Table of Contents

• Foreword (by Daniel Johnston)
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction (by Louis Black)
• The 1980s: An Introduction (by Margaret Moser)
  • On the Road with Joe Ely (by Margaret Moser)
    • Joe Ely Band with Little Charlie [Sexton] at Club Foot (by Babs Modern)
  • Lou Ann Barton, Old Enough (by Jody Denberg)
  • Big Boys, Fun Fun Fun (by Jeff Whittington)
  • In One Ear: Wanderin' Around Soap Creek (by Margaret Moser)
  • The Skunks: Between a Rock and Hard Place (by Margaret Moser)
    • Raul's: A Very Select Discography (by Margaret Moser)
  • Rank and File: Mama, What's a Cowpunk? (by Dennis Nowlin)
  • The Fabulous Thunderbirds, T-Bird Rhythm (by Margaret Moser)
  • Gene Ramey Band at Piggys (by Greg Stephens)
  • Big Boys, Really Red, Crotch Rot at Club Foot (by Robert Draper)
  • Lyle Lovett at emmajoes (by Elaine Blodgett)
  • Texas Flood: Stevie Rising (by Michael Hall)
  • Standing Waves at the Nightlife (by Robert Draper)
  • Butthole Surfers, Butthole Surfers (by Michael Hall)
  • Blaze Foley at Austin Outhouse (by Rob Klein)
  • Marcia Ball's Evolution from Country Kicker to Blues Singer (by Jody Denberg)
    • Freda & the Firedogs; Supernatural Family Band, Lubbock Lights; The Contenders; Greezy Wheels "Finding Happiness"/"Monkey in the Church" (by Margaret Moser)
  • Dicks, Jeffersons, Hickoids, Fudge Tunnels at Voltaire's Basement (by Brent Grulke)
    • The Dicks, Dicks 1980--1986 (by Margaret Moser)
  • Ray Wylie Hubbard at Dixie's Bar & Bus Stop (by L. E. McCullough)
  • Butch Hancock: Songwriters Recognition Series (by Chris Walters)
  • Why I Worry About Joe "King" Carrasco (by Michael Corcoran)
  • Uranium Savages' 10th Anniversary Celebration at Soap Creek Saloon (by Marybeth Gradziel)
  • Glass Eye at the Beach (by David Dage)
  • Dino Lee (by Michael Corcoran)
  • Blaze Foley, Blaze Foley (by Louis Black)
  • Dan Del Santo, World Beat (by Chris Walters)
  • Poison 13, Poison 13 (by Brent Grulke)
  • Poison 13, Zeitgeist, True Believers at Continental Club (by Michael Corcoran)
  • Omar & the Howlers, I Told You So (by Brent Grulke)
  • Butthole Surfers, Psychic . . . Powerless . . . Another Man's Sac (by Brent Grulke)
  • B.W. Stevenson at Cactus Cafe (by L. E. mccullough)
  • Obviously True Believers (by Chris Walters)
  • Zeitgeist, Translate Slowly (by Brent Grulke)
  • Doctors' Mob, Headache Machine (by Brent Grulke)
  • Don't You Start Me Talking: Cutting Edge (by Michael Corcoran)
  • Daniel Johnston by Louis Black
    • Daniel Johnston, Hi, How Are You (by Richard Dorsett)
    • Not Daniel Johnston, How, Hi Are You: The Unfurnished Album (by Daniel Johnston)
  • Roky Erickson Meets R.E.M.: Fables of the Undead (by Thomas Anderson)
  • Butthole Surfers, Cargo Cult at Fifth Street Theatre (by Richard Dorsett)
    • Butthole Surfers at Ritz Theatre (by Stuart Gilbert)
    • Butthole Surfers at Ritz Theatre (by Stuart Gilbert)
  • Charlie Sexton, Pictures For Pleasure (by Jeff Whittington)
  • Rolling With the T-Bird Rhythm (by Chris Walters)
  • Don't You Start Me Talking: Austin Music Sucks (by Michael Corcoran)
  • Angela Strehli, Stranger Blues (by Jay Trachtenberg)
  • Darden Smith, Native Soil (by Elaine Blodgett)
  • Don't You Start Me Talking: Woodshock (by Michael Corcoran)
  • Timbuk 3: The Family That Plays Together Stays Together (by Sarah Wimer)
  • Jerry Jeff Walker, Nanci Griffith at Paramount Theatre (by Rob Mccorkle)
  • The Last Days of the Beach (by Steve Johnson)
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan: Straight from the Heart (by Michael Corcoran)
  • We Got Some Stuff in Store (by Martha Hartzog)
  • Don't You Start Me Talking: An Open Letter to Michael MacCambridge (by Michael Corcoran)
  • Dongfest at Dong Huong (by Eric Lord)
