Bill Tucker - The Austinot

3 Austin Radio Stations That Help Keep Local Music Alive

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Bill Tucker

KOOP is a hub for local music and information (Credit: KOOP)

In a world of streaming, YouTube, and Spotify, radio may seem like a thing of the past. A quaint, antiquated way of getting information and entertainment.

But done right, it can be magical. No Pandora playlist can replicate an experienced DJ selecting songs based on mood and flow. Amazon Prime doesn’t have an ear for the next big thing. Soundcloud has never put down a Taylor Swift record and grabbed a Wild Child song.

Luckily in Austin, we have a number of radio stations who do exactly that. These stations set aside the heavy rotation and Top 40 pop tracks, and spend time supporting local music. Get to know them here and add them to your presets on your way to work tomorrow (you know, in your car…people still do that, right?). [Read more…]

Who Wins the SXSW Music 2017 Superlative Awards?

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Bill Tucker

The stages are down; the attendees are gone; and Sixth Street has been cleansed as much as humanly possible. SXSW Music 2017 is officially a memory. And from a local standpoint, the Austin SXSW Class of 2017 was an exceptional one.

To celebrate last week’s musical mayhem, we’re celebrating the best of the best like a high school yearbook would. Time to dust off that letter jacket, grab your backpack and toss some AA batteries into your Discman. Welcome to The Austinot’s SXSW Music 2017 Superlative Awards! [Read more…]

Your SXSW Music Survival Guide

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Bill Tucker

SXSW is a war. Locals curse invading tourists. Business types attending the conference rub elbows with media-loving millennials. Downtown becomes choked with product placement, badge-only lounges and swarms of ads for tech startups. It’s madness.

It’s also a blast if you do it right. During SXSW Music, the eyes of an entire industry are focused on our fair city. Hopefuls trek thousands of miles to play 1 a.m. showcases, hoping a record exec attends their gig, digs their sound and changes their life forever. Dreams fuel the festival, and it’s that sense of discovery that makes SXSW Music special.

After covering SXSW Music last year, I’ve learned valuable lessons on how to ease your experience. Get prepared, valiant festival goer, and get ready for a fantastic SXSW! [Read more…]

15 Must-See Austin Artists at SXSW Music 2017

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Credit: Bill Tucker

For seven days in the middle of March, Austin becomes the epicenter of the music world. Over 2,000 artists will play official SXSW Music showcases this year. And that doesn’t count those playing unofficial shows, parties, festivals or busking on Sixth Street. Thousands of musical dreamers road-trip to our city with nothing but a song and the desire to get it out to the masses.

But of the 2,000 officially invited artists, 244 are our hometown heroes. From DJs to punk rock, electro-pop to indie, ATX is well represented at this year’s festival. And I listened to every single band to bring you my Top 15 list of Austin bands playing SXSW 2017. Enjoy the list, enjoy SX and–most importantly–enjoy local live music. [Read more…]

Vigilante Gaming Bar’s Custom Touches Result in Tabletop Game Paradise

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Tabletop Games at Vigilante Gaming Bar Austin

Welcome to the world of tabletop gaming at Vigilante Gaming Bar in Austin

Below a strip of condos on North Lamar, battles are being waged. Warriors and wizards, orcs and elves. Card wielding combatants drink pints of mead as they clash in contests of skill, bravery and treachery. In this realm, games are serious business.

They’re also a ton of fun. Vigilante Gaming Bar, a brand new spot dedicated to tabletop and social card games, is carving out a unique niche in the Austin bar scene. Whether you’re a hardcore Dominion expert or disgustingly good at Cards Against Humanity, Vigilante caters to anybody looking for a good time, and an even better game. [Read more…]

Dream Attics’ Fresh Indie-Electronic Sound Hits Austin Scene

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Dream Attics takes the Swan Dive stage before their first show (Credit: Katie McDowell)

Swan Dive on Red River was eerily empty the night I first saw Dream Attics. Reddish purple light glowed against the stage’s curtain backdrop. Dimly lit chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Minutes before their first live show in their new home town, the three-piece milled about, drinking beer and chatting with friends.

By the time Dream Attics had finished their seven-song set, the stagefront was full of head bobbing music fans. Some danced, some grooved, but everyone dug the band’s somberly energetic brand of atmospheric electro-indie. Full of songs reflecting love, loss and long nights sipping drinks while dreaming of tomorrow, Dream Attics is poised to become a serious player in the Austin music scene. [Read more…]

Beer Lovers Seek Mort Subite for Sip of Belgium in Downtown Austin

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Welcome to Mort Subite, downtown Austin’s newest Belgian beer bar (credit: Bill Tucker)

With all due respect to local stouts, sours and IPA’s, I feel Belgium makes the best beer in the world. And while we have breweries dedicated to brewing in the Belgian style, it can be hard to find the real thing. Enter Mort Subite, a bar that not only specializes in beer from the land of waffles and chocolate, recreates the warmth and friendliness of a traditional Belgian pub. [Read more…]

Your Pocketbook and Waistline Will Thank You for This Holiday Recovery Plan

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Ready to recover from the holidays? We have tips and tricks to make it easy while keeping it local
(Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)

How was your holiday? Probably joyous, fun, and exhausting. Over a month of partying, shopping and traveling leaves most of us tapped out. We all need to recover from a December of debauchery. Luckily, The Austinot is here to help. Check out this surefire plan to use all-things-local to get back into the regular swing of things. [Read more…]

5 Ways to Winterize Your Holiday Season in Austin

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Credit: John Cabuena

The holiday season in Austin can be magical. The Zilker Tree. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. Brightly decorated cedar trees along Route 360. Everything falls in place for a beautiful season, with one exception: cold weather.

Growing up back east, Christmastime was synonymous with freezing temperatures. Bundling up to go shopping, frost covered windows, parks and forests transformed into Norman Rockwell paintings by blankets of snow. In Austin, not so much. It’s tough to get into the holiday spirit while wearing sandals and shorts.

Luckily, there’s a number of ways to add a little “brrrr” to your holiday season in Austin. It may not be a winter wonderland, but a touch of Christmas cold can lead to extra warmth in your heart. Let’s get chilly! [Read more…]

St Elmo Brewing Co: Newest Beer Lover’s Hotspot in South Austin

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Fine beer and good vibes await those visiting St Elmo Brewing Co (Credit: Trey Crowe)

For years, the term “St. Elmo” conjured up images of an awful Rob Lowe movie and an amazingly cheesy John Parr song. After checking out St Elmo Brewing Co, I can add rock solid beer to that list. Situated on the same street that bears its name, this South Austin brewery looks to deliver well-crafted, quaffable beer to a neighborhood thirsty for a brand new hangout. [Read more…]

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