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Antone's
213 W. Fifth, 320-8424
Antone's opened its doors during the
summer of 1975 with the jumping
sounds of zydeco king Clifton Chenier
and largely word-of-mouth advertising,
and if there's any one reason that Austin
has thrived as a blues community, it's
because of this club. Now nearing the
quarter-century mark -- a remarkable feat,
but not unusual for Austin's established
venues -- Antone's finds itself in its fourth
location: back downtown, where it all
started.
From early on, owner Clifford Antone
brought in a dazzling array of names like
Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed,
Albert King, and Fats Domino, often
booking them for five-night stands in the
club's original location at Sixth and
Brazos. Local blues bands got the best
education in the world at the feet of the
masters, learning their lessons so well
that the blues scene dominates Austin
more than 20 years later. First came the
Fabulous Thunderbirds, their Chicago
influence well-matched to the sharp
Texas blues they honed, followed by
Angela Strehli, W.C. Clark, and Lou Ann
Barton, all of whom also plied mean
blues. It was the younger brother of
T-Birds guitarist Jimmie Vaughan,
however, who transcended the
ghettoization of blues and achieved that
rarest of honors: true stardom.
The world remembers Stevie Ray
Vaughan as a blues guitarslinger, but to
patrons of Antone's, he was a hometown
hero who broke out and succeeded
beyond everyone's wildest dreams. His
death in 1990 is still mourned and his
memory is invoked often within the club's
walls even today for good reason; he
spent hours and hours playing onstage at
Antone's before that big break came.
The Home of the Blues that Clifford
Antone built thrives today with names like
Maceo Parker, Koko Taylor, Dr. John,
C.J.Chenier, Etta James, and Bobby
"Blue" Bland. Hometown heroes such as
Doug Sahm, Lucinda Williams, Storyville,
Sue Foley, and Jimmie Vaughan have all
thrived there as well. While the
Continental boasts a full house for
Tuesday happy hours, Antone's is the
place to be Tuesday nights with the
Scabs, whose raunchy blues-funk is
surprisingly at home on the venerable
stage. On a good night, look for Antone
himself, usually found at the side of the
stage, just as entranced by the music
now as he was as a boy. Blues, after all,
is just a state of mind. – Margaret Moser
UPCOMING LISTINGS AT ANTONE'S
Austin Blues Society
Tue., Feb. 9, 6 p.m.
Joel Guzman & Sarah Fox, Charanga Cakewalk
Wed., Feb. 10, 9 p.m.
Serena Ryder, Howie Day
Thu., Feb. 11, 9 p.m.
The Trishes, Reckless Kelly CD Release
Fri., Feb. 12, 9 p.m.
Lou Ann Barton, Carolyn Wonderland
Sat., Feb. 13, 8 p.m.
White Denim
Sat., Feb. 13, 11 p.m.
Help Us Help Will Sexton w/ Stephen Doster, Bill Carter, Charlie Faye, Bukka Allen, Kurt Neumann, Bill Carter & the Blame, Abra Moore, Jimmy LaFave, Victoria Williams, Patty Griffin, Eliza Gilkyson, Terry Allen, Roky Erickson
Mon., Feb. 15, 7 p.m.
Blue Tuesday w/ Gary Clark Jr.
Tue., Feb. 16, 8:30 p.m.
Much Love, Ryan Harkrider
Wed., Feb. 17, 9 p.m.
Deadman, Dertybird, Uncle Lucius
Thu., Feb. 18, 9 p.m.
Brownout, T Bird & the Breaks
Fri., Feb. 19, 9 p.m.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Sat., Feb. 20, 9 p.m.
Tony Campise Benefit w/ Tony Campise Big Band, Monster Big Band, Baker's Dozen, John Mills Times Ten, James Polk Sextet, Mandy Lauderdale, Mr. Fabulous, Ray Benson
Sun., Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
JJ Usher, Soul Track Mind
Mondays, 9 p.m.
Blue Tuesday w/ Derek O'Brien, Malford Milligan
Tuesdays, 9 p.m.
Darren Hoff & the Hard Times, Driver, Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros, Kinky Friedman
Wed., Feb. 24
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Thu., Feb. 25, 9 p.m.
Cory Morrow
Fri., Feb. 26, 9 p.m.
Marcia Ball (7:00); Smile to Smile, Love at War, Bob Schneider
Sat., Feb. 27, 9 p.m.
Meals on Wheels Benefit w/ Ray Benson
Sun., Feb. 28
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