  • Wild Seeds, Mud, Lies & Shame (by Ed Ward)
  • Ray Benson at the Wheel (by John T. Davis)
    • Ray Benson's Favorite Songs About Texas
  • Bad Mutha Goose and the Brothers Grimm, Rev It Up--Jump the Funk (by George Leake)
  • Alvin Crow & the Pleasant Valley Boys at Broken Spoke (by Todd Jagger)
  • Robert Earl Keen, Jr., The Live Album (by Lee Nichols)
  • It Does Make You Want to Dance (by John T. Davis)
  • AMA Preview: Jimmie Dale Gilmore (by John T. Davis)
  • AMA Preview: Two Nice Girls (by John T. Davis)
  • AMA Preview: Lou Ann Barton (by John T. Davis)
  • AMA Preview: Doug Sahm & West Side Horns (by John T. Davis)
  • W.C. Clark Gets His Due (by John T. Davis)
  • Lucinda Williams: No Tougher Judge (by John T. Davis)
  • Dancing About Architecture: Liquid Repasts (by Ken Lieck)
  • Ed Hall, Love Spoken Here (by Joseph P. Mitchell)
  • Pastures of Plenty: Willie's Picnics (by John T. Davis)
• The 1990s: An Introduction (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Page 2 (by Michael Hall)
  • AMA Preview: Arc Angels (by John T. Davis)
  • Reivers, Pop Beloved (by Jason Cohen)
  • Recommendeds: Tailgators, Bad Livers (by Margaret Moser)
    • Esteban "steve" Jordan (by Jason Cohen)
    • Herman the German & Das Cowboy (by Tim Stegall)
    • Terry Allen (by Jason Cohen)
    • Libbi Bosworth and Tumblin' Dice (by Margaret Moser)
  • Don Walser: Pure Texas Country (by Lee Nichols)
    • Don Walser's Pure Texas Band at Emo's (by Lee Nichols)
  • The Bad Livers: Picking the Wide World of Music (by Jason Cohen)
  • Skrew, Burning in Water, Drowning In Flame (by Marc Savlov)
  • Skellington, Skellington (by Jason Cohen)
  • The Devil and Daniel Johnston (by Jason Cohen)
    • Dancing About Architecture: Kurt Cobain's Daniel Johnston T-Shirt (by Ken Lieck)
  • Dancing About Architecture: Titty Bingo (by Ken Lieck)
  • Dixie Chicks, Little Ol' Cowgirl (by Lee Nichols)
  • Tish Hinojosa, Taos to Tennessee and Culture Swing (by Lee Moore)
  • Willie Nelson at State Capitol (by Paul Minor)
  • The U List: The Most Notable Austin Underground Bands
    • The Horsies (by Jason Cohen)
    • Stretford (by Tim Stegall)
    • Sincola (by Jason Cohen)
  • The Texas Instruments, Magnetic Home (by Luke Torn)
  • Stephen Bruton at Antone's (by Michael Eck)
  • ST-37, The Invisible College (by Greg Beets)
  • The Motards, Stardom (by Greg Beets)
  • The FuckEmos, The FuckEmos (by Greg Beets)
  • Nanci Griffith at Paramount Theatre (by Steve Brooks)
  • Eric Johnson at Antone's (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Townes Van Zandt, David Rodriguez at Cactus Cafe (by Steve Brooks)
  • At the Starting Gate of the Seventies (by Bill Bentley)
    • Shiva's Headband Experience (by Margaret Moser)
  • Ian Moore, Ian Moore (by Andy Langer)
  • Monte Warden, Monte Warden/Kelly Willis, Kelly Willis (by Lee Nichols)
  • Jerry Jeff Walker: Let's Go (Back) to Luckenbach, Texas (by Lee Nichols)
  • Remembering the Cosmic Cowboy Years (by Chet Flippo)
    • Listening to the First "Austin Sound" (by Chet Flippo)
  • Ed Hall, Motherscratcher (by Greg Beets)
  • Doyle Bramhall, Bird Nest on the Ground (by Margaret Moser)
  • Cotton Mather, Cotton is King (by Mindy Labernz)
  • Jimmie Vaughan at the Backyard; Joe Ely at La Zona Rosa; Buick MacKane at Hole in the Wall (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Cherubs, Heroin Man (by Greg Beets)
  • Johnboy, Claim Dedications; Bedhead, What Fun Life Was; Crust, Crusty Love (by Greg Beets)
  • Kathy McCarty: From Glass Eye to Dead Dog's Eyeball (by Chris Walters)
  • Guy Forsyth & the Asylum Street Spankers at Austin Outhouse (by Al Kaufman)
  • 1995 SXSW Picks and Sleepers:
    • Tony Campise (by Raoul Hernandez)
    • Ian McLagen & Monkey Jump (by Margaret Moser)
    • Wayne Hancock (by Lee Nichols)
