Austin Music Source

By Tricia Dew

April 24, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

Damn the overdevelopment that is raping Austin! Damn the malls! Damn the spralls! Damn it all!

By leo

April 24, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

Too bad.. another one bites the dust. :(

By Spamboy

April 24, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

“They tore down paradise and put up a parking lot.”

By Joanie

April 24, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

What is happening to Austin? One by one I’ve watched all my favorite live music venues die. Very sad. This is no longer the live music capital of anything.

By Alan

April 24, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

What part of they’re poing to rebuild somewhere else did you whiners not understand?

By connie

April 24, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

GROW OR DIE SWEETHEARTS !

By Joe Gross

April 24, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

Hey folks,

All signs point to a new (and bigger) location in Bee Cave.

Check back later today for more details.

By Mac Homer

April 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

The best music venue that I have ever been to… A true shame… Yes, they can rebuild, but it will be hard to have that magic happen again… what a beautiful venue amongst the oak trees. A sad day for a fan of music, Austin (being the music cap. of world and all), Bee Caves, and the Backyard.

By Bryan

April 24, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Alan,

What part of “rebuild somewhere” do you believe? My guess is you are a newcomer to Austin, who never had the pleasure of going to the Liberty Lunch.

Remember the Armadillo!!

By Highly Pissed

April 24, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

MOVE BACK TO DALLAS CONNIE!!!!TAKE ALL OF YOUR CHAIN RESTAURANT’S,STRIP MALLS, AND FACTORY OUTLETS WITH YOU!!!!!!! PLEASE GO BACK TO DALLAS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!

By Allan

April 24, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

Now you know why I moved to the mountains of Colorado. I wanted beauty and fun. Not concrete and nasty people. I was born and raised in Austin, but can’t stand to go back any more. The people (almost all I meet are from other places than Austin) are rude and have NO respect for anything. They are all me, me, me people that make me sick. Unfortunately Austin has become another nasty Houston, or even worse, Dallas. It kills me to see Austin lose it’s greatness. But I find more pleasure in visiting other places. Too much concrete, too many terrible drivers and most of all the nice friendly people of Austin have been resplaced by the rudest and nastiest people I have met in a long time. Austin used to be my “home town”, but I don’t even claim that anymore. Slow down Austin and let Houston and Dallas be the worst towns in Texas. They are still the top two worst towns, but Austin is running a close 3rd. I miss the old Austin.

By Erin

April 24, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

I certainly am hoping that they do find a big, beautiful, oak tree-filled location where all of us can hear awesome music under the stars again. I’m hoping they find and build it before next season starts. I’m foolishly hoping this overdevelopment stops. Austin looks more and more like Dallas everyday.

RIP the Backyard, Southpark Meadows…how much longer before Stubb’s and the Broken Spoke are added to that list?

By exile

April 24, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

So much for SOS and”let’s stop development”in the hill country.Listen up everyone,all these political groups and politicians are in bed together. All it’s about is making money and expanding the tax base for Austin. We are being played for fools. Stay informed and vote people out of office.(Yes, that means the “so-called enviromental friendly folks).

By Randy

April 24, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Stubb’s is expanding, and will be better than ever I hope. My bet is that the Broken Spoke will be another economic friendly fire casualty like The Backyard, which I hope will be more Cedar Door/Stubb’s than Liberty Lunch. The Backyard is a great concept that wound up with crappy neighbors. How do you keep your neighbors a mile away? Buy a 5 square mile piece of property. Easier said than done to be sure.

By Yeah Right

April 24, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

I wish people wouldn’t try to live their lives and raise their families within viewing distance of where I want to go see shows once in while (sarcastic).

Blaming development is much easier than admitting that the value of the land has gone up over the past couple of decades so that it’s hard to justify keeping the venue open for yearly 3 day hippie fests anymore. Plus, traffic is a nightmare during the big shows. Time to move it further out. I mean, what have you got there anyway? A stage, folding chairs, etc?

