ACL 2009 is Five Days Away!

ACL 2009 starts this Friday, October 2, 2009 and ends Sunday night, October 4, 2009. This year, visitors to ACL 2009 can also take advantage of First Thursdays on South Congress Ave. First Thursdays are a fun (Austin) way to enjoy all the businesses located on South Congress Ave. If you are coming to Austin for ACL 2009, please be safe and have fun.

On another, but related subject – It has been a while since I last posted to this space, and I don’t think I’ll have time to post anything meaningful before ACL 2009. However, please feel free to search the site for places to eat, drink, and things to do while in Austin. I created many lists in February and March for folks attending SXSW 2009, that might prove helpful to you…

ACL 2008 – It’s Finally Here!!!

I’m very excited, I can’t believe this day has finally arrived. Today is when my ACL Music Festival really starts. Ran last minute errands yesterday, and a few this morning. I think, I am ready for this afternoon and 3 wonderful days of sweat, cold beer, sun burn, tasty food, port a potties, good friends, and great music. Good times, good times… I pick-up the guys at the airport in about 2 hours, and then the fun begins. It is my intent to post pictures, thoughts, maybe even some video and audio, etc., to my Twitter and Tumblr accounts, and to this site as time permits. If you’re coming to ACL 2008, I hope you have a great time. If you’re not coming to ACL this year, please think real hard about coming next year and/or think about SXSW in March 2009.  Austin, TX, ACL, and SXSW are always a blast!!!!

Let the Buzz Begin – Austin City Limits Music Festival Starts in Two Weeks

Starting to get excited about the 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL – September 26-28) which actually begins for me the Saturday before when I get the collapsible chairs out of the garage and make them ready for the three days of fun. I will also begin gathering the contents for my backpack, which makes the three days even more enjoyable (more about the contents of the backpack in future posts). I will take off from work beginning Wednesday, September 24, to run last minute errands.

On Thursday, the fun really begins. I pack the car with three chairs and a cooler full of cold beer (for the hotel room) and head to the airport to pick-up friends from the DC/Virginia area. This will be the seventh ACL for two of the three friends – yes, they have attended all the ACLs from the beginning – pretty cool. Once everyone is in the car we’re off to lunch, a great afternoon, and maybe some live music. We lunch somewhere different every year so they get the full Austin experience. In years past we have gone to Hut’s, Texicalli Grille (RIP Danny Roy Young, you were a great man and made a big difference), and Hoover’s just to name a few.

After lunch, we would normally head to Cheapo Discs and/or Waterloo Records, but this year before we go to one or both of those cool music stores, we will go to Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop (think Lance Armstrong). All three friends are biking freaks and think Lance is too cool for words. Last year one of the guys stood next to the 7 time winner of the Tour de France at the urinal at Guero’s. So it only seems right that we go to Lance’s own bike shop. As I said we will go to Cheapo and/or Waterloo, but if this is your first ACL, please know that Waterloo will have a tent at the Festival so you can buy the CDs of the artists playing at the Festival, and maybe even get an autograph or two, so if you end up going to Cheapo or Waterloo don’t go crazy. Although, it is very hard not to go crazy at Cheapo’s because of their huge selection/price of used CDs, and Waterloo is the holy grail of independent music stores.

After bike and CD shopping, on to the Cedar Door for delicious/dangerous MMs. After a couple of adult beverages we are off to the Austin Motel so the boys can check-in. They love staying at this place, and the location is perfect. After they get settled, we head to the Continental Club for happy hour beverages and music. After the Continental Club we head to Guero’s for tacos al pastor, queso, and dinner. If everyone is still standing after Guero’s, then it is time to think about some live music to bring Thursday to a great end. Now where should we go… thinking… thinking… still thinking…

Stay tuned for additional posts about the 2008 ACL Music Festival…  As always, comments are welcome…

My Favorite Live Music Venues/Bars

When I think about how lucky/blessed I am to live in Austin, Texas, I’m generally on the hike and bike trail or in some bar listening to live music. I really don’t have the words to describe the incredible feeling live music gives me. Austin is more than fortunate to have the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) at the end on this month (Sept 26-28, 2008) and the South by Southwest (SXSW) - Music, Film, and Interactive – Festival/Conference every March (13-22, 2009), but the foundation of live music in this city are the live music venues/bars. These local live music venues/bars bring in the national touring bands and the popular local acts, provide residency nights for local bands to polish their skill and sound, and finally, offer the struggling singer-song writers an opportunity to be heard and build a following.  The following list of bars/venues (and links) are just a few of my favorite places to listen to live music:

 

Congress and South Congress

Continental Club – Simply the best – great owner and staff – great bar - great happy hour music – great late night music – get there early if you want/need to sit.  If I had to pick only one bar for the rest of my life, this is the one.

Botticelli’s - Great Italian food and a wonderful garden in the back.  

Jo’s Coffee (on Congress) - Music in the parking lot is always fun.

Trophy’s - I’ve only been once, but I like this place a lot.  I loved sitting at the bar.

Guero’s (Oak Garden) - Everyone knows I love the bar and restaurant, but the big oak trees make the garden a special place to listen to live music.

Ego’s -  Fun funky place – Basement of multi floor building.

Elephant Room - Home of live Jazz in Austin. Interesting location.

Threadgill’s South - Great outdoor venue. Great food.

 

5th Street and Warehouse District and West 6th Street

Antone’s – I love this place. Always a killer line-up of music.  Depending upon the band, there is sometimes limited seating, so get there early or be prepared to stand.

Lucky Lounge - Fun place.  Cool cat-walk on the backside of the bar to drink and listen to music.

La Zona Rosa - If you don’t mind standing this is where you will hear many of the national/hot Austin/Texas bands.

Momo’s - Above Katz’s – Great inside and outside venue.

Ranch 616 - They only have music one night a week, but this is a great Austin restaurant/bar.

Mean-Eye Cat - Fun place.  Outdoor stage.

 

East 6th Street and Red River

Stubbs - The outdoor amphitheater is great, indoor stage is fun, and the food is wonderful – BBQ.

Emo’s - Unbelievably great.  Multiple stages. International, national, Texas, and Austin bands.

 

South Lamar and South First Streets

Broken Spoke – The definition of a Texas Honky Tonk.  Fun place to listen to good country music, drink cold beer, and dance with the ladies.

Saxon Pub - The bar/music venue that sets the standard for all others.

Freddie’s Place - Fun South Austin outdoor venue.  Good drinks and food.

Jovita’s – Pure South Austin.  Great place to dance. Thursday is my favorite night.

 

UT and Central City

Hole in the Wall – Classic Austin.  Located on the Drag (across from UT). Love sitting at the bar.

Central Market – North – Yes, even some of our grocery stores have live music.

Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon – 42 Night on Monday.  Music Tuesday-Sunday.

Threadgill’s North - New Indoor venue.  Great food.

Nuno’s – On MOPAC – New kid on the block. Lover of the blues.  Good food too.

 

OTHERS

Carousel Lounge - Funky fun place – Located northeast from the downtown.  Cold cheap beer.

Patsy’s Cowgirl Cafe – Great food and a great music venue. Located southeast from the downtown.

Gruene Hall (sorry the web site was not available at the time of this post) – Located south of Austin in Gruene, Texas – Bring a designated driver.  The best dance hall in Texas – the wood floor bounce/sway while you dance. 

As I visit more venues/bars, I’ll update this page.  Please feel free to let us know your favorite Austin live music venues/bars in the comments.