    • Skatenigs (by Margaret Moser)
    • Omar & the Howlers (by Margaret Moser)
  • Michael Fracasso, When I Lived in the Wild (by Peter Blackstock)
  • Sue Foley, Big City Blues (by Margaret Moser)
  • Guy Clark, Dublin Blues (by Lee Nichols)
  • The Scabs at Steamboat (by Andy Langer)
  • Dangerous Toys: Toy Story (by Andy Langer)
  • SXSW Picks to Click: Sixteen Deluxe (by Margaret Moser)
    • Dancing About Architecture: Sixteen Delays (by Ken Lieck)
  • Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Braver Newer World (by Joe Mitchell)
  • Butthole Surfers, Electriclarryland (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Shawn Colvin, A Few Small Repairs (by Michael Bertin)
  • Townes Van Zandt: Dead Rabbits (by Ed Ward)
  • Miss Lavelle White, It Haven't Been Easy (by Margaret Moser)
  • Parallel Universe (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Davíd Garza's Musical Manifesto (by Andy Langer)
  • Jon Dee Graham, Escape From Monster Island (by Margaret Moser)
  • Tina Marsh & CO2 "Dreamkeepers" at Laguna Gloria Amphitheatre (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Bruce Robison, Wrapped (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Dale Watson at Little Longhorn Saloon (by Greg Beets)
  • Storyville, Dog Years (by Michael Bertin)
  • Shaver, Victory (by Jay Hardwig)
  • Beaver Nelson, The Last Hurrah (by Andy Langer)
  • Fastball: All the Pain Platinum Can Buy (by Andy Langer)
  • Spoon: Drake Tungsten and His Boy Skellington (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • SXSW Picks and Sleepers
    • The Cornell Hurd Band (by Margaret Moser)
    • Pong (by Raoul Hernandez)
    • Trish Murphy (by Andy Langer)
    • Monte Warden (by Andy Langer)
    • Soulhat (by Andy Langer)
    • Scrappy Jud Newcomb (by Margaret Moser)
    • Ephraim Owens (by Christopher Hess)
    • Damnations TX (by Christopher Hess)
    • Hot Club of Cowtown (by Christopher Hess)
    • Superego (by Christopher Gray)
  • Gerry Van King, The Cause of It All (by Andy Langer)
  • Brown Whörnet, Brown Whörnet (by Greg Beets)
  • MC Overlord, House of Funk (by Christopher Gray)
  • The Derailers, Full Western Dress (by Jerry Renshaw)
  • . . . And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead: Destruction as Beauty (by Greg Beets)
  • Doug Sahm: Wasted Days, Wasted Nights (by Joe Nick Patoski)
• The 2000s: An Introduction (by Christopher Gray)
  • James Hand: Where the Shadows Are Deepest (by Christopher Gray)
  • Slaid Cleaves at Cactus Cafe (by Christopher Gray)
  • Vallejo, Into the New (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • The Gourds: Songs of Innocence and Experience (by Christopher Hess)
  • Shearwater, The Dissolving Room (by Michael Chamy)
  • Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eternal & Lowdown (by Jim Caliguiri)
  • Clifford Antone: Those Magic Moments (by Margaret Moser)
    • Professor Antone (by Christopher Gray)
  • Dale Watson: One More for Her by Jerry Renshaw
  • The Weary Boys, The Weary Boys (by Christopher Gray)
  • Okkervil River, Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See (by Michael Chamy)
  • . . . And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Source Tags & Codes (by Michael Chamy)
  • Patty Griffin: 1,000 Musical Kisses (by Dave Marsh)
  • Alejandro Escovedo: Paradise (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Del Castillo, Vida (by Belinda Acosta)
  • SXSW Picks to Click: Gary Clark Jr. (by Margaret Moser)
  • SXSW Picks to Click: Los Lonely Boys (by Belinda Acosta)
  • Bright Lights, Inner City (by Margaret Moser)
    • Eastside MVPs
  • Blaze, Aural Karate (by Jay Trachtenberg)
  • Will Sheff and Will Johnson: Waking the Dead (by Melanie Haupt)
  • Scott H. Biram, Lo-Fi Mojo (by Christopher Gray)
  • Explosions in the Sky: Born on the Fourth of July (by Michael Chamy)
