college students. Of course Austin has international recognition for for the Austin City Limits music festival, but there, only a fraction of the city’s local talent appears off to the side,

but at Spider House, those are the daily entertainers and the genuine performers that have not had fame get to their head. The welcoming air around it asks new customers and returning members of the Spider House community to come back and feel at home. Every detail, down to the quirky decorations, contributes to the cafe that will remain the Austin image for years to come.

Nicholas Fong works the bar at the cafe Photo Credit: Creighton Tisdale

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5: Lucky Lounge

Centered around welcoming all guests, the Lucky Lounge, located at 209A W 5th St, features a small stage for musicians to perform. Austinites visit the Lucky Lounge for a relaxed atmosphere, quick service, and of course, live music.

3: Saxon Pub

Open since 1990, the Saxon Pub has hosted thousands upon thousands of shows. With music almost every day, and free weekday happy hour shows, the Saxon Pub has a very relaxed and intimate air.

Located at 1320 S Lamar Blvd, the pub is one of Austin’s favorites.

1: Continental Club

Open for over 60 years and taking the #1 spot for this list, The Continental Club is an icon of Austin Culture. Local legend Stevie Ray Vaughan has taken the stage and the venue has been a hub for up and coming music. The Continental Club is located at 305 W 6th St.

Venues in the Austin Area

By Creighton Tisdale

4: Mohawk Austin

With music daily, Mohawk Austin is very flexible. Located at 912 Red River St, Mohawk features shows indoors and outdoors with multilevel seating. The venue hosts local bands and some that are some that are touring.

2: The Belmont

Aside from live music, The Belmont can host company events, wedding, and even private concerts.

With three fully functional bars, and an outdoor stage with a rooftop terrace, The Belmont, located at 305 W 6th St, makes for an amazing concert.

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ON THE MAP...

Mohawk Austin The Belmont Lucky Lounge

Saxon Pub Continental Club

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W

alking into Austin City Limits Festival the sky is covered by thousands of flags ranging from political mockery, funny faces of loved ones blown up to huge proportions, random objects on sticks, and many more creative spot holders. 450,000 people of all ages dressed in winter layers to pretty much nothing, in pajamas, or the newest trendiest hippy item, all come together to listen to over 130 artists in 27 hours. ACL festival is the once a year event that brings out all music lovers freaks, geeks, and weird sides.

ACL festival has become an annual landmark for the city of Austin, an experience of the cannot be found anywhere else. This year it is celebrating its 15 year anniversary. Since 2002 the festival has evolved and with the time it has formed into one of the largest music festivals in the nation.

:

“The magic in the festival is that people consider it their own backyard music party,”

- Bart Knaggs

said Bart Knaggs, producer and founder of ACL Festival.

At ACL festival, a consecutive two weekend long event held in Austin, Texas, the concerts there are like no other. “It is different than just going to a concert at the end you clap, but at ACL you listen, dance, and have fun, mingling and dancing,” explained Knaggs. The crowds of ACL Festival are a major part of what makes the Festival so different, with mosh pits and dancing nonstop.

There is never a moment of silence with bands constantly playing throughout the entire day, starting at 10 am going till 11 pm.

Samsung Stage ACL Festival 2016. Photo taken by Ella Stapleton

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Written by Ella Stapleton

Throwing up peace signs for the festival.

Photo taken by Ella Stapleton

“I love the excitement of working in those situations where I was running around and the feeling of the music on your chest,”

the Sponsorship Manager of C3, the company that puts on Austin City Limits Fest.

In 2002 the first Austin City Limits Festival was put on by three partners of CSE, Capital Sports and Entertainment. The inspiration coming from Charlie Jones, the music coordinator of the company.

The partners came together with KLRU and the Austin Parks Department to put on the first music festival in Austin’s Zilker Park. “Austin wanted to be the live music capital of the world, but we really didn’t have a hook that brought together the community and the music and ACL allowed for this to be possible,” said Knaggs.

Austin City Limits Festival is now the main annual music event bringing Austinites and tourists together. “I would say that it was always our goal to create a cultural event to stay in Austin for a long time and to bring joy to the people of Austin and with the growth that has become possible,” Said Charlie Jones, the music coordinator of C3.

The longest running live music show, Austin City Limits, was originated in Austin but around the turn of the century the show was in danger of being shut down. “The long time running ACL live show was beginning to not do well, and so we wanted to keep the show alive, but they had to connect with a younger audience and ACL festival brought the two issues together,” said Jones.

