Soundstorm
Well-known member
I lived there from 2006 to early 2008. The metal scene was thriving at that time. There were so many places to play, and so many great bands playing in multiple venues on any given night of the week. It's amazing how quickly how all of that that went away as I've gone back to visit every few years since then.
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
There are still a couple rock/metal venues and bars that do book those bands in the area but the pay at those clubs ain't good, a lot of times playing for the door. Those bands seem to be more supported by family and friends rather than casual patrons now. That seemed to be the case in Tampa/St. Pete before I left in 2016 also.
rsm
Well-known member
5 piece? what's next a horn section?!
I thought you and @DanTravis62 were trio guys?
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
If I could squeeze an extra $300 out of every gig I would definitely have a three piece horn section rather than just hoarding the cash to myself.5 piece? what's next a horn section?!
I thought you and @DanTravis62 were trio guys?
I haven't done any real trio work since 2019 when the Austin pay scale forced me to take that route. I hate trios for a variety of reasons. I do not generally view them as authentic blues bands.
RaceU4her
Well-known member
damn, i was under the impression Austin was one of the last few great cities to be a musician, i guess im probably remembering hearing that a decade or so now though
crankyrayhanky
Well-known member
re: New Braunfelsgotcha thanks for the heads up!! I had not heard of that place, will do some checking
Great little town. Bakeries and cupcakes everywhere lol. Huge waterpark
good location that is in the middle- less than 1 hour to San Antonio and Austin
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
It's still better than most cities for musicians but at this stage that isn't saying as much as it used to be. A lot of the late night "live music" scene is just loser dj's spinning college frat boy kiddie dance stuff which has been the case for at least fifteen years.
Man it's changing rapidly. Gruene in 2011=cotton fields surrounding the little night life area and one development. Gruene in 2026=last cotton field was paved over, built on, and finished last year.
rsm
Well-known member
Upcoming shows in Savannah. Notice the different venues; many are free to attend. Hilton Head and Charleston, SC aren't far away. If you lived in or around Beaufort, SC, you'd be close to all three areas.
https://www.savannahmusiccollective.org/live-music-calendar
https://www.savannahmusiccollective.org/live-music-calendar
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rob13v
New member
I've been in ATX for nearly 20 years & started coming here to play since the mid-90s. Yes, it's terrible (pay, # of clubs, predatory 'booking agents' and club owners, etc), and yes, there are fewer & fewer clubs/bars to play at - for original and cover/tribute acts. Myself & many of the musicians I know do original bands, a cover or tribute act, acoustic shows, and still need to supplement with teaching or a day gig. It ain't easy. I'm grateful that every gig I regularly pull in 3-4x what has been described above. But, I'm also playing what folks want to pay for most of the time (covers)...my original band pays nothing after expenses.
How this is NOT the fault of a city management style that prioritized high rise commercial buildings, tech bros and their greed and a desire for government AND the citizenry to 'homogenize' into the cookie cutter 'WalMart/Starbuck/McDs/' mold found in every city/town along any major highway in the US...but sure, it's the broke musicians, of course. "I wanna live in the LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD...but no 'noise' after 9pm!"
That said, some of those same broke musicians ARE to blame, as well. Sometimes for the things mentioned by some here. Austin built its reputation on 'outsiders' and 'weirdos' and then decided to back corporate interests. Those corporate interests buy up all the properties, shut them down and that's the fault of the musicians? Yes, sometimes it is (in part). But a big part of the blame is on the city & the businesses & the citizenry.
How this is NOT the fault of a city management style that prioritized high rise commercial buildings, tech bros and their greed and a desire for government AND the citizenry to 'homogenize' into the cookie cutter 'WalMart/Starbuck/McDs/' mold found in every city/town along any major highway in the US...but sure, it's the broke musicians, of course. "I wanna live in the LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD...but no 'noise' after 9pm!"
