by Atlas Cage
ACL Live at the Moody Theater:
The first band I ever saw here was Cypress Hill. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house. It is a state-of-the-art, 2,750-person capacity live music venue that hosts approximately 100 concerts a year (one of my absolute favorites being Primus and the Chocolate Factory!)
Stubbs BBQ:
Stubbs is a huge outdoor venue with two stages! I remember going there to see the rock band Clutch and the entire lot was packed with people. And to be honest, the BBQ is pretty great too.
Elysium:
Elysium is a combination of a steampunk vibe and gothic aesthetic. It opens late and runs even later and is home to so many burlesque acts and industrial bands. This was one of my weekly hangouts for a while when I first moved to Austin.
Emo’s:
Emo’s (formerly known as The Back Room) brings in some of the biggest names in music but at a ticket price of a local show. I remember seeing bands like The Sword, Bonobo, and Tech n9ne back in the day and being blown away by how much production they put into their shows.
Buzzmill:
https://www.buzzmillcoffee.com/
Buzzmill’s motto is – “Buzz Mill is a community driven brand. That strives to improve our Neighborwoods a little at a time. Making sure to build it to last.” They are always putting on great local bands and hosting events like trivia and movie nights as well.
Come and Take It:
https://www.comeandtakeitproductions.com/
Two words. Mac. Sabbath. This place has some of the most interesting acts from regional, local, and national bands! Mac Sabbath was one of my first shows there and it was amazing (look them up).
Empire Control Room:
I was sitting at the bar one night before a show and this guy came up trying to buy a drink, but doors had just opened and they were not selling yet. He sat down on the stool next to me and said, “What’s up man?” It was none other than Bus Driver, the musician everyone was there to see that night! Empire has an eclectic mix of shows and events most nights of the week.
The Elephant Room:
The Elephant Room is one of my favorite hidden gems in Austin. It’s in an underground (literally) jazz bar. Great atmosphere and one of the only places you can hear Miles Davis tributes live.
Antone’s:
https://www.antonesnightclub.com/
Antone’s is one of the best blues spots in town. I never had the pleasure of going when it was still located on 6th street (which I hear were good times) but honestly, I love the 5th street version just the same. I hear that it is partially owned by Austin’s own Gary Clark, Jr.
Mohawk:
The first thing on Mohawk’s About page is, “The longevity and success of Mohawk isn’t a consequence of a sound business plan, it’s because everyone involved — the owners, investors, managers, employees, bands, bookers, fans — has a vested interested in building something real and authentic with all the heartbreak and joy that goes along with it.” This venue has a great mix of local and national bands and even hosts events like Pro Wrestling (and you know how I feel about wrestling).
Atlas is a multi-instrumentalist and producer, known for bands such as Strings Of Atlas, Chords Of Eve, Mnemonic Frequency, and more. Residing in the live music capital of the world, Austin, TX, he is an avid musician and founder of the Indie Record Label Sky Titan Media.