By robert - east side

April 24, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

go to hell developers from dallas and houston! thanks for ruining another great place! your days are coming, just like Circle C Ranch

By mac

April 24, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

“live music capitol of the world” …please!! I work in the music business as a sound engineer/Tour Manager and I NEVER do show in this town any more. I’ve played the Backyard many times w/different tours and it was the one place the band always wanted play again. What a shame the people who claim to be Austin’s biggest music fans put us out of work. But hey, we do have a new mall to spend the of the monies we have to leave town to make…the shame is there really isn’t a store in this new sprall that I can’t find in any of the malls around this town…gee…how creative of the developers, destroy a business that promotes what Austin is supposed to be and give us yet one more Subway…how exciting. And Connie, this isn’t growth, it’s a travesty.

By Spicewood Native

April 24, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

Oh, yeah, just move on out to the “deadliest stretch of Hwy. 71” … that will be real smart.

By Frank Fledman

April 24, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

those lamenting the demise of Southpark Meadows need to get a grip. That place wasn’t anything special, at all.

By Josh

April 24, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

You guys have GOT to be kidding me. You are not serious about being that upset are you? I frequent the place and enjoy it also, but will look forward to a bigger better place. But I also frequent the shopping and eating around it, enjoy those just as much. So get over it and stop the Dallas/Houston bashing. Each City is unique and all have something good to offer.

By living&learning

April 24, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

I lived in Austin as a college student about 25 years ago. I returned with a young family from an urban area hoping for a better place to rear a family. Instead, I had the same experience as Allen. For such a highly educated city, I see a reproduction of the mistakes of other large cities, but am helpless to make a difference.

By kathy

April 24, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Allan - Where in Colorado do you live? Always loved Colorado and it’s mountains, especially the GlenWood Springs area. Austin is not as bad as you think; yes, way more traffic than I like, but still a great and wonderful place to live.

By mtc

April 24, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

I say MOVE IT OUT OF BEE CAVE!!

I hate the fact that Bee Caves makes them shut down at 10:30. As far as I’m concerned, the Backyard has been dead for several years. Gone are the days of Willie putting on extra encores for his local crowd…

By Native Austinite

April 24, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

First - Connie and Alan are clearly newbies to this town and have never experienced The Armadillo, Liberty Lunch, The Black Cat (which burned and was never rebuilt) and more than likely The Backyard back in the heyday - even before the ‘food court’ was even a concept. Clearly Josh is a newbie as well…enjoying the brick and mortar shops around the Backyard is not an Austin thing to do while at the Backyard. Grabbing dinner first and then walking out to see the show - or sitting at your table WHILE eating - was the way to go.

Second - Frank - to you Southpark Meadows may not have been something but to my friends and I there were some great shows and memories that were created. To each his own and I’m sorry you failed to grasp the good out of this venue.

Third - I truly think ‘the attitude’ issues Austin has enveloped wouldn’t be so bad if the out of towners would leave their baggage/east,west coast demeanor behind. Austin has always been a melting pot in its own right where everyone got along and loved each other for who they were. Remember Freedom Fest? Aqua Fest? Sixth Street Music & Heritage Celebration?

Finally - development. Commercial and otherwise. It’s ruining this town - including keeping it green. Is it just me or is there more trash in the streets than ever before?

It’s refreshing to meet and talk to people who natives or who have been here at least since the 70s to really see the change. We all share the same grief…but also share the same great memories.

Note to those Newbies who b***h about the humidity, the mosquitos, the rain, the lack of seasons, and Lord knows what else that makes Austin - quitcher bitchin’ and get the hell out.

By keith

April 24, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

The true meaning of Austin is slowly going away with all these out of towners coming in and slapping down millions of $$’s to build shopping centers and not give a crap about the character of Austin…..Austin sure isn’t the city it used to be…traffic proves that. All these out of towners love the small town feel of Austin, so they move here and when they find out living here isn’t all they thought it was cause it’s not like the big city they moved from, they complain and want to change it to suit their big-city desire

By nicole

April 24, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

This is truly one of the best music venues around Austin. I remember hanging out pre show in the cow pastures when I was in High School. I have had some wonderful experiences there in the past few years, but I am always irked that the Galleria won’t allow patrons to park there. I hope that a new location can be found, but I won’t be holding my breath. RIP The Backyard!