Zilker Park is located near Photo Park,

by Ella Stapleton downtown Austin, a mini Central

Photo by Ella Stapleton

-Karly Tuckness Major Lazer preforming Friday night 2016 Photo taken by Katie Havranak

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Kacy Musgraves Preforming Photo taken by Ella Stapleton.

Cotton candy sunset of the festival in 2016. Photo taken by Ella Stapleton

Home Away stage on 1 of 8 at the festival. Photo taken by Ella Stapleton

ACL festival Frame a common meeting place at the festival. Photo taken by Ella Stapleton

downtown Austin, a mini Central Park, with a gorgeous views of Austin’s Skyscrapers. “So we created a team. I always used to drive past Zilker and I just thought yeah that is where this is gonna happen and it’s gonna be great. So that is how the festival was born,” said Jones.

At ACL Festival there is a unique vibe radiating off of every single member in the crowd, people run around from band to band drawn to the insanity of the crowds, “It is different that just going to a concert at the end you clap, but at ACL you listen dance and have fun, mingling and dancing and like ya” said Knaggs.

Just like the crowds the music is very diverse featuring artists from all different genres and still every concert full of people dying to see the show. “People love the feel of some concerts and electronic music you don’t really even have to know the music you just have to feel it and electronic music has become a lot more of the feel of the concert,” Tuckness explained.

Each year the music and artists

“We play the music that people want to hear and with time and the changing in crowds that is switched to more pop and electronic music and the way that we market has also changed a lot.”

- Charlie Jones

evolve that come and with that more crowds are drawn in than ever before, as the crowd grows so does the headliners, “It is kinda like a win win, people love the bands the bands love the crowds and the feel of performing in such a different environment,” said Jones.

With the large diversity in the city ranging from ages and cultures, it is hard to find bands that will fit the uniqueness of Austin but somehow each year the new lineup comes out and seems even better than the last. “That is one thing that has not changed with the times, it is still the same group of people the book the music since the beginning of the festival and so they just coordinate with the managers and read what the Austin people enjoy listening to right now” said Jones,

“We play the music that people want to hear and with time and the changing in crowds that is switched to more pop and electronic music and the way that we market has also changed a lot.”

In 2012 ACL fest transitioned from a one weekend annual festival to two consecutive weekends, growing the festival attendance to more than double than what it was in previous years. “Before the two weekends were created it was mainly your local families but now there has been more diverse crowd coming in from all around and being able to come because now more people can get tickets and experience the festival and yeah I would say the diverse crowd is the main thing that has changed” Tuckness explained.

ACL festival is not the only festival

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Sunset over Homeaway Photo taken by Ella Stapleton.

Crowd of 2016 Festival on Saturday Photo taken by Ella Stapleton.

that is featured in Austin. SXSW, Fun Fun Fun Fest, F1, Aqua Fests are all events that take place in Austin drawing in people from all over, but the largest attendance is hands down ACL Fest and is the third largest music festival in the nation, “We love to discover new things and ACL festival allows for us to go to one band and know only one song and by the end of it be in love with every single one” said Knaggs.

Many Austinites get ready for the festival, renting out houses, reading the malls, canceling plans to attend, “It is has now grown to be like something everyone has in common and something that uh people can just remember and talk about all the time that has past.” said Knaggs. now grown to be like something everyone has in common and something that uh people can just remember and talk about about all the time that has past.” said Knaggs.

As of 2015 Austin was the fastest growing city in theworld with a 6.1% growth in 2015 (forbes) and ACL Festival has only helped attract more Austin’s motto is ‘Keep Austin Weird’ and never has

Flash Tats are the statement accesory at the festival Photo taken by Ella Stapleton.

that ever been challenged, “Our wonderful town of Austin embraces what we stand for, Austin embraces Austin and ACL is a typical Austin thing” said Jones.

In 2002 when the festival first opened there was around 200,000 people attending the size has now doubled and with the increase in attendance the festival has had to adapt over the years, “ ACL festival has adapted with change just like anything else in life,” said Jones.

“At the beginning the festival you could drive a golf cart all around the festival at full speed and not worry about hitting anyone but now you can’t even fit one into the crowd,” explained Tuckness.

When ACL Festival was introduced to Austin there was a lot riding on its success and now it is something that Austinites and people all around the nation looks forward to “I remember looks forward to “I remember I got this call from Charlie about a day or two before the festival had started, and he just like said ‘Dude we are gonna need some more crap houses’.

We were both so like happy because knowing that we needed more portapotties just meant that there were a ton of a lot of people that were coming to see this show and that we were gonna be ok” said Knaggs .

