ANTONE'S #1 AUSTIN, TX LIVE MUSIC CLUB

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ANTONE'S is a Legend of the
Austin Live Music Scene

#1 Austin Live Music Club

Antone's, home of the blues in Austin, Texas

I've spent many happy hours at Antone's. Seen
many great Austin concerts here. Photo/Stephen Witherden

There would be no Sixth Street without this club. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lou Ann Barton and many others may not have achieved their level of success without it.

The contribution to Austin's live music scene cannot be underestimated. Of all the Austin clubs that sprang up during Austin's golden age of music, only the Continental, Threadgill's, Broken Spoke and this one still exist.

The Armadillo World Headquarters, Vulcan Gas Co., Soap Creek Saloon, Raul's, Liberty Lunch, Austin Opera House -- are all but a memory.

My vote for best blues club on the planet and the best of all Austin clubs.

Austin blues and Clifford Antone are synonymous. One and the same. When Clifford opened the first version of Antone's on Sixth Street he introduced Austin audiences to the likes of Jimmy Reed, Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Albert and BB King.

The bottom line is simple. This is the best place in Austin to see the best talent that comes to Austin. An absolute must for any visiting music fan.

Medium size room without a bad seat in the house. Great stage, sound and lights. Professional friendly staff. Good bar with reasonable prices considering the off the meter level of talent they consistently book.

My husband has a life long crush on the Go-Go's drummer Gina Shock. He says, “she's a human metronome - most underrated drummer to ever sit behind a kit.”

We were fortunate to catch the Go-Go's show here. A perfect night. What a place. As RD drooled over Ms. Shock, I couldn't help but think of all the special evenings I've enjoyed at the various incarnations of this Austin live music landmark.

The early days at the Sixth Street location were 100% genuine blues. A rough minimalistic cavern. The music was raw, honest and emotional.

I also spent many enjoyable evenings at the old Shakey's Pizza location on Guadalupe. I saw John Lee Hooker and Albert Collins there.

The new location is more comfortable and a better place to see music. However, and I can't emphasize this enough, Clifford IS Antone's.

RD had spoken to Clifford on many occasions at the original club location. Mostly about Maxwell Street in Chicago. Clifford wanted to know everything about Chicago blues. He always stopped what he was doing to come over and talk blues and ask how we were doing. He was genuinely interested in anyone who was interested in the blues.

Clifford use to sit by the stage with his shirttail hanging out during the performances of the blues legends he booked. I'll never forget his wide eyed child like admiration of his hero's.

Today this place is more than an Austin blues club. It's a living monument to one of the best our species has produced. A man that will not come our way again anytime soon.

Austin would not be the Live Music Capitol of the World had it not been for Clifford's love of the blues or Austin's love for Clifford.

This is the best in the city. Great tradition of Austin concerts here. Take it to the bank.

AUSTIN TRAVEL TIP: Antone's Records is located across the street from the the former Antone's location (the old Shakey's Pizza). Eat lunch at Ruby's BBQ, one of Clifford's favorites, then walk across the street and visit Antone's Records. Where vinyl is still king and those hard to find, cut-out blues albums pack the record racks. Clifford's favorite table at Ruby's is by the door under the Los Lobos poster. The walls of Ruby's are adorned with photographs taken by Susan Antone (Clifford's sister), a living photo history of the club. This is something you don't want to miss when you visit Austin.

Go-Go's perform at Antone's