Capps in car. Credit: Courtesy of Garrett T. Capps

Garrett T. Capps may be San Antonio’s best ambassador. The songwriter’s 21st century cosmic cowboy sound has dished hometown odes with “Born in San Antone” and last year’s 7-inch “En Los Shadows de San Antone.” Now he’s taking Austin to task with his latest, “I Like Austin (But I Love San Antone).”

Capps in car. Credit: Courtesy of Garrett T. Capps

Look, we like Capps. His rollicking Tex Mex sound is damn nigh as close to the Sir Douglas Quintet as you’ll get these days this side of Shawn Sahm. Still, if you’re going to put San Antonio’s scene up against Austin’s, you better be prepared to back it up. So after running into Capp’s the other week at Sagebrush, I challenged him to put up, and rolled down I-35 to have a look for myself.

There is indeed a lot to love about our southern neighbor, which is good now that we’re no longer obligated to remember the Alamo. Garcia’s brisket taco “slayed” as promised – decidedly unpretentious, definitely delicious. And Capp’s homebase the Lonesome Rose offered a great little country dive bar, though we’ll note that San Antonio native Nick Garza, onstage last weekend, currently lives in Austin.

His rollicking Tex Mex sound is damn nigh as close to the Sir Douglas Quintet as you’ll get these days – at least this side of Shawn Sahm

While I’m not quite sold on San Antone superiority, I can appreciate Capp’s boosterism, and the scene he’s helping build down south. His podcast and social media collective Trouble Country is twisting up roots in all the right ways, and even has a mini-fest at the Rose planned in October with Lavender Country and a slew of outsider Americana artists.

And we can’t really take too much umbrage to our taco elitism in Austin. When you’re right, you’re right.

Check out the premier of Capp’s new video for “I like Austin (But I Love San Antone)” below, and look for the full album I Love San Antone out later this month. You can also catch him at the Sagebrush for the official album release show on Saturday, August 21, with the Hickoids, the Beaumonts, and Cunto! in support.

This article appears in August 6 • 2021.

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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.