Overall ACL Festival is one of Austin’s biggest jewels bringing in thousands of people in from out of town and has formed Austin into the city it is today.

Overall ACL Festival is one of Austin’s biggest jewels bringing in people from all over to come together for two weekends to listen to music. ACL Festival has helped morph Austin into the community that it is today. adapting to the neverending growth and changes of the city of Austin.

Gain | page 28

Live

Austin

Threadgills Opens

First opens a service station and loval hangout for traveling musicans and hostly nightly concerts including Jimmie Rodgers.

Later it became the favorite local hang-out to Janis Jop-

Skyline Club Opens

Noted as the last club that Hank Williams preformed at it is a Skline club two miles nort of Austin City limits and booked gigs with Evis Presley and Johnny Horton.

Rev. Albert Lavada Durst becomes first african american disc jocky on KVUE Radio

lin.

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3 3 9 1

The Ritz Opens

Opens a segreated movie theature that was closed later in 1964. Became a music theature later in 1975. In 1981 manged under Carrie Underwood opened its doors as a punk rock venue growing the punk rock scene in austin.

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7 5 9 1

Liberty Lunch opens

Opened as a resturant in 1940 but later evolved into a live music venue in the ‘70s featuring all genres but later had to shut down in 1999 as a result of Austin’s redevelopment in late ‘90s

Continental Club Open

Opens a private supper club entertaining guests with touring grups and today it is one of Austin’s Oldest standing venues still hosting and touring greats.

Gain | page 29 Austin was named the “Live Music Capital of the World” in 1991 and many events lead up to this name for the city.

Overall anywhere in Austin you cannot walk more than five minutes without hearing live music somewhere.

Designed by Ella Stapleton

Broken Spoke opens

Opens as a contry music dance hall hosting legends such as Willie Nelson, Tex Ritter and many more.

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Austin City Limits TV Airs

now the longest running music show in history and became a landmark in 2009.

6 7 19

New Waterloo Records

Houses live free live music acts for up and coming artists in Austin

2 8 9 1

Austin is named “The Live Music Captial of the World”

1 91 86 199

First Annual Austin City Limits Festival Opens

With artists from all over the nation coming in to play the 3 day festival held in zilker park.

6 2 0 0 0 20 2

SXSW Music Festival Open The Frank Erwin Center Opens (‘77)

Becomes Austin’s Largest Vemue.

Taking Place in Austin Every Spring and is now the Largest Interactive Music Festival.

Fun Fun Fun Fest launched

FFF starts hosting an annual fall festival with hiphop, electronic, punk/metal, indie rock and comedy.

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By: Jacob Rasmussen

The venerable Austin live music scene could be falling apart

T

he “live music capital of the world” is slowly losing its vast live music scene. The constant influx of people moving to Austin, which causes property prices and housing expenses to rise, is causing musicians and venues to be unable to survive on a commercial basis.

Music has been part of Austin’s DNA since the early 20th century when it was a home for many country musicians in the vein of Willie Nelson, but that could quickly change as development increases and it become harder for venues to remain profitable, and musicians are unable to afford housing. The development in this musician’s hub has led to the music scene being led by corporations rather than by local venue owners and musicians, who are more easily able to draw in profits, and this profit-incentivized corporate side hosts nationally-acclaimed acts, bringing in more people and creating a cycle that many musicians and venue owners think is highly destructive to the local scene.

“ACL is a two-week thing, and personally, as part of the VIP booth and all that, it’s good for growth, but it’s more on the corporate side of things, as far as people are looking to make more money, just poking random popular acts in, whereas the aesthetic of Austin should be emerging raw acts,” says Dominic Lara, manager of Antone’s, one of the most prominent venues in Austin that was recently forced to move.

ACL Festival has played a big part in the changing face of live music in Austin. It is the largest live music event in Austin, and it brings in a massive amount of revenue to the corporation behind it. In 2014, ACL Festival brought in $38 million in ticket sales to C3 Presents, the festival’s organizer, making it the second most profitable music event in America.

ACL Festival is so huge because it brings in various popular artists from all over the country to play shows over two week-

Gain | page 31 ends, which attracts a wider demographic of people and is more commercially viable than more local events. Clay Shorkey, a professor at the University of Texas and a manager of the Texas Music Museum, is highly critical of the festival.

“These days, I see something like ACL, and I hardly know anybody. Most of them aren’t from Austin, by the way, and that’s one of the things that bothers me at the big festivals, like, they’re bringing in all these groups that are supposedly great nationally,” says Shorkey.

