Austin Sound Check

Rolling Stone has released their Best of Rock 2008 list, chronicling the “125+ People, Places & Things Ruling the Rock & Roll Universe.” Not surprisingly, Austin is represented twice on the list. Stubb’s BBQ (Best Rock Club) and Waterloo Records (Best Record Store) both deservingly made the cut.

Stubb’s consistently serves up the best in touring and local shows. I’ve been to at least a dozen shows there, including Slightly Stoopid (twice), Blue October, Brand New, Manchester Orchestra and Joan Jett on the outside stage. The inside stage has hosted The Cliks, Girl in a Coma, Matson Belle, Full Service and Lonestar Pornstar to name a few.

Upcoming Stubb’s shows include Panic At the Disco, Cat Power, Thrice, Circa Survive, Filter, The Used, The Beautiful Girls, My Chemical Romance, two-night stands by The Raconteurs and Wilco, Reverend Horton Heat, Dresden Dolls and Rilo Kiley. The list goes on and on.

Rolling Stone cites adventurous booking, the barbeque and the massive PA as the highlights of Stubb’s and I’m in total agreement. I’ve never been to a bad show at Stubb’s. I can’t personally vouch for the barbeque, but I will attest that they have cold beer and good tunes with a killer outdoor stage.

Waterloo Records has been an indie institution in Austin since 1982, filling its shelves with all the usual suspects plus a vast selection of music from all over Texas. They’ve also hosted in-store performances by Spoon, Polyphonic Spree, Okkervil River, Sonic Youth, Gogol Bordello, Frank Black and Ben Harper.

In a city filled with live music, Stubb’s and Waterloo help make Austin’s scene one of the best in the nation.

Comments Off