How to Take a Music-Themed Day Tour of Austin

Austin claims the title of 'Live Music Capital of the World' because there are said to be more live music venues per capita than anywhere in the world. Beyond the club doors, the influence of local music and musicians is felt throughout the city. If you've got 24 hours in this Central Texas town and you're a music fan, here's your itinerary.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Cab fare or car rental
• Austin map
• $200 including hotel costs
• iPod

1. Start your morning with breakfast at Las Manita's on Congress.
   
   This Mexican restaurant is favorite of musicians like Joe Ely and James McMurtry as well as state politicians.
2. Next stop, head south on Congress and do a lap around the downtown portion of Town Lake.
   
   Make sure to stop at the Stevie Ray Vaughan bronze statue near the Riverside Drive intersection.
3. Buy local records at Waterloo on Lamar Blvd.
   
   Opened in 1982, this mecca for music fans once had Alejandro Escovedo working behind the counter and still holds Austin songwriter Bob Schneider as its best-selling artist. Look for the in-store performances (Nirvana to Sheryl Crow), especially during South by Southwest.
4. Head north to 21st Street and Guadalupe to view the 'Jeremiah the Frog' graffiti/mural on the side of the corner building.
   
   The 'Hi, How Are You?' image, done by eccentric local musician Daniel Johnston, gained national attention when Kurt Cobain wore it on a t-shirt at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Ownership of the building has changed over the years, but the graffiti has remained.
5. Drive to Threadgill's World Headquarters on Riverside for late lunch/early dinnner.
   
   This is not the original location that played host to Janis Joplin's early open-mic jam sessions. That location remains north of town on Lamar. The second location carries on the traditions and contains photos from the early days as well as photos from the gone-but-not-forgotten Amardillo World Headquarters music venue, from which it takes its name. The Riverside location sits on the former site of the famed venue. During the '70s, the Amardillo spawned the Cosmic Cowboy-era that welcomed hippies and cowboys equally. This set the stage for today's 'alt-country.'
   
   Recommended dish: the Chicken Fried Steak platter.
6. The night is up to you. There's music on every corner. For punk, head down to Emo's on Sixth and for blues, stop in at Antone's. Other live music standouts include Stubb's (alt-country, indie), the Continental Club (alt-country, rockabilly) and the Cactus Cafe (singer-songwriters).
7. Tuck yourself in at the Austin Motel.
   
   This South Congress motel is known as much for its phallic-looking neon sign as for being an affordable place for musicians to stay. The motel has been named-checked in many songs including Richard Buckner's "Lucky Buzz."

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to the locals. Austinites love to talk about their music.
• Spend time putting together a soundtrack of Austin musicians for your trip. Suggested inclusions: Spoon, Willie Nelson, Bob Scheider, Butthole Surfers, Daniel Johnston and Kelly Willis.
• If you've got the time, head to Barton Springs for a quick dip in this natural pool.
• Tune your radio to KGSR (107.1). It's known for playing local musicians.
• Plan your trip around one of the two biggest festivals of the year, South by Southwest (spring) and the Austin City Limits music festival (fall).
• It gets hot. The best time to travel to Austin is in early spring or late fall.