Electric Wizard at Stubb’s Credit: Photo by David Brendan Hall

Best Roadshow

Greg Beets: Dream Syndicate, 3ten ACL Live

Thomas Fawcett: Residente, ACL Live at the Moody Theater

Doug Freeman: Paul Simon Farewell Tour, Erwin Center

Christina Garcia: Electric Wizard, Stubb’s (Levitation)

Dan Gentile: Max Richter performs Sleep, Bass Concert Hall (SXSW)

Abby Johnston: St. Vincent, ACL Live at the Moody Theater

Alejandra Ramirez: Paul McCartney, Zilker Park (ACL Fest)

Rachel Rascoe: Angel Olsen, Paramount Theatre

Kahron Spearman: Kendrick Lamar, Circuit of the Americas

Tim Stegall: MC50, Mohawk

Jeremy Steinberger: Ezra Collective and Moses Boyd, the Main II (SXSW)

Michael Toland: Broken Shadows, North Door

Jay Trachtenberg: Janelle Monáe, Zilker Park (ACL Fest)

Libby Webster: Yo La Tengo, Mohawk

Best Local Show

Greg Beets: Diamond Smugglers, Spider House Ballroom

Thomas Fawcett: Black Pumas, Antone’s

Doug Freeman: Alta Mesa, Harvest Thieves, and Jonathan Terrell, White Horse

Christina Garcia: Knos, Plush

Dan Gentile: Switched On Ensemble live scores Akira, Austin School of Film

Abby Johnston: Molly Burch, Barracuda

Alejandra Ramirez: Shakey Graves, Stubb’s

Rachel Rascoe: Lou Rebecca, Mohawk

Kahron Spearman: Tomar & the FCs, Continental Club

Tim Stegall: Pistolators, Carousel Lounge

Jeremy Steinberger: Pnthn and BluMoon, New Guild Co-op

Michael Toland: Meet Your Death, Beerland

Jay Trachtenberg: Jimmie Vaughan Trio with Mike Flanigin, C-Boy’s Heart & Soul

Libby Webster: Sun June, Mohawk

Local Act You Saw the Most

Greg Beets: John-Pauls

Thomas Fawcett: Black Pumas

Doug Freeman: Christy Hays

Christina Garcia: Black Angels

Dan Gentile: DJ Lord Highpockets

Abby Johnston: Delicate Boys

Alejandra Ramirez: Brownout

Rachel Rascoe: Why Bonnie

Kahron Spearman: Tomar & the FCs

Tim Stegall: Pistolators

Jeremy Steinberger: Pnthn

Michael Toland: Ingebrigt Håker Flaten

Jay Trachtenberg: Denny Freeman

Libby Webster: Being Dead

Local Venue You Visited the Most

Greg Beets: Kick Butt Coffee

Thomas Fawcett; ACL Live at the Moody Theater

Doug Freeman: Sam’s Town Point

Christina Garcia: Cheer Up Charlies

Dan Gentile: Kinda Tropical

Abby Johnston: Electric Church

Alejandra Ramirez: Come & Take It Live

Rachel Rascoe: Cheer Up Charlies

Kahron Spearman: ACL Live at the Moody Theater

Tim Stegall: Carousel Lounge

Jeremy Steinberger: Mohawk

Michael Toland: Beerland

Jay Trachtenberg: Continental Club

Libby Webster: Cheer Up Charlies

Best New Local Act

Greg Beets: Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band

Thomas Fawcett: Blackillac

Doug Freeman: Sun June

Christina Garcia: TC Superstar

Dan Gentile: Black Pumas

Abby Johnston: Hovvdy

Rachel Rascoe: Christelle Miller

Jeremy Steinberger: Pnthn

Michael Toland: Exhalants

Jay Trachtenberg: Black Pumas

Libby Webster: Van Mary

Micael Priest

R.I.P.

Marty Balin, Hamiet Bluiett, Ponty Bone, Henry Butler, Don Cherry, Roy Clark, “Fast” Eddie Clarke, Danny Ray Texas, Steve Dean, DJ Blu Jemz, DJ Ready Red, Bob Dorough, Dennis Edwards, Nokie Edwards, Clarence Fountain, Hardy Fox, Aretha Franklin, Seth Gibbs, Jerry González, Hosea Hargrove, Roy Hargrove, Brian Henry Hooper, Scott Hutchison, Gene “El Gusano” Jaimez, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Spencer P. Jones, Mike Kennedy, Tony Kinman, Craig Mack, Hugh Masekela, Draylen Mason, Mac Miller, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Janka Nabay, Dolores O’Riordan, MC Overlord, Micael Priest, Tomasz Stanko, John “Jabo” Starks, Charles Neville, Jalaluddin Mansur Nuriddin, Luis “Louie” Ramirez, Otis Rush, Conway Savage, Pete Shelley, Mark E. Smith, Yvonne Staples, Richard Swift, Cecil Taylor, Threadgill’s WHQ, Tony Joe White, Nancy Wilson

Critics Poll

A version of this article appeared in print on Dec 28, 2018 with the headline: Critics Poll

This article appears in December 28 • 2018.

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Greg Beets was born in Lubbock on the day Richard Nixon was elected president. He has covered music for the Chronicle since 1992, writing about everyone from Roky Erickson to Yanni. Beets has also written for Billboard,Uncut, Blurt, Elmore, and Pop Culture Press. Before his digestive tract cried uncle, he co-published Hey! Hey! Buffet!, an award-winning fanzine about all-you-can-eat buffets.

Thomas Fawcett has been freelancing for The Austin Chronicle since 2007. He likes good music and does not fake the funk.

Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.

Kahron Spearman is a journalist and writer with bylines including The Austin Chronicle, Austin Monthly, Consequence of Sound, Texas Highways, and the London-based journal The Break-Down. He currently serves as Senior Editor at Atmosphere TV.

Tim Stegall contributed to The Austin Chronicle 1991-1995, and was a staff writer 1995-1997. He returned as a contributor in 2013. He has also freelanced for publications ranging from Flipside to Alternative Press to Guitar World. He plays punk rock guitar and sings in the Hormones.

Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.