29th Street Ballroom
'Austin Ain't the Live Music Capital of the World (Anymore)'
RECEIVED Wed., Dec. 22, 2010
Dear Editor,
I went to a party at a house in an old, eclectic neighborhood in Central Austin the Saturday before Christmas. The weather was great, so there was a band playing outside in the backyard until the cops came and shut the music down as soon as it got dark. This was at 6 in the evening, folks! What’s up with that? It was a Christmas potluck where the average person was about 45 years old, and the band was playing good old stuff like Doug Sahm, etc. at a moderate sound level. We weren’t a bunch of underaged, snot-slinging drunk kids, puking in the neighbor’s yard with loud, headbangin’ music blasting down the street! Back in the good old days, Austin was about music and about being able to enjoy live music. But nowadays, Austin has so many rules and regulations that restrict live music and the enjoyment thereof unless the politicians get paid. Austin ain't the live music capital of the world by far (anymore).
And while I’m on the subject of falsifying the phrase "live music capital of the world," I’d like to know what happened to (what used to be one of the greatest radio stations around) KGSR. It used to be a unique, grassroots station, but it’s been run into the ground and is now an average station at best. They used to always promote local artists and had live music and interviews all of the time, which doesn’t happen anymore. Now, they cater to audiences of national/international bands and only have live broadcasts when these bands are in town. Plus, they play the same songs from these national/international bands over and over until you’re so sick of it you change the station! Along with getting rid of some key people (deejays) who were so knowledgeable and interesting to listen to, KGSR has stooped to corporate crap and left most local artists in the dust. I keep hearing that growth and change is good, but I haven’t heard it yet.
I went to a party at a house in an old, eclectic neighborhood in Central Austin the Saturday before Christmas. The weather was great, so there was a band playing outside in the backyard until the cops came and shut the music down as soon as it got dark. This was at 6 in the evening, folks! What’s up with that? It was a Christmas potluck where the average person was about 45 years old, and the band was playing good old stuff like Doug Sahm, etc. at a moderate sound level. We weren’t a bunch of underaged, snot-slinging drunk kids, puking in the neighbor’s yard with loud, headbangin’ music blasting down the street! Back in the good old days, Austin was about music and about being able to enjoy live music. But nowadays, Austin has so many rules and regulations that restrict live music and the enjoyment thereof unless the politicians get paid. Austin ain't the live music capital of the world by far (anymore).
And while I’m on the subject of falsifying the phrase "live music capital of the world," I’d like to know what happened to (what used to be one of the greatest radio stations around) KGSR. It used to be a unique, grassroots station, but it’s been run into the ground and is now an average station at best. They used to always promote local artists and had live music and interviews all of the time, which doesn’t happen anymore. Now, they cater to audiences of national/international bands and only have live broadcasts when these bands are in town. Plus, they play the same songs from these national/international bands over and over until you’re so sick of it you change the station! Along with getting rid of some key people (deejays) who were so knowledgeable and interesting to listen to, KGSR has stooped to corporate crap and left most local artists in the dust. I keep hearing that growth and change is good, but I haven’t heard it yet.
Kathy Abrams