ZZ Top on Austin's Growth and Traffic (Benjamin: 2013, credit)

[austin-steve]

This weeks Austin Chronicle has an article about ZZ Top. In it, they talk some about how Austin use to be and what it is now. Here is a quote I thought interesting.

ZZ Top, and Gibbons personally, have strong, deep ties with Austin. Moving Sidewalks, whose second of only three reunion performances occurred at Austin Psych Fest in April, were inspired by and associated with Roky Erickson's 13th Floor Elevators. Gibbons attended UT briefly in 1968, studying art and political science. He credits pioneering KOKE FM as inspiration for Fandango!'s "Mexican Blackbird."

"Austin's become very sophisticated, and I think the groundswell that started long ago for it as a cultural and musical destination has solidified and it's become a source of importance for the players and the observers. Look at South by Southwest now. It draws people from all corners of the globe. It's really something to speak of.

"This is a question that comes up from time to time: 'Well, it ain't the Austin it used to be!' Well, it's never gonna be the Austin that it used to be! And that could be 50 years ago or 50 minutes ago. And the complainers can go and stand in that corner, but those who are willing to move forward and go with the flow have my vote. I certainly have no qualms about enjoying the novelty of the way it's progressing.

"You want to complain about traffic? Well, find me any community with any semblance of civic activity. At certain times of day, people are going to be out and about. Do you really want to spend all your time complaining about that?"

Since these guys are among my idols, I guess I'll try to heed their advice and complain a little less.

Steve

[atxcio]

Billy Gibbons gets it. I've always been a ZZ top fan and this just makes it that much nicer.

Wish they would play at the F1 race sometime. I think the international fans would really appreciate it, and they are actually from Texas (unlike the previous headliners).

[scm53]

Fondest memories of listening to the almost "house band" at the St. Luke's Teen Canteen - Moving Sidewalks. There was no doubt what Billy was going to do for a living, even when he was in the 11th grade at our alma mater, Robert E. Lee. He came from a musical family - his dad was a concert pianist.

[Komeht]

Amen brother Gibbons, amen. Could not agree more.

[Dog_Gone]

People like Gibbons don't have transportaion problems. Gibbons can wipe his as* with 20 dollar bills. I am sure he can get where he needs to without an issue.

[ScoPro]

He can wipe with Benjamins if so inclined.

He's saying the same thing as I have for years. Most of the complainers are these nOOBs who say, "When I moved here in the '90s" or "12 years ago". LMAO at them.

[Shredding_Gnar78]

easy to lol at the mad traffic from your helicopter big rockstar

the rest of us grunts have a right to whine kick and scream

of course, he's right.. it changes nothing really

[austin-steve]

I think he's simply stating an attitude toward life in general. A live and let live, "who moved my cheese" approach to change.

He would probably say something similar about the music industry and all the changes to that business. In fact ZZ Top changed up its music quite a bit in the 1980s, and stayed relevant. Even today they can draw a decent crowd for a show.

I'm not saying I don't have a problem with the traffic. It's just going to get worse. But in the end, I can either move, stop driving or just acclimate.

Steve

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by Dog_Gone

People like Gibbons don't have transportaion problems. Gibbons can wipe his as* with 20 dollar bills. I am sure he can get where he needs to without an issue.

Unless he's taking a helicopter _literally_ everywhere, he experiences the exact same traffic as everyone else. Congestion is the great equalizer.

And he can't take a helicopter to a show downtown, to lunch, etc. because there are no helipads.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Unless he's taking a helicopter _literally_ everywhere, he experiences the exact same traffic as everyone else. Congestion is the great equalizer.

And he can't take a helicopter to a show downtown, to lunch, etc. because there are no helipads.

Yep. Frank Beard owns a home on Lake Travis. He has to drive 2222 like everyone else, as do his friends and guests.

Steve