Music history is full of legendary performers, but the places that shaped them often go unrecognized. Sure, some venues are celebrated for their physical beauty or acoustics—think Red Rocks—but the true lifeblood of music is in the clubs. These are the rooms where artists learn their craft, fail and recover, and refine their sound in front of live audiences. They’re also classrooms of sorts, where younger players can stand in the shadows of seasoned masters and pick up lessons no formal training could provide.
For the past fifty years, no club has embodied that role more than Antone’s in Austin, Texas. Founded by Clifford Antone, the venue quickly became a cornerstone of the blues. Night after night, it brought titans like Muddy Waters and B.B. King into its orbit, while also welcoming artists ranging from Zydeco king Clifton Chenier to country legend Willie Nelson. At the same time, it was a proving ground for local talent, launching the careers of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and more recently Gary Clark Jr. Few music clubs last long enough to see generations of musicians grace their stage, but Antone’s has done just that, solidifying its place in music history.
This year, Antone’s is marking its 50th anniversary with a celebration befitting its legacy. Antone’s: 50 Years Of The Blues—a five-disc, 41-track collection—was released last week, showcasing the breadth of music that has flowed through the club. The set includes newly recorded contributions from Bobby Rush and Los Lobos, archival studio cuts from Marcia Ball, Doug Sahm, and Lazy Lester, and electrifying live performances from Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr., Otis Rush, and others. It’s a living document of the sounds nurtured within the club’s walls, a reminder that behind every great artist there’s often a great stage that gave them room to grow.
As part of their celebration, they took the show on the road for an electrifying evening at Lincoln Center in NYC earlier this summer. With a cavalcade of Antone’s artists — in the spirit of the 1950s musician caravan tours — the stage became a nonstop parade of blues, zydeco, and soul, turning the night into one hell of a party.
Here are four moments from that show. First, of course, was the finale led by Jimmie Vaughan and Big Bill Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters), which featured the full lineup of the evening’s artists on a rousing “Got My Mojo Working.” Next is a two-fer from guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, followed by the zydeco stylings of C.J. Chenier (with Sue Foley on guitar). We bring it full circle to close with John Primer, a long-time member of Muddy Waters’ Legendary Blues Band.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.