Keeping Austin Weird
Well, folks - I just got back from Austin, Texas. When I landed at the airport, I thought for sure I’d see Cowboy Central but I only saw three cowboys in total (one of which was my boyfriend - ha!). What I did see were sleeve tattoos, dreads, counterculture clothing and hair. I was impressed that Seattle seemed to follow me there.
For being a Lefty City in a Red State, Austin did me proud. It was a little bit of everything diverse rolled into the Capitol of the largest state in the contiguous United States. It takes more than 12 hours to drive across the state from Texarkana to El Paso! Large and in charge. Or so they think.
And now to the music. Austin’s music scene is right up there with Seattle in diversity as well as talent. They have acts from jazz to hip hop, pop to rock, metal to country. Simply stated, they have it all - all genres, all the time. The area is about five city blocks sort of squared. I tried to compare the area to Ballard Ave. but it could not be done. This is because Austin has put regular businesses and shops (many of them) in between each venue. The area is set up as a brick non-sequitur. No Snuggie Pub Crawl here - it is more like a Snuggie Pub Drive which is dangerous if you ask me. But I digress, it was fun walking around and seeing the entire area as much of it as can be seen in a couple of afternoons/evenings. The part I liked? My bar tab at the Jackalope was $7.50. $7.50! And did I mention my bar tab was $7.50? Unbelievable! That would have been one drink in Seattle. So Austin is definitely the place to be to get “faced” on the cheap.
It was hot though. Hot and breathing-through-a-wet-sock-humid. There’s that. And though I got bit by a Copperhead last year when I was there (in BFE, Texas), this time I only got bit by mosquitoes. I seem to be OK so no malaria or other diseases to report, thankfully.
Back to the music. SXSW was a huge success this Spring and some of our own locals were on the bill. The Blakes had van trouble and did not make it. Sad. Austin City Limits (”ACL”) is continuing to bring it - with more interesting acts and surprising content as time goes by. Willie Nelson is 75 this year and toured for 75 days (began Feb. 11) all across America. The Red Headed Stranger (that’s Willie in case you didn’t know) is an Austin native and has a great influence on not just country music. As you may have guessed, I’m not such a big fan of country music, but I can respect and appreciate where it began and how it’s developed over time and how it influences rock and vice versa. Think Buddy Holly.
Got to see Austin and parts in between there and Caldwell, where my family had a reunion. Tons of fun! I will definitely go back - though I’m not from Texas and never lived there more than three weeks, it calls to me often by way of Aunt Jean singing a Willie Nelson tune.
It really is all about the music, family and love.
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