By Brent

April 24, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

that big new concert venue in cedar park can’t open fast enough.

By southwestaustin

April 24, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

I’ve grown up with The Backyard, Southpark Meadows, and Liberty Lunch. It just isn’t Austin without them.

By fussybr

April 24, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Brent, which concert venue is that? Glad to hear it, but don’t know anything about it. Indoor or outdoor? (Don’t care, just wondering. Hey some A/C might be nice in the summer.) Will it allow bigger crowds than The Backyard?

By Mike

April 24, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Don’t worry folks - a much nicer amphitheater is already being built on 290 - be on the lookout for Twin Parks Amphitheater, on 140 acres of pristine hill country land, in spring 2009. The best part? This place will have camping on-site!

By Zerk

April 24, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

Poor, poor Austin…another classic establishment bites the dust to Best Buy, Wieners Department, Ross Dress FOR LESS, apathetic transplants and sundry concrete monoliths. Thank you Simon Malls and Galleria for your gift cards and such. Just remember you will be the first to go when the consumer runs dry of funds.

By RobP

April 24, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Dang….oh well. I remember that it was a great place back in it’s heyday. Hopefully the new location will bring back some of the magic. Whatever happened to the property where The Pier was located? I loved going to The Pier. Too bad that it also had to close down to make way for development.

By Jerry Garcia

April 24, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Viva La Twin Parks!!!

By Bob

April 24, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

Austin needs to enforce an urban growth boundary similar to Portland to halt the rampant sprawl toward the west. The overdevelopment along 71 through Bee Cave is a travesty. I miss the old Austin, but I wouldn’t move back now. Austin is fast becoming just another Houston or Dallas.

By colorado kool aid

April 24, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

It was ALWAYS better in the old days, the town got ruined when the people who moved here after me came, every little dump that ever had live music was worth saving … to someone.

I’ve been in and out of Austin since 1970, loved the Armidillo, hated Southpark Meadows. Loved Liberty Lunch, but didn’t think the city made a bad decision to use that land for something else — and I ran Steamboat 1874 as a competitior of the Lunch - -would have really hated them to get a subsidy from taxpayers at my expense.

Listen, growth happens and you can hate Dallas/Houston all you want — but that’s life folks. Hate the “out of towners” all you want, but the constitution gives them as much right as the “natives” to be in Austin — unless you hate the constitution too.

I now live in Aspen CO — and we have the same issues, just a different scale. It has been that way every place I’ve lived — “it was great till right after I got here and all those other folks ruined it” — what a crock!

By Riley

April 24, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

Half of you people claim to be a TEXAN just because you’ve lived here for a few years. I’ve lived in the Bee Cave/Dripping Springs area for my entire life ~ I AM a NATIVE TEXAN. Let me tell you that just because you’ve brought all of your money to this town…you DO NOT belong here and we don’t want you here. I saw a shirt the other day that pretty much sums it up…DO NOT MOVE HERE!!! I’m going to miss the Original Backyard…it won’t be the same.

By rlr

April 24, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

I quit going to the Backyard before the mall was put in. Even when they had a larger parking lot it was still a parking nightmare and the drive on Bee Caves was getting really scary. I would much rather go to a show in town. I can take the bus and leave the car at home.

By Growth Like A Tumor

April 24, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this

I was new to Austin in 1989 and worked at Bee Caves and 360. I lived at 183 and I-35. Got lost going home and drove all of 360 then back to 360 on mopac then Ben White to I-35 to home and it only took me an hour to go up and down all those streets. We used to actually wave to people in cars on 360. I am sad for the growth because I used to be able to go downtown and park in less than 15 minutes. It is so funny to hear the stupid people talk about Austin being the new “it town” because it shows they are really an idiot repeating what they heard on MTV or someone who wanted to glorify thier vacation.

