Live music cities?

O

Orchidflower

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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Mar 10, 2007
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I love live music, but can only think of three cities that are known for it in America: Austin, Texas (rock, country, little of everything); Nashville, Tennessee (country mainly, I think); and Memphis, Tennessee (blues).
Are there any other well known cities that have a ton of live music venues out there than I am missing?:confused:
What's with Tennessee? Note that they have TWO cities devoted to live music? If their darn taxes overall didn't add up to so much.....(dreaming)
 
What about Detroit. O0 or New Orleans

I thought Tennessee overall tax bite was pretty good.
 
Pretty much any big city. LA, New Orleans, New York, Bay Area, Chicago--even Seattle has a lot. The cities you mentioned have very successfully commercialized a "brand", but very good live music is all over. Also, often their is a purely local high quality scene that is much more LBYM friendly than places that draw a lot of tourists.

If you like jazz or funk give New Orleans a shot.

Ha
 
When I have lived in Chicago that city did get many really up and comers there, so I was able to see many before they really hit it big...and saw them for cheap, also.
Houston, however, has zip in music really. Why go to Houston when Austin is only a few hours away and a Music Capital to boot.
Just investigating cities with great live music venues is all. I'd love to be in or near one.
 
Orchidflower,

Yep. Athens is loaded. People come from everywhere to become part of the live music scene in a host of venues, from bars to several performance halls. The biggest is contemporary rock music of course, as REM, B-52's and Indigo Girls started here as Trek mentioned. But there's bluegrass, country, opera, (Going to see La Traviata next month), blues, big name singers, talent nights etc. And that doesn't include the University of Georgia performances with classical guest performers from around the world, UGA student performances and community choral groups. I've played or sung with quite a few different groups myself through the years, and I'll probably expand my participation and viewing as I begin to get a little more time in the evenings. And with roughly 100,000 population, which includes the 35000 students, the size is about right.
 
Tennessee State income tax, for me since my main tax would be on investments, coupled with their high sales tax, made Tennessee pretty high compared to (yes..) Texas. It seems when you have interest and dividends taxed--unless someone can give me a wonderful way to get around it and still make money--I get nailed, and find I am ultimately better off in one of the 5 no State tax States. Sigh..
My friend from Augusta always told me Georgia was cheap to live in, and I know that Athens rates high on many studies--especially for retirees--to live in. Must check that one out, also.
Boy! When I am thru with my duties here...this gal is going to travel alot and see all these neat places!;)
 
Orchidflower said:
Houston, however, has zip in music really. Why go to Houston when Austin is only a few hours away and a Music Capital to boot.
Click to expand...

Houston has great blues clubs, Zydeco clubs, and plenty of salsa. You may not comfortable in many of the places though.

Ha
 
as metioned prev. Los angeles is very good for live music.
lots of small places with great diverse music. lot's of world music
too which many other cities sometimes lack.
 
Orchidflower said:
Tennessee State income tax, for me since my main tax would be on investments, coupled with their high sales tax, made Tennessee pretty high compared to (yes..) Texas. It seems when you have interest and dividends taxed--unless someone can give me a wonderful way to get around it and still make money--I get nailed, and find I am ultimately better off in one of the 5 no State tax States. Sigh..
My friend from Augusta always told me Georgia was cheap to live in, and I know that Athens rates high on many studies--especially for retirees--to live in. Must check that one out, also.
Boy! When I am thru with my duties here...this gal is going to travel alot and see all these neat places!;)
Click to expand...

I see. We have very little taxable investments so I didnt consider that angle. Tenn and MO are on our to see lists for future retirement areas.
 
My gosh, haha, where did you find any good music in Houston? I was there 22 years and went to various venues, but the quality of the music was sub-par. I have no idea what you are talking about, but maybe you know some secrets I don't? I never found anything to brag about in 22 years that I could go to on any regular basis and listen to good music in Houston. I guess what I am tactfully trying to say is, "WTF are you talking about?":rolleyes:
And now that I am too old to do anything about it, I find that I would have been much better off in retirement if I didn't have investments but had a pension instead. Too late now...
 
Lincoln Center?

Carnegie Hall?

heck, CBGBs? (back in the day)

We've got some of that live music here in NYC!
 
