I started buying albums and following the paper for other concerts to see. By the time I was in high school I had discovered punk rock.
In high school, it all changed for me forever.
I wanted to be a music journalist, but the high school paper said that that I didn't have the proper credits to join the journalism class. I had been fasicnated by magazines and rock and roll and couldn't stand that I would have to wait take the "proper" courses. Over summer vacation I was trapped at my grandmother's farm, left to stew for a month.
In the small town there was only one movie theater, they only had one film, and they played it three times a day.
That film was Rock 'n' Roll High School. I saw it twelve times.
By the time I got home, I had a plan. I was going to be a music journalist. I was going to cover Austin's then-nascent music scene.
I was going to do it myself. Right then. (At this point A.
D.D. wasn't recognized as a medical disorder.
)
Look ma I be a music journalist.
I launched my "newspaper" by locating an old typewriter in the attic, sitting down with a whole bunch of paper and a whole bunch of whiteout. Despite the misspellings, the whiteout, and the garbage can full of test pages, I was finally a jounalist.
My "paper" was one typed sheet with a brief review of Rock 'n' Roll High School, a review of the Clash's first release, and a listing of upcoming roadshows. I spent $10 to make 40 copies and handed them out to friends at school.
After another issue, the Ramones announced they were coming to play on their Road to Ruin tour.
Using my vast journalism experience and an awful lot of chutzpah for a high school kid, I contacted the venue and was shocked to find I was able to talk myself into a free backstage pass for not only them but for a number of other shows like XTC and The Jam as well. Sadly my budget for seeing the shows, buying albums, and going to clubs ate all the capital I needed to run the newspaper. After six issues, broke, I was out of business.
Soon I went off to college in a small town where I was literally the entire punk rock scene, and the town's sole music venue specialized in booking Lynard Skynard tribute bands. For me my foray into music journalism was over, 'til now.
I guess I have always had a harder edge.
I remember buying a Jesse Colin Young album on the advice of some wing-haired, bell bottom wearing record shop hippie and returning it the next day, trading it for a copy of Motörhead's Ace of Spades. I remember seeing AC/DC with Bon Scott from the front row on their Highway to Hell Tour in 1980, right before they really broke big in the states and being so blown away I walked out on Journey, the night's headliner.
I have also been known to like softer stuff; I like classicial music, jazz (both standards and progressive), big band, and I listen to experimental stuff as well.
I have a well defined fetish for sounds with a Mersey beat (The La's, Oasis), and for other UK music and musicians.
On the "different" side my favorite yodeler is Don Walser, and I enjoy classic/alternative country (Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson).
Being an Austinite since 1974, I have had the opportunity to see many concerts and go to many clubs.
I could reel out names of all the bands I have seen ad nauseum and it would just tell you how old I am. Austin has always had a fantastic alternative music scene, starting way back with the Vulcan Gas Works in the 60s with the psychedelic Roky Ericson and the 13th Floor Elevators, to the Armadillio World Headquarters in the 70s and the "cosmic cowboy' period. The 80s saw the rise of the punks with clubs like Raul's, Club Foot, and Duke's Royal Coach, what some would consider Austin's musical heyday, on through the 90s with Liberty Lunch.
All these places are so much history now, but Austin still has some great little venues - in fact it actually has MORE venues than in any other period probably in its history.
I hope that with my writing here I can satisify my long unsated urge to be a music journalist, and I hope that I can help bring a little bit of Austin's musical culture, diversity and flavor to you. I hope you enjoy what all of us at club.
kingsnake.com have put together.
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