That said, some of those same broke musicians ARE to blame, as well. Sometimes for the things mentioned by some here. Austin built its reputation on 'outsiders' and 'weirdos' and then decided to back corporate interests. Those corporate interests buy up all the properties, shut them down and that's the fault of the musicians? Yes, sometimes it is (in part). But a big part of the blame is on the city & the businesses & the citizenry.
rsm
Well-known member
No, I haven't been going out for local music for the last 5 or so years, but I see many of the same people today on this list that were playing 10+ years ago.
It's worth checking out this area; like I said Savannah and the surrounding suburbs have live music, then add in Hilton Head and Charleston, there are places to play in short driving distances 2 hours or less depending on where you live...as I mentioned earlier, if you have a jazz, blues and rock band - different named bands with some of the same musicians - you could get 3+ gigs a week IMO.... I know a few people who do this.
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
That seems to be the case in every area I look or been in the past. Unless you can get into a group with locals you get stuck with dudes trying to protect the hand they have from interlopers and newcomers in a lot of cases. The nice thing about central TX is there are always clubs opening and closing so there are easier opportunities for new people coming to the area.
I hope your trip went well btw!
rsm
Well-known member
yes, breaking in to the local scene here is not easy unless you connect with a local with connections. There was a band here 10+ years ago, a blues/rock trio...bass and guitarist/singer weren't local, drummer was local...they had a good run in this area, and were playing at least 3 gigs a week...so it's possible. Drummer got married, and wanted to cut back on the number of gigs, so they disbanded. No idea where the guitarist/singer is now, but the bass player is in New Orleans ever since.
SFW
Well-known member
I think the other issue that we are dealing with is that the younger generation doesn't really go to bars like Gen X did. They don't drink. And Gen X is in the parent/ grandparent phase of life now. Not to mention the devaluation of music in society. In the Houston area, you're only gonna make money in a Tribute band or a corporate events band. We used to have a chain of bars called Sherlocks. They had a stage in every location and that's where a lot of people went to hear cover bands. They didn't survive covid. We have a few venues that host nation acts, but as a local band it's become pay to play.
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
Man this is 100% on the money. Nicely put.
I do blame city leadership, which is backed by many of the same musicians crying about the results. I mean former mayor "Cabo" Steve Adler is worth 400 million bucks and owns many valuable properties around Austin. Complete scumbag with his COVID restriction crap then vacationing mask less in Mexico for his daughter's wedding. Rules for thee but not for me. His wife is also a power player so IIRC they have a combined net worth of a billion bucks. Perfect guy to elect as a mayor....
311boogieman
Well-known member
So where are the good music scenes these days?
Rock/metal specifically but whichever. Most of the guys that I know that gig have regular day jobs. So, they are mainly doing it strictly out of passion.
Rock/metal specifically but whichever. Most of the guys that I know that gig have regular day jobs. So, they are mainly doing it strictly out of passion.
rob13v
New member
I've had some great gigs in San Antonio, San Marcos, Bryan/College Station, outskirts of Houston, and there's still a few clubs/bars/venues in Austin. But, as far as a 'scene' I think maybe only San Antonio qualifies. That town is a 'metal town' and has been since I lived there in the 90s (IMO). Outside of Texas...I just don't know. I've played Cali, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and had limited success in rock bands but that was a decade ago, so take that with a grain of salt.
mnemonic
Well-known member
Man this thread is a depressing read. I’m glad I never pursued music as a career, it sounds dire out there. I really feel for you guys trying to make a living out of it. Quite the indictment on an industry if you gotta make your money playing classics to retirees, that market will only get smaller.
I’m not in the USA since 2010 but I admit since Covid I don’t really go out to bars and clubs with music anymore, shits way too expensive. I can see why the younger generation don’t see the point.
The mayans were actually right, the world ended in 2012.
I’m not in the USA since 2010 but I admit since Covid I don’t really go out to bars and clubs with music anymore, shits way too expensive. I can see why the younger generation don’t see the point.
The mayans were actually right, the world ended in 2012.
rsm
Well-known member
There's live music in Japan. I just got back a few days ago. Found a blues club, owner is a big Hendrix fan; has live music on most weekends. There were several other live music places within walking distance, and more around the area, I wasn't in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka...I was in Fukuoka...the airport code is FUK...gave me a small chuckle, or perhaps a snicker.
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