Austin Music
- You gotta respect the Bad Livers, a cutting-edge bluegrass band that used to perform no-holds-barred live sets. Regrettably dormant, though Danny and Mark are still playing out (and all over this Internet thing).
- The Butthole Surfers make disturbing, good music (and they just released their first album in years).
- Big Boys! Skate tough or go home!
- Roky Erickson is a bizarre and gifted fellow with a tragic history.
- Same goes for Daniel Johnston.
- Do you get the blues? Jimmie Vaughan nails 'em with soul.
- Double Trouble proves that the beat goes on.
- Willie Nelson makes Austin proud, whatever kind of music he's making at any given point in time.
- Just as soon as they get a page together, CauHaus will be linked from here.
- For more info, check the Austin Chronicle, Austin Band Web Sites, and the Austin Music Network.
Texas Music
- Internationally famous polka masters (and longtime dance-fuelers extraordinaire) Brave Combo deserves your consideration.
- Also hailing from Denton, Little Jack Melody and His Young Turks can stir up your head with solid musicality and freaky arrangements.
- Rev. Horton Heat gives a whale of a performance every time and has put out a number of fine albums of Gretsch-grinding twang. (Bonus points for excellent "Hello Walls" with Willie Nelson on Twisted Willie.)
- The Judy's are gone, but not forgotten.
- Joe Ely is the best known of the Lubbock mafia, and second only to Buddy Holly for putting the Hub City on the musical map. I hear it's a nice place to be from.
- A couple of Joe's old bandmates also merit your attention: Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. Put 'em all back together again and they make the Flatlanders (reunited).
- While you're at it, check out Steven Fromholz. You might've heard Lyle Lovett doing some of his tunes. (Hell, might as well plug Robert Earl Keen, Jr., while I'm at it.)
- He spends most of his time writing murder mysteries these days, but Kinky Friedman is an important source of bent Texas music and humor. His record label is linked over on my "Sell Music" page. His cigar brand is here (no lie!).
- And you can't forget that little ol' band from Texas.
Music Out There
- From just over the Red River, you get the wonderful weirdness of the Flaming Lips.
- Worldwide Punk has some promising links.
- World Boogie is coming!
- The Future Sound of London site is as obtuse and rewarding as the group's music.
- Coarser but closer to the heart, it's Tom Waits.
- Into the Purple Valley with Ry Cooder. (Euro mirror of sorts)
- Ride along with the moped mamas: Hello BETTY!
- One of the slickest music sites I've seen is the one put on by Thomas Dolby.
- Ease into a deeper groove with Morphine: low music, sans guitar. (R.I.P., Mark.)
- Los Lobos and Santana bring Latin rhythm and spirit to popular modern music. If you ever get a chance to see either live, jump to it!
- If you'd like to take a lively step further from the mainstream, give a listen to Tuatara. [This site at their record label is half-dead, but the photos still worked, last I looked.]
- One of the best shows I've seen was Primus opening for Fishbone. Or Don Walser, then the Bad Livers, then the Butthole Surfers. Or heck, back in 1991 you could see a tour by Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And that's not even considering all those great old T-Bird Riverfests. The world needs more of these inspired line-ups!
- Best use of the Internet by a self-powered band: Poster Children. Visit frequently, cos Rose can't keep her hands off it.
- It's it. What is it? [And who's he?]
- Negativland represents the joy of the random. And that gets them in trouble with people in high and mighty places sometimes. I guess that's