Page Two

As the economy slows, Austin is changing. Rents are decreasing, the cost of houses leveling off and falling. It is easier to keep staff, harder to find jobs. But the dominant tone seems to be one of uncertainty. Life goes on, but folks are confused as to what is going to happen next. A collective breath has been drawn, and we're waiting to let it out.

Live music clubs have been among the first businesses really hit by the current slowdown, as is too often the case. Austinites love to brag on their live music scene. They listen to the radio, which plays more local music than most any community's; they buy CDs. They still turn out for favorites, but when times get tight, club business slows down. Only the problem is that the clubs are the lifeblood of the whole system.

The overall music scene ebbs and flows in terms of creativity and impact. Almost always when I think it's ebbing it really is flowing, and vice versa. It always seems that when it is getting the most national press, things are really slowing down. Regardless of my personal affection for certain bands, one way or another, I wasn't aware of their national impact until years later, including, but not limited to, the Big Boys, the Dicks, the Butthole Surfers, Scratch Acid, Poison 13, etc. This is no mea culpa, but rather the argument that the music scene is so rich and so diverse it's hard to chart at any time. But everything flows from the clubs.

Michael Corcoran (Austin American-Statesman) used to chide me about my affection for movies. He would argue that what went on at a club was like a movie, only it was never going to happen again exactly the same way. This town has long defined itself as unique, and part of that is our rich cultural life. In order for that to survive, we have to support it.

There was a time when it seemed that every "Page Two" I wrote started with some kind of comment on how Austin was growing and changing. I'm afraid we've hit the season of the repetitious again, only this time it's that we're shrinking, slowing, and changing.

I wish I had some insight to offer, some wisdom to impart, some vision of what is coming. I have nothing but the day-to-day that is the way of all things. Include music in your day. Our friends, the clubs, need the support.

---

We have received so many letters about recent events that we have created a special home for them on our Web site (austinchronicle.com). Any and all letters and comments we receive on these events will be posted to the site.