  • Tia Carerra, The November Session (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Grupo Fantasma, Movimiento Popular (by David Lynch)
  • Eliza Gilkyson: Lioness in Winter (by Margaret Moser)
  • The Meat Purveyors, Pain by Numbers (by David Lynch)
  • The 13th Floor Elevators: High Baptismal Flow (by Margaret Moser)
    • 13 Sixties Texas Bands You Don't Remember
    • 13 Mid-Sixties Texas 45s
  • Por Vida All-Star Tribute Concert at the Paramount (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Jesse Dayton: Country Soul Brother No. 1 (by Christopher Gray)
    • Banjo & Sullivan, The Ultimate Collection 1972--1978 (by Christopher Gray)
  • Carolyn Wonderland at Saxon Pub (by Margaret Moser)
  • Pinetop Perkins: When I'm 64 (by Margaret Moser)
  • The Crack Pipes, Beauty School (by Greg Beets)
  • Spoon, Gimme Fiction (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Jimmy LaFave: Ribbon on the Highway (by Dave Marsh)
  • DJ Rapid Ric: Whut It Dew (by Robert Gabriel)
    • Blazing Saddles (by Robert Gabriel)
    • Tee Double, The Lone Star L.P. (by Robert Gabriel)
  • Smog, A River Ain't Too Much to Love (by Christopher Gray)
  • Voxtrot, Raised By Wolves (by Darcie Stevens)
  • Randy "Biscuit" Turner: Making Biscuit (by Marc Savlov)
  • James McMurtry: Terms of Engagement (by Andy Langer)
  • American Analog Set: Static Between Stations (by Darcie Stevens)
  • Roky Erickson: Starry Eyes (by Margaret Moser)
  • The Sword: Winter's Wolves (by Audra Schroeder)
    • Seek and Destroy (by Trivett Wingo)
  • SXSW Picks to Click: Black Angels (by Audra Schroeder)
  • Riverfront Gamblers: Rattle Me Bones (by Christopher Gray)
  • Jon Dee Graham, Full (by Andy Langer)
  • Charanga Cakewalk, Chicano Zen (by Belinda Acosta)
  • Clifford Antone: I Saw the Light (by Margaret Moser)
  • Sound Team, Movie Monster (by Greg Beets)
  • TCB: Dark Places (by Christopher Gray)
  • Scratch Acid: The Greatest Gift (by Greg Beets)
  • Ghostland Observatory at Zilker Park (by Dan Oko)
  • Year of the Squirrel (by Audra Schroeder)
  • Peter & the Wolf at Eternal (by Michael Bertin)
  • Li'l Cap'n Travis, Twilight on Sometimes Island (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • Octopus Project, Hello, Avalanche (by Darcie Stevens)
  • Fun Fun Fun Fest Preview: Okkervil River (by Doug Freeman)
  • Off the Record: Winged Life (by Austin Powell)
  • Terrible Beauty (by Doug Freeman)
  • When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Not Noiice (by Audra Schroeder)
  • Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal (by Margaret Moser)
  • Out of the Mouths of Children (by Austin Powell)
  • The Flatlanders, Hills and Valleys (by Raoul Hernandez)
  • SXSW Picks to Click: Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears (by Thomas Fawcett)
  • Sarah Jarosz, Song Up in Her Head (by Margaret Moser)
  • Rosie Flores & the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Girl of the Century (by Audra Schroeder)
  • Various Artists, Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010 (by Audra Schroeder)

Promotional Information

Three decades of music writing from Austin's renowned alternative newspaper creates an invaluable record of one of America's most vibrant musical communitieso"the live music capital of the world"oand of musicians from Townes Van Zandt to Spoon.

About the Author

Like the founders of The Austin Chronicle and many of its esteemed writers, Austin Powell and Doug Freeman began covering the local music scene for the Daily Texan at the University of Texas, where they also hosted radio shows on KVRX. In 2006, Freeman founded the website Austin Sound, for which he still serves as managing editor, while Powell assumed the reins of the Chronicle's music news column, "Off the Record."