By kd

April 24, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this

The blame cant lie entirely with ‘outsiders’ - thats much too easy. If you blame people from Dallas, Houston, and Cali, then you can just continue to do nothing, or too little, because its not your fault — right? Its Austinites who sold out their land, helped construct the developments, and now patronize them - or move away when times get tough. Its Austinites who dont demonstrate, protest, vote people out, or run for office in great enough numbers to change things. I cant say I have much contact with these ‘big rich outside developers’ but I regularly see huge dollar signs in the eyes of supposedly sacred native Austiners. Happy complaining!

By Danny F

April 24, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

Oh please…stop the bleeding heart! The land value of the property probably quadrupled just since the new development came in so the owner is simply striking while he can to capture the potential profit. Take half the profit and go buy cheaper land and build a newer facility farther out in the country while pocketing the rest.

By dakus

April 24, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this

Wow! First South Park Meadows and now the Backyard. I’m really saddened by all this. Yep, Paved paradise and put up a parking lot. I’ll still remember the Phish shows at SPM in 97 and 98 as a great summer venue for larger crowds. Capitalism rules again. For some reason I thought Austin may be immune to development sprawl. I live out in Bee Caves. This used to be the country. Now I feel sucked up by Westlake.

By longhorn girl

April 24, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this

Well, I hate to say this, but I haven’t been to a show at the Back Yard in years. As the venue and the area grew, it became too much of a pain in the butt to get there because of all the traffic out in Bee Caves. I don’t know if moving further out fixes the situation, though. The growth is everywhere in central Texas and if it’s not in your neighborhood now, trust me, it will be soon. My musician husband and I live less than a quarter of a mile from Southpark Meadows. We moved there 8 years ago because it was far out and because we loved the idea of being so close to a concert venue. Now we have a Wal-Mart, fast-food restaurants, and a crapload of nail places as our neighbors. If this is growth, I don’t want it! I know that a lot of people want to come here because it’s a cool place, but we can’t keep sacrificing the things that make Austin cool (Liberty Lunch, Les Amis, Aquafest, etc.) in the name of growth and expect it to stay that way. I do believe in progress, but I never wanted to live in LA or Dallas.

By Mark

April 24, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this

How about some positive suggestions, people…?

I’m thinking that in the woods next-door to (or down-hill from) the Oasis wouldn’t be a bad idea. Talk about a view of the hill country…and the lake.

By been here long enough

April 24, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this

Seems like the proper thing to do if you are an Austin native is to whine about how things are changing, and to raise a stink every time another “institution” goes out of business, moves or gets a new paint job. It’s still a free country. If you think Austin needs another Armadillo, Liberty Lunch or Black Cat, why not open one yourself?

By Lynny

April 24, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this

I can only say WTF!!!!

By kenny

April 24, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

Will the new location have those cheesy little plastic chairs all tie wrapped together, with very little wiggle room between you and the next lard-urs? Worst concert venue in Central Texas…hands down.

By 100% Texan

April 24, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with Riley, I cringe every time I see an out of state plate driving down mopac, Go back where you came from, you will never be Texan just becuase you now have a pair of boots and have heard one live band or two,

I also miss The Pier, Liberty Lunch, and now will miss The Backyard, hate to see it change.

By 78723

April 24, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this

What city that has doubled its population recently hasn’t had a lot of change? I mean, come on- the folks that complain so much really need to get a life. Not all of the new people moving to Austin are mean, rude, arrogant. There are quite a few locals that behave in an equivalent manner. Its easy to make accusations via email isn’t it?