His museum primarily focuses on the early music from black and hispanic musicians, and he recognizes the value of local musicians and keeping the scene for smaller acts alive. He has observed a serious lack of support for musicians among both the community and from the city itself, which he believes is key to maintaining a thriving music scene as things shift towards being more corporate.

“The mayor has tried to come up with a new program to provide support for musicians. Most of them don’t have insurance, so we have something called HAM, we got the Sims Foundation, (He was another rock-and-roll one, and he was very depressed and killed himself). They help musicians out with alcohol and depression. Some of those programs are real important. Housing is very expensive for musicians. There’s really rich ones, and then people who are struggling,” says Shorkey.

While the national, corporate-run pop music festivals like ACL are booming, the more Austin-centric events and venues are suffering. Venues such as Liberty Lunch and Antone’s are being forced to close and move, and it is increasingly harder for musicians to survive.

“I think one thing that has changed is that a lot of venues have gone away, like Liberty Lunch went away, a bunch of classic venues went away just cause of the growth and condos,” says Kyle Ellison, the brother of Sims Ellison, the person in whose honor the Sims Foundation was created.

Exterior of the Texas Music Museum, at which Clay Shorkey volunteers.

Photo Credit: Sarah Rasmussen

Gain | page 32

Ellison, an Austin musician who moved to Austin back in the ‘80s, has observed lots of events and venues closing as growth continues. He also stresses the importance of getting back to the local music community so that it can survive, especially in the face of rapid development and increased housing costs.

Musicians like Ellison have a hard time affording housing and the very equipment that allows them to survive, and many of them feel that it is essential that they are given more support and compensation by the community and by the government, both of which are in extremely short supply.

“My brother was an Austin musician who committed suicide in 1995, and when he died, they started a foundation in his name called the Sims Foundation, which helps with all kinds of things.

I think they’ve saved over 5000. They’ve literally saved lives. They help people, and that’s a good example of money going right back into helping musicians. I think ACL could use to donate money back to the music community,” says Ellison.

Despite the severity of the issues facing Austin’s local live music scene, there is still a sliver of hope if people who are moving in recognize its rich history and make an effort to preserve it and help local musicians out, according to Dominic Lara.

“Hopefully, the City of Austin will not affect the integrity of live music venues, meaning compromising the integrity of paying events and venues and having a good time and not turning it into a corporate mess,” says Lara. He is highly critical

Gain | page 33 of the corporate aspects of live music. The corporate side brings in profit in order to survive, so it has to bring in artists from all over to remain commercially viable which is very harmful to the local musicians forming the backbone of the Austin music scene, as they are not as well known, and thus do not draw in as much attention.

At the end of the day, the live music scene in Austin is all about entertainment, and if music fans want to get what they came to Austin for, then the verdict from musicians and venue owners alike is that they absolutely must preserve it in order to keep it thriving to entertain countless generations to come, and to maintain Austin’s unique culture. ∆

The front entrance to Antone’s , the venue Dominic Lara manages, and the sign which details the artists that will be playing.

Photo Credit: Sarah Rasmussen

Gain | page 34

New Austin Releases By: Jacob Rasmussen

Reed TurnerNative Tongue

The SwordLow Country

Drew Fish BandPlayin’ With a Flame

Aaron McDonnellGet Gone

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The Sword- Low Country Austin-based rock/sludge metal band The Sword released a new album, Low Country, on September 23, 2016. The album features stripped-down, acoustic versions of songs off their 2015 release, High Country, which utilized loud, high-gain guitar amplification at slow tempos in order to create a sound evocative of early doom metal releases and more modern stoner rock.

Aaron McDonnell- Get Gone Aaron McDonnell is a country/pop artist who has been through a musical career filled with turmoil and several dissolved groups. His solo project based out of Austin specializes in oldersounding country records which explore classic themes in a modern and refined way. Get Gone represents the culmination of many years of experience and effort, and it is evident that Turner has perfected his musical style within his niche.

Drew Fish Band- Playin’ With a Flame Possibly the most Texas-centric group in recent years, Drew Fish Band writes modern country songs along with a group composed of several Grammy award winners, several of which have been pushed to the radio. Their latest release, Playin’ With a Flame, was made with the idea of hitting #1 on the charts in mind.

Reed Turner- Native Tongue One of Austin’s most promising newer projects, Reed Turner rejects genres in favor of a personalized and yet constantly-evolving musical style best described as indie rock. His latest EP release, Native Tongue, is an all-around focused, dark record that makes its point in an all too terse, yet effective manner, seeing as it only contains five songs.