Well, that's encouraging, martyb. I KNOW Austin has alot of top acts that haven't quite made it to the bigtime, so you can see them cheaper. But I may be the only silver haired old lady rocking out with the U. of Texas students there...but, what the heck!
I have always heard L.A. had the BEST music ever. I think the musicians who want to really hit the bigtime head there when they feel ready. Lucky people in L.A., eh?
And, yes, I concede on Houston having bad music on one issue: Tejano and Salsa are tops there.
 
Denver looked good the couple of times I went out there. Lots of venues
I DREAM of going to Austin. Memphis and Nashville are truly awesome!
There are some good venues in Charlotte NC and Asheville NC--really supportive communities for good live music.

I can say with authority that there is nowhere in South Carolina to regularly hear good live music. :(
 
Try Portland oregon of all places.

Home of:
Custis Salgado-------------------blues
Paul deLay (now deceased)-------blues
Pink Martini----------------------eclectic vocal/piano/combo group
Michael Allan Harrison------------new age pop
 
Well,

Over the last 20+ years in Houston I can think of several clubs that had excellent music( blues and roots rock): Rockefellers; Satellite Lounge; Club Hey Hey; Big Easy; Continental Club; Mucky Duck; Fitzgeralds; Bon Ton Room; Verizon Theatre(recent); and I'm sure I'm forgetting several...that is if you like Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Ely, Earl Gilliam, Delbert McLinton, Dave Alvin, Toni Price, Zappa Plays Zappa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Leo Kottke, Neville Brothers, etc. not to mention Springsteen, Stones, Hendrix( ok, the last two were in the late 60's, early 70's when I was in High School and College) and many others.

Granted, the Houston music scene is not what it used to be in the 80's and 90's, but there are some nuggets out there if you are willing to search.
 
Rockefellers' owner was a friend of mine, and, yes, the went out of business unless they have opened again?
But, let's be realistic here: If you were a good musician trying to get to the top, where would you play? Houston or Austin, which is what? 2-1/2 hours or so away--where there are TOP agents and producers scouting around.
God bless you loyal Houstonians/Texans...
 
loosehead said:
Well,

Over the last 20+ years in Houston I can think of several clubs that had excellent music( blues and roots rock): Rockefellers; Satellite Lounge; Club Hey Hey; Big Easy; Continental Club; Mucky Duck; Fitzgeralds; Bon Ton Room; Verizon Theatre(recent); and I'm sure I'm forgetting several...that is if you like Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Ely, Earl Gilliam, Delbert McLinton, Dave Alvin, Toni Price, Zappa Plays Zappa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Leo Kottke, Neville Brothers, etc. not to mention Springsteen, Stones, Hendrix( ok, the last two were in the late 60's, early 70's when I was in High School and College) and many others.

Granted, the Houston music scene is not what it used to be in the 80's and 90's, but there are some nuggets out there if you are willing to search.
Click to expand...

I love to watch Leo Kottke! I've got some videos around here somewhere......... There's a cool statue of Stevie Ray Vaughn in Zilker Park in Austin. Austin City Limits......what can I say?
 
loosehead said:
Well,

Over the last 20+ years in Houston I can think of several clubs that had excellent music( blues and roots rock): Rockefellers; Satellite Lounge; Club Hey Hey; Big Easy; Continental Club; Mucky Duck; Fitzgeralds; Bon Ton Room; Verizon Theatre(recent); and I'm sure I'm forgetting several...that is if you like Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Ely, Earl Gilliam, Delbert McLinton, Dave Alvin, Toni Price, Zappa Plays Zappa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Leo Kottke, Neville Brothers, etc. not to mention Springsteen, Stones, Hendrix( ok, the last two were in the late 60's, early 70's when I was in High School and College) and many others.

Granted, the Houston music scene is not what it used to be in the 80's and 90's, but there are some nuggets out there if you are willing to search.
Click to expand...


Yeah, but they don't have the Austin Lounge Lizards or the Geezinslaw Bros.! :D
 
Stevie Ray Vaughn was a God. We should have lots of statues of him, I think. I have every CD he ever made and play them in the car daily. The best ugly blues guy ever.
 
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