By Kyle

April 24, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this

To the “Native Austinite” - I find it humerous that you want the “newbies” to get the hell out. Maybe YOU need to get out of Austin, go out to the sticks, smoke your dope and live your 70’s Austin style of life. It’s not the 70’s anymore. It’s 2008. The “Newbies” love Austin, and everything that comes with it. We want to see things protected, but come on, we have to have a strong economy. Or maybe you want things to just fold up and shut down because the people aren’t here to support it???? Then you would be begging for us “newbies” to be coming to your City. So feel lucky “Native Austinite” that you live in a City that people want to be. So Mr/Ms “Native Austinite”, us newbies are not going anywhere. We are here to stay and more on the way. So make sure you get your tolltag and your train ticket, because we hope that will be the only way you “Native Austinites” will be able to get around, because all of us “Newbies” are moving into YOUR city, that we LOVE dearly…..Ciao

By James

April 24, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

Riley - You sound like an uneducated idiot.

By Kate

April 24, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this

I’ve lived in Hays County for 7 years and used to romanticise moving back to Austin. Not really any point anymore- guess I’ll just stay out here. It sort of feels like “they” (whoever that is) are releasing each Austin-y place that is headed for the slaughterhouse one at a time, just to mess with us. Once you get over one thing, here comes another.

By JSS

April 24, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this

Texas sucks as a whole anyway.

By from miami

April 24, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this

I like how some people in Austin claim to be undestanding, open, and think differently, but like to lump every out of towner into the same category. They like to say that they love multi-culturalism, but tell ‘non-native austinites’ to get out of their city. I am from miami (moved 7/07) for the same reasons people love this city. I think everyone here is super nice compared to Miami and the city has more to offer that I like. Yeah there are some rude people out there, but not that many. This isolationist/elitest thinking is what is ruining Austin and gave us the wonderfuly congested roads, with no roam to expand the system. The idea if you don’t build it they won’t come, didn’t work…we still came. Also, how great of a city would have, if it never grew, if the economy never diversified and expanded. Maybe Austin, would have been the next Flint if a major employer downsized and a lot of people lost their job. Growth is inevitible and necessary. Some things will suffer and somethings will thrive. All we can do is do our best to prepare and grow responsibly. Get involved, influence change, don’t just sit their and be an elitiest and cry.

By Rick

April 24, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Ok, for old Austinites, can you add to the list below? I’m sure I’ve left out a few.

The Skyline Club Arkies Dessau Hall The Armadillo The Silver Dollar The South Forty Threadgills (when Kenneth owned it) Aquafestival Matt’s El Rancho (when it was on 1st street) The Barn Pre-Mopac Pre- upper deck at Memorial Stadium The Night Hawk on South Congress (within a couple of weeks the Frisco is even moving) Commodore Perry The Gondolier Hotel

And sadly I think we’ll add the Broken Spoke to the above list

No, Austin is not what it used to be. As soon as I don’t have to live here anymore – which is only a couple of years, I’m moving out and leaving it to the Yankees and LaLa’s from CA.

By Bubba 2k

April 25, 2008 2:37 AM | Link to this

I guess Poodie’s will be the next to go.

Maybe Willie can turn his ranch into a venue?

By jerry jones

April 25, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this

Let’s give Bee Caves a taste of real development and let them build a skyscraper condo complex right there in their precious Back Yard.

By Jlynn

April 25, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe this. That is the best place to go to listen to live music. If you love going and listening to live music you will find a place to park. This is such a shame!! This place is part of the charm of Austin. We are losing an experience. I can’t believe that true Austinites would let this happen! Big cities are great, but you can’t breathe under the stars at least in Austin you still can. I guess they are taking that away from us too!

By Jay Irion

May 26, 2008 4:21 AM | Link to this

Who the F* is moving into these condos?! Nor Easterns? enjoy our Summer!

I love my home… Native Austinite(1970s), loving life but hating the exploitation… The Armadillo is gone… The Americana Theater. Southpark Meadows.

Let’s put a Starbucks coffee and Apple computer on every street major street corner and all buy 1 smart car we are SO helping the economy and still are non-wanna-be-trendy-cool-not-really-from-“Ill-Annoy” Right—-

http://nativeaustinite.com/smf/index.php/