How would you REALLY describe the Austin Live Music scene? (Dallas: appointed, living in)

[Tiger Beer]

How would you REALLY describe the Austin Live Music scene?

[jobert]

I love Tiger Beer. That's stuff's the s*** in Malaysia.

What was the question?

[Chris2000]

Actually of all the things I really enjoy about Austin the local music scene was a real let down for me. I come from Phoenix AZ ( which in every other way is a terrible place to live IMO) that has tons of local bands doing ORIGINAL music. A good amount of nice venues to play, with good sound systems, and a great audience pool. I mean thousands of people coming out just to see the local bands that play their own music.
In Austin it is mostly generic cover bands(and there are a TON) they are everywere. Most places only book cover bands. It makes sense because there are not a lot of people that come out to see the local bands anyway they are just background music to the party.
Like I said it is my biggest let down.
Austin does have a lot of festivals and stuff. And some local acts get to play at them, but they are usually on at crappy times so mostly the place is empty.
If you take away all the cover bands then Austin is definitely not the Live music capitol of anything.

Other then that I am very pleased living in Austin.

[Pfhtex]

Like Austin itself, the music scene has become a pale imitation of its former self. Yes, you can check out Ian McLagan every week, or the Scabs at Antone's every month (if only for the Ass Factor), but other than that, I can safely generalize that its a bunch of proficient-but-not-compelling players.

I sense zero passion. And if there is true passion, it's not accompanied by sufficient talent or drive.

I honestly believe that the Dallas/Denton music scene is WAY better. I can name ten Dallas bands that I would make a point of going to see on a WEEKNIGHT. Austin has some great straight-ahead jazz players, so if the Elephant room is your thing, you can see some greatness there. But outside of that, it just puts me to sleep.

[inthecut]

Originally Posted by Chris2000

Actually of all the things I really enjoy about Austin the local music scene was a real let down for me. I come from Phoenix AZ ( which in every other way is a terrible place to live IMO) that has tons of local bands doing ORIGINAL music. A good amount of nice venues to play, with good sound systems, and a great audience pool. I mean thousands of people coming out just to see the local bands that play their own music.
In Austin it is mostly generic cover bands(and there are a TON) they are everywere. Most places only book cover bands. It makes sense because there are not a lot of people that come out to see the local bands anyway they are just background music to the party.
Like I said it is my biggest let down.
Austin does have a lot of festivals and stuff. And some local acts get to play at them, but they are usually on at crappy times so mostly the place is empty.
If you take away all the cover bands then Austin is definitely not the Live music capitol of anything.

Other then that I am very pleased living in Austin.

I think SXSW is partly a cause of this....it seems to have corporatized what was once a vibrant local music scene, with musicians just playing for the love of it, and not to get signed/rich....now you have a huge bunch of facile wannabes just trying to get noticed out there, though there IS a fair share of decent local music, if you know where to look for it.....just a far lower percentage of the total scene than it once was.......

There are several venues with killer acts.....Continental Club, Antones, Stubbs, Emos sometimes........but not many, and nowhere near as much as before the SWSW fest "corporatized" the local music scene.....

[readymade]

I have to admit, I'm pretty disappointed with the music scene, speaking as a musician. There just aren't that many places to play (original music that doesn't involve an acoustic guitar). And the clubs rip off the musicians. We played a club last week. There were at least 100-200 people there. The cover was $9/person. There were 4 bands. We got $30.

Not that we do it for the money. Obviously. But getting ripped off really sucks. We're not planning to play out again here.

[inthecut]

Originally Posted by readymade

I have to admit, I'm pretty disappointed with the music scene, speaking as a musician. There just aren't that many places to play (original music that doesn't involve an acoustic guitar). And the clubs rip off the musicians. We played a club last week. There were at least 100-200 people there. The cover was $9/person. There were 4 bands. We got $30.

Not that we do it for the money. Obviously. But getting ripped off really sucks. We're not planning to play out again here.

Austin never has paid its mesicians fairly, hence the musicians union, which is vital to the area...

Austin Federation of Musicians

I think things were better in the old 60's/70's "passing the hat around" days....at least the musicians got paid directly, in a sense, that way...
Cover charges ALWAYS ream musicians.....

[kingugly]

Then you won't want to move to Los Angeles where bands oftentimes PAY to play.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by kingugly

Then you won't want to move to Los Angeles where bands oftentimes PAY to play.

Actually, I moved here FROM LA. Yeah, that sucked too. I never had to pay to play... but I didn't make very much either. Then again, I didn't bring many people, so I never felt ripped off either.

I recently played a show in Boston. Brought maybe 75 people. Got paid about $100. You win THIS round, Boston!

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

How would you REALLY describe the Austin Live Music scene?

wouldn't that depend on the type of music, venue, atmosphere etc one likes??