The Elevators also deserve mention as being the first band I can recall that played original material almost exclusively and for playing LOUD. And has anyone else featured an electric jug? It's been almost sixty years but they remain the most exciting band I've ever seen.
I think Groover's Paradise solidified Doug's standing as an Austin icon. He may have started in SA and finished with the Tornadoes in SA, but his many years residence in Austin should count. He even has a hill named after him at Auditorium Shores (with a No-Smoking sign for irony's sake).
Apropos of nada, Groover's Paradise is the closest we'll ever get to a musical parallel universe. What if John Fogerty had grown up on the 'right side of the tracks' and embraced the 'peace and love' hippies instead of lower middle class in the east bay area of California. Thanks to Doug Sahm's encyclopedic knowledge of soul, blues, rock and the backing of the CCR rhythm section of Doug Clifford and Stu Cook, Groover's Paradise IS that record - CCR as a trippy hippie band :O
Fabulous Thunderbirds - There was only ONE place you could get 'Girls Go Wild'. Not Inner Sanctum, not Sound Warehouse, but ONLY at Conan's Pizza on Anderson Lane.
True Believers - Some nights the Troobs were the best RnR band in the universe. Some nights they were the worst RnR band in the universe. Sometimes it was the same night. Heck, sometimes it was the same song. You see, Alejandro was on a perpetual quest for the perfect RnR moment. Once at the Texas Tavern (UT campus) towards the end, Jon Dee Graham took his solo...and Javier cuts in. Commandent #6 of Rock n Roll - "Thou Shalt Not Cut Your Bandmate's solo." But Javier was long since out of effs to give and takes off into his own stratosphere. J.D. Foster leans against his bass, the drummer du jour starts jacking off his stick and I (and the other 2 dozen faithful ("True believers" to the core) would swear that we were watching the band break up live and on stage in real time. Except, Al figures out where his bro is at, and slowly, starts matching Javier lick for distorted lick, reeling him back into the fold. Slight nod to Jon Dee and waves J.D. and drummer back into the fold. Troobs lock in and the band closes the set with a ROARING version of the song they lived and were born to play - "Hard Road." Al grinning like a maniac, for yes indeed, he had unearthed an honest to gosh Rock n Roll moment that couldn't be captured on record. For after moments are just that, ephemeral and lasting only in memory.
Buick McKane - Some combo of the opening salvo of "Queen Anne's Lace," "Losing your Touch," and "Falling All Down," are about as potent a 10 minutes of RnR as you'd ever want. Other drummers were faster, soulful, technical, but nobody, but nobody, ever pounded the skins harder than Glen Benavides (formerly Doctor's Mob which could also make this list).
Great list! For the HS class of 80/81 going to see the Skunks was a blast! We even left our prom and moved the party to clubfoot in our tux and long dresses. Great memories.
I agree with you: POISON 13 deserves a spot on this list. They were absolutely one of the greatest bands of all time. And this would be true no matter what city they came from.
They were there til the very end. They have a chapter in my upcoming book. But I think the reason they didn't get a record deal was because the original material could've been stronger.
Greatness is often forged in quiet humility. I remember quite vividly listening to Kenneth Threadgill while he played his fiddle and yodeled away on the patio between the Union and AC on the UT campus…probably around 70-72 time period. Students just slowly gathered around him and soaked up all they could of his “real” Austin roots music. Free of course. Kenneth seemed to love the ambiance as he came back several times. Loved the man…loved the music…loved the vibes.
Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns. Yes, Joe was another San Antone product. But before he became the party hearty king of South Padre Island spring break, Joe and co. ruled Club Foot for the early 80's.
Marcia Ball - of the holy trinity of Austin Blues Divas, Marcia had the best, longest tenured, most consistent BAND backing her up, thanks to the telepathic instincts of bandleader/director Don Bennett.
Tejana Dames - the ladies' secret weapon was fretmeister extraordinaire Johnny "X" Reed. The Dames themselves were an offshoot of Tommy Hancock's Supernatural Family Band, also meriting consideration for this list.
Absolutely…first band at the Armadillo amongst other contributory endeavors by Spencer that helped launch the “psychedelic era” of the Austin music scene. “Take me to the Mountains” and “Ebeneezer” are but two sentinels of what was coming to ATX
can’t argue Top 5 and top 10 even but the Armadillo World Headquarters Days(70-80) were just so important to Austin and the music scene and therefore Greezy Wheels is ranked too low and Steam Heat/Extreme Heat)should definitely be on that list lasting 50 years together I think anyways
I’m familiar with more bands on the list than I expected to be, and will seek out the ones that I haven’t heard of. For what it’s worth, I agree that Spoon could easily head the list.
Not sure who I'd kick off the list, but I would have been compelled to get someone from the Joe/Steve Doerr/Don Leady axis - LeRoi Brothers probably, though the Tail Gators and all of Joe's bands (Ballad Shambles, Hand of Glory, Churchwood) are exemplary, as well. Of course, Mike Buck and Keith Ferguson (T-Birds) were both LeRoi Brothers at one time or another, so maybe that counts. Or, maybe just pick Big Guitars Of Texas and get the whole incestuous town....
Bad Livers
The Elevators also deserve mention as being the first band I can recall that played original material almost exclusively and for playing LOUD. And has anyone else featured an electric jug? It's been almost sixty years but they remain the most exciting band I've ever seen.
My dear friend Stephanie saw their first gig, and recalls it as revelatory.
