Is Austin really weird and progressive? the forum seems mainstream (Houston: how much, live in)

[twange]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

There are still great singers and songwriters! You just won't find them on 6th street.

Try the Saxon Pub or the Continental Club, or the Cactus Club on UT campus.

Yea, those are all great rooms. Intimate and good sounding. Just saw Greg Brown at the Cactus last week. Damn. Part Leonard Cohen, part Bob Dylan!

It just seems that 6th st has focused on being a tourist attraction now. If you've ever been on Nashville's Broadway, it's kind of similar: gift shops with lots of cowboy hats and belt buckles, sh*tty eateries, blues bands comprised of white guys in shades, lots of "lost" young people "runnin' down a dream" pretending to be buskers but kind of just sucking...

Music scenes shift around over the years. There are more options than just 6 th street now.

[ROY DUBOSE]

what you don't know is that all the posters have tatoos

[TexasHorseLady]

Yeah, I haven't gone to 6th Street for music in a LONG time. Off 6th Street, and in venues not even downtown, sure.

[readymade]

I haven't been to Saxon Pub or Continental. From what I've heard, it's fairly mainstream, though, which is why I haven't been there, heh. If you want the REALLY crazy "different" stuff, you're better off at art gallery shows or "Church Of The Friendly Ghost" shows at Salvage Vanguard Theater.

[twange]

Originally Posted by readymade

I haven't been to Saxon Pub or Continental. From what I've heard, it's fairly mainstream, though, which is why I haven't been there, heh. If you want the REALLY crazy "different" stuff, you're better off at art gallery shows or "Church Of The Friendly Ghost" shows at Salvage Vanguard Theater.

Oh for sure. Or go to the Austin New Music Co-Op concerts, put on quarterly(shameless plug, since I am a member).

Well, you know mainstream is a relative term, there's still some good music in those places.

BTW, I'm still working on that damn list you sent out....totally impossible time-waster!

[readymade]

We just played a show with "Gayle Gold," and they're my new favorite band! Check them out! We also did a show with "A Faulty Chromosome" who are also really good.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

the forum seems quite mainstream in the answers to many of the questions about a progressive town. It has cool restuarants, nice central austin neighborhoods, a bike friendly philosophy, public transport system, hub of state politics, live music scene, natural recreation, artsy types and great University, and Whole foods, yet folks keep saying its hard to live progressively with all those amenities and more?

i wonder why it is considered weird adn alternative and progressive yet the posters seem to state its more of a mainstream place.

AUSTIN is only weird and progressive in the Central area of town. When I attended UT back in the mid 80s, it seemed much more progressive b/c there were a lot of aging "hippies" left over from the 60s at that time. They have mostly moved and died off since. austin also had many of the old landmarks that marked a progressive culture. Much of the ppl now are ppl from elsewhere that are middle class moderate to conservative. There are still artsy types that come from other places, but it's not nearly as "weird" and inexpensive as it used to be back in the day.

[love roses]

readymade...Thanks for naming some good bands. What's the name of your band so we can check you guys out too?

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by wehotex

AUSTIN is only weird and progressive in the Central area of town. When I attended UT back in the mid 80s, it seemed much more progressive b/c there were a lot of aging "hippies" left over from the 60s at that time. They have mostly moved and died off since. austin also had many of the old landmarks that marked a progressive culture. Much of the ppl now are ppl from elsewhere that are middle class moderate to conservative. There are still artsy types that come from other places, but it's not nearly as "weird" and inexpensive as it used to be back in the day.

I pretty much agree with the last sentence.

However, I disagree with the second sentence - Quite a few of us are still here, thank you very much!

[carolinajack]

thanks wehotex, i agree all over the country, progressive means elitest and expensive. so where would you say are the conservative areas or pockets of austin?