The Best Of 2010...Live Shows In and Around ATX

We say it every year, but it bears repeating. Fuckin' A. What a great year for live music in Austin and the surrounding Hill Country. And We even missed most of SXSW.

We didn't hit up too many of the really huge shows (skipped ACL and the aforementioned SXSW miss due to vacation) but we packed in a boatload of high quality local and smaller touring acts.

Here are some of our favorite shows. Links to the audio of the shows are provided where possible.

Leo Rondeau & Mike & The Moonpies at the Mohawk on 2010.01.01 (Leo's set, Moonpies set)
Scott Miller at the Cactus Cafe on 2010.01.19
Chris Wall at Our House Concert on 2010.01.30
Justin Townes Earle at Stubb's BBQ on 2010.02.04
The Gourds & Otis Gibbs at the Cactus Cafe on 2010.02.19 (the Gourds set, Otis Gibbs' set)
Cory Branan & Tumbledown at the Mohawk on 2010.04.12 (Cory's set, Tumbledown's set)
Roger Alan Wade and Friends at the Mean Eyed Cat on 2010.04.14
The Railbenders at Herman's Hideaway on 2010.04.23
The Gourds at Threadgill's South on 2010.05.28
Mark Jungers and Houston Marchman at Gruene Hall 2010.06.18 (Mark's set, Houston's set)
James Hyland & The Joint Chiefs at the Mean Eyed Cat on 2010.07.10
Shinyribs at the Belmont on 2010.08.03
The Sons Of Bill at Emo's on 2010.08.29
Chris Knight at the Cactus Cafe on 2010.09.18
The Old 97s at the Ghost Room on 2010.10.13
Whitey Morgan and the 78s at Lovejoy's on 2010.10.21
Joe Pug at the Cactus Cafe on 2010.11.06
Various Artists performing the Last Waltz at Club Deville on 2010.11.21
Mike & The Moonpies happy hour run at the Mohawk during September (2010.09.02 & 2010.09.30)

[FairRetailRecordings] #0110 -- Leo Rondeau -- Looking For The Heart Of Saturday Night

#0110

Leo covers Tom Waits! Loved it on the Nighthawks At The Diner record. Loved it again on It's A Good Night For Singing.

Artist: Leo Rondeau

Date: 2010.05.29

Venue: Club DeVille

Track: Looking For The Heart Of Saturday Night

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0063 -- Leo Rondeau -- Loving You Like I Do

#0063

Another one from Leo Rondeau, just 'cause, this time with the band of Mario Matteoli (guitar), Howdy Darrell (bass) and Chris Wallace (drums).

Artist: Leo Rondeau

Date: 2010.01.01

Venue: The Mohawk

Track: Loving Me Like You Do

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

[FairRetailRecordings] #0062 -- Leo Rondeau -- Washed Up Troubadour

#0062

Like Mike and the Moonpies from last week, we'll keep the honky tonk train rolling with Leo Rondeau. Find him solo here from a songswap a few months ago and Friday we'll feature him with his band.

Artist: Leo Rondeau

Date: 2009.11.02

Venue: The Mean Eyed Cat

Track: Washed Up Troubadour

Enjoy. And support your local music scene.

The Best Of 2008...Artist Discoveries

If you're gonna check out any of these folks, make it Dustin Welch, Justin Townes Earle and Joe Pug. They're all kind of at a similar point in their careers where very good things are going to happen for them / to them soon. Make no mistake, all of these artists are worth your time but a few of them don't have records out yet so just be patient and go see them live.

Leo Rondeau (myspace) Country/Folk/Americana
Joe Pug (myspace) Singer/Songwriter
Roger Alan Wade (myspace) Singer/Songwriter moving effortlessly from touching to ribald
A.A. Bondy (myspace) Singer/Songwriter
Tim Hus (site) Canadian Cowboy
American Graveyard (myspace) Alt-Country Rock
Flatcar Rattlers (myspace) large band 21st century bluegrass/jamgrass
Dustin Welch (myspace) high energy Americana Rock
Justin Townes Earle (myspace) Singer/Songwriter with a flare for the nostalgia of the past
The Diesel Kings (myspace) Rockin' Country