I think Groover's Paradise solidified Doug's standing as an Austin icon. He may have started in SA and finished with the Tornadoes in SA, but his many years residence in Austin should count. He even has a hill named after him at Auditorium Shores (with a No-Smoking sign for irony's sake).
Apropos of nada, Groover's Paradise is the closest we'll ever get to a musical parallel universe. What if John Fogerty had grown up on the 'right side of the tracks' and embraced the 'peace and love' hippies instead of lower middle class in the east bay area of California. Thanks to Doug Sahm's encyclopedic knowledge of soul, blues, rock and the backing of the CCR rhythm section of Doug Clifford and Stu Cook, Groover's Paradise IS that record - CCR as a trippy hippie band :O
A few personal notes:
Fabulous Thunderbirds - There was only ONE place you could get 'Girls Go Wild'. Not Inner Sanctum, not Sound Warehouse, but ONLY at Conan's Pizza on Anderson Lane.
True Believers - Some nights the Troobs were the best RnR band in the universe. Some nights they were the worst RnR band in the universe. Sometimes it was the same night. Heck, sometimes it was the same song. You see, Alejandro was on a perpetual quest for the perfect RnR moment. Once at the Texas Tavern (UT campus) towards the end, Jon Dee Graham took his solo...and Javier cuts in. Commandent #6 of Rock n Roll - "Thou Shalt Not Cut Your Bandmate's solo." But Javier was long since out of effs to give and takes off into his own stratosphere. J.D. Foster leans against his bass, the drummer du jour starts jacking off his stick and I (and the other 2 dozen faithful ("True believers" to the core) would swear that we were watching the band break up live and on stage in real time. Except, Al figures out where his bro is at, and slowly, starts matching Javier lick for distorted lick, reeling him back into the fold. Slight nod to Jon Dee and waves J.D. and drummer back into the fold. Troobs lock in and the band closes the set with a ROARING version of the song they lived and were born to play - "Hard Road." Al grinning like a maniac, for yes indeed, he had unearthed an honest to gosh Rock n Roll moment that couldn't be captured on record. For after moments are just that, ephemeral and lasting only in memory.
Buick McKane - Some combo of the opening salvo of "Queen Anne's Lace," "Losing your Touch," and "Falling All Down," are about as potent a 10 minutes of RnR as you'd ever want. Other drummers were faster, soulful, technical, but nobody, but nobody, ever pounded the skins harder than Glen Benavides (formerly Doctor's Mob which could also make this list).
Great list! For the HS class of 80/81 going to see the Skunks was a blast! We even left our prom and moved the party to clubfoot in our tux and long dresses. Great memories.
I agree with you: POISON 13 deserves a spot on this list. They were absolutely one of the greatest bands of all time. And this would be true no matter what city they came from.
What about Krackerjack? Especially with John Staehely on lead guitar.
The original lineup of Bruce Bowland, Uncle John Turner, Tommy Shannon, and
Mike Kindred were great, but with Stahely on his gold top Les Paul…well, that took them
up another rung on the ladder.
They were there til the very end. They have a chapter in my upcoming book. But I think the reason they didn't get a record deal was because the original material could've been stronger.
You are so correct. Their forte was their live performances with Bowland prowling the stage.
Greatness is often forged in quiet humility. I remember quite vividly listening to Kenneth Threadgill while he played his fiddle and yodeled away on the patio between the Union and AC on the UT campus…probably around 70-72 time period. Students just slowly gathered around him and soaked up all they could of his “real” Austin roots music. Free of course. Kenneth seemed to love the ambiance as he came back several times. Loved the man…loved the music…loved the vibes.
worth at least an honorable mention:
Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns. Yes, Joe was another San Antone product. But before he became the party hearty king of South Padre Island spring break, Joe and co. ruled Club Foot for the early 80's.
Marcia Ball - of the holy trinity of Austin Blues Divas, Marcia had the best, longest tenured, most consistent BAND backing her up, thanks to the telepathic instincts of bandleader/director Don Bennett.
Tejana Dames - the ladies' secret weapon was fretmeister extraordinaire Johnny "X" Reed. The Dames themselves were an offshoot of Tommy Hancock's Supernatural Family Band, also meriting consideration for this list.
The Skunks?!?
Monte Warden’s incendiary Wagoneers must be included. Full stop.
No Shiva's Head Band?
Absolutely…first band at the Armadillo amongst other contributory endeavors by Spencer that helped launch the “psychedelic era” of the Austin music scene. “Take me to the Mountains” and “Ebeneezer” are but two sentinels of what was coming to ATX
can’t argue Top 5 and top 10 even but the Armadillo World Headquarters Days(70-80) were just so important to Austin and the music scene and therefore Greezy Wheels is ranked too low and Steam Heat/Extreme Heat)should definitely be on that list lasting 50 years together I think anyways
I’m familiar with more bands on the list than I expected to be, and will seek out the ones that I haven’t heard of. For what it’s worth, I agree that Spoon could easily head the list.
Every band on this list that played during the 80's is the sound track of my early adulthood.
Not sure who I'd kick off the list, but I would have been compelled to get someone from the Joe/Steve Doerr/Don Leady axis - LeRoi Brothers probably, though the Tail Gators and all of Joe's bands (Ballad Shambles, Hand of Glory, Churchwood) are exemplary, as well. Of course, Mike Buck and Keith Ferguson (T-Birds) were both LeRoi Brothers at one time or another, so maybe that counts. Or, maybe just pick Big Guitars Of Texas and get the whole incestuous town....
I really do miss Asleep at the Wheel, one of the most iconic bands, residing out of Austin!