Bill Tucker - The Austinot

Top 6 SXSW Music Venues for 2018

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Bill Tucker

Walk downtown on a Saturday night in Austin, and you’ll find yourself in a mixtape. Songs and tunes of every genre swirl together to create a kaleidoscope of sound. As the entertainment lifeblood of our fair city, live music holds a special place in our hearts. During SXSW, the vibe is amplified by a factor of 10.

But what about the venues that house this wonderful music? While each official SXSW venue has its own charm and style, here are six I make a point of visiting every year, regardless of who’s playing. [Read more…]

2018 Austin Music Awards Celebrates the Best of Local Music

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Bill Tucker

Joe Ely, winner of the Townes Van Zandt Songwriting Award, performs at the 2018 Austin Music Awards (Credit: Bill Tucker)

As anyone who’s watched four hours of the Oscars can tell you, award ceremonies can be tedious. Cheesy jokes, plastic celebrities politely clapping for the winners, and the obligatory political acceptance speech are standard operating procedures. By the end, everyone’s over it.

Not so with the Austin Music Awards. Rather than a collection of stars, it’s a gathering of friends. On Feb. 28, 2018, Austin’s Moody Theater transformed into a celebration of the best our fine city has to offer. By paying homage to those who cleared the way for the artists of today, this year’s Austin Music Awards wasn’t just a ceremony. It was a welcome home party. [Read more…]

6 Austin Butcher Shops Preparing Meat the Old-fashioned Way

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Bill Tucker

Angelo the butcher looked like something from a horror movie. He had a weathered face, one eye, and wore a bloody apron. Everywhere he went, he had a butcher’s knife in hand. The man never smiled. To a 12-year-old boy in northern New Jersey, he was terrifying. He was also a culinary surgeon. Grunting and scowling, he’d whack up meat like a pianist tickles the ivories. Some of my fondest memories involve watching Angelo work his magic, while I waited for the deli guy to slice my cold cuts.

Butchering meat isn’t just a trade. It’s an art form. Proper meat preparation can turn a good meal legendary, and these six Austin butchers are carrying on the craft in fine style. Next time you need to cook up some ribs, grill a burger, or perfectly roast a filet mignon, skip the mega mart and swing by these local Austin butcher shops for premium cuts. [Read more…]

Austin Eastciders Expands Beyond Austin With Tasty Cider, Spirit of Giving

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Bill Tucker

Outside Austin Eastciders’ taproom

Don’t look now, but bars across America are being invaded by Austin’s own. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is king of cocktails and PBR has been ousted by Shiner as the hip beer of choice. (Shiner isn’t quite Austin, but it’s close enough.) Now we can add Austin Eastciders to the list.

In the span of four years, Austin Eastciders has grown from a humble cidery on Springdale Road to a nationally-recognized brand with two locations, distributing to over a dozen states. Not bad for a small town operation with giant dreams.

[Read more…]

Austin Hip Hop Artist SaulPaul Moves From Prison to Positive Thinking

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Bill Tucker

SaulPaul in his element (Credit: SaulPaul)

When I met SaulPaul at Bennu Coffee on South Congress at Riverside, it was the tail end of a hectic day. Forty-five minutes later, a perma-smile was plastered to my face. When you spend time with genuinely positive people, that’s just what happens.

Not only is this master of the mic making major waves in the music scene locally and nationally, but he’s doing it with a spirit of generosity and positive thinking. A man with a fascinating story reflected beautifully in his craft, SaulPaul is an artist worth emulating. [Read more…]

New Year, New Beer: What to Expect From Austin’s Craft Beer Scene in 2018

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Bill Tucker

Celis’ line of beers brings back old school flavors in new, exciting ways (credit: Jason Babos)

Welcome to 2018, craft beer drinkers! 2017 was a fantastic year for the local beer scene. New breweries, expanded offerings, and insane special releases made the year one to remember. As we look forward to another year of hoppy goodness, I asked some of Austin’s finest beer makers to share what we can expect from them in 2018. [Read more…]

7 Days to Christmas, 7 Things to Do in Austin

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Bill Tucker

7 Things to Do in Austin With 7 Days to Christmas

Credit: Christopher V. Sherman/Over Austin

Pull out your phone and take a peek. See the date? As of today, there are only seven days until Christmas! If that statement just plunged you into a minor panic, don’t fret. Whether you still need to check off the boxes on your shopping list, take the kids out for holiday fun, or treat yourself to a night on the town, here are seven Austin events for the last seven days of the Christmas season. [Read more…]

CAPYAC Sets Austin Dance Floors Ablaze With Funky, Euro-disco Sound

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Bill Tucker

CAPYAC live at The Parish (Credit: Katie McDowell Photography)

It was love at first listen. On a random Thursday during SXSW 2016, I found myself in front of the outdoor stage at Empire Control Room. With time to kill between Gina Chavez at Sidewinder and Akina Adderley two hours later, I thought I’d a burn a few minutes with CAPYAC. The band had buzz around town, but I’d never heard a note. Just another one of my random SX walk-in-and-listens.

I never made it to Akina Adderley. By the time the members of CAPYAC finished a blistering, soul-shaking set, they had a new fan. Combining electronic techno, disco guitar licks, and groove strong enough to make mountain ranges shimmy, this dynamic twosome is the most fun you can have in the Austin music scene. [Read more…]

Drink Hyperlocal at City’s First Urban Distillery, Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Barrels of locally-made spirits at Still Austin Whiskey Co. (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Most people don’t spend Sunday afternoon relaxing in an industrial park, but that’s where I found myself. Outside, a jazz band was warming up, as a freshly-poured old fashioned chilled in my hand. On the bar, a beaker filled with strawberries and whiskey bubbled like a prop from Frankenstein’s workshop. If it weren’t for the area, I would’ve thought I was hanging out at a swank cantina, not a working distillery. [Read more…]

Risks Reward Austin Beer Lovers at Hi Sign Brewing

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Bill Tucker

A wide variety of fantastic beer awaits you at Hi Sign Brewing in Austin (Credit: Bill Tucker)

This article marks my three-year anniversary of writing for The Austinot. In my role as Contributing Blogger and now Lead Blogger, I’m proud to represent this unique blog and contribute to its mission of celebrating everything I love about this fine city. Looking forward to many more years of good eats, great music, and diving into the heart of Austin entertainment. As always, thanks for reading.

To stand out in Austin’s beer scene, you need to be different. Far too many breweries jump out of the gate with the standard “core four:” light beer, ale, IPA, porter. Five years ago, the strategy made sense. But with new competition popping up every month, up-and-coming brew masters need to bring something special to the table.

By peppering its tap list with a blend of left-of-center styles and traditional brews, Hi Sign Brewing has managed to make a quick, positive impression on the local beer scene. If you’re looking for something accessible yet different, this brand new spot is sure to satisfy beer lovers of every taste. [Read more…]

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