Top 5 Austin Music Venues

1. Mohawk –  The king of the Red River scene, the Mohawk has been the hippest spot in Austin to catch live music since it opened 7 years ago.  Although it has been threatened to be shut down recently because of noise complaints from the irrational, asshole residents of Red River, it still allows for an unbelievable outdoor show.  The indoor stage at the Mohawk is even better than the outside and allows up-and-coming bands to play intimate shows for 150 people.  Yeah, the staff there can be a bit douchey but as far as witnessing great live music, the Mohawk is still king.

Best Shows I’ve Seen: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Twin Sister

2. Parish – Shrouded in the debauchery of Dirty 6th street, the Parish has a small club’s ambience with plenty of room to host big music showcases.  Doug Guller, owner of Bikini’s restaurants and numerous other Austin ventures, has created something specialwith the Parish, which is an equal blend of national touring acts, and some of Austin’s premier local groups. The space is an ideal place for dance parties to break out and its juxtaposition to the busiest street in Austin makes each show that much more exciting.

Best Shows I’ve Seen: Class Actress, Sip Sip

3. Moody Theater – Home to the longest running music program in television history, the ACL Live music series, the Moody Theater finds itself in the highest echelon of Austin venues.  The theater shares a building with the swank W hotel, spends an ungodly amount on show production, and attracts a mixed plethora of accomplished artists.  As the taping is a special occasion , artists will put on phenomenal shows and go deep into their music catalogue in an extra effort to immortalize their night’s performance.

Best Shows I’ve Seen: Deftones, Keane

4. Stubbs – Its only in Austin that you’ll find a music venue that was born out of a famous BBQ restaurant, yet Stubbs holds its own in its capacity to bring in some major acts while still maintaining a down-home atmosphere and maintaining quality production. Some nights it feels like you might be part of a cattle drive but even when the venue is packed like sardines, you still get a decent sound, and a sloped viewing area gives even the shortest of folk, a good glimpse at the performers.

Best Shows I’ve Seen: The Darkness, Tegan and Sara

5. Emos – One of Austin’s vagabond venues that has been prodded out of the downtown area, now resides on East Riverside and has embraced the new space relatively well.  Although it can sometimes almost feel like being in a high school gym, the sound is encompassing, and the front stage is exceptionally wide to allow for more crowd interaction. A weathervane for the gentrification of Austin, Emo’s may have a case of wanderlust but still remains an Austin icon.

Best Shows I’ve Seen: Crystal Castles, Courtney Love