Antone’s 50th Anniversary SXSW Showcase Celebrates History of Texas Blues
A rich sense of history lingers on every wall of Antone’s, Austin’s legendary blues nightclub. From a 30-foot-long triptych of blues legend Muddy Waters, to a poster of their first anniversary showcase in 1976 of legendary musicians. On the opposite wall, a yellowed poster advertises Antone’s second anniversary, featuring a performance from the king and originator of zydeco, Clifton Chenier.
Nearly five decades later, Chenier’s son, CJ Chenier, continues that legacy. The accordionist performed at Antone’s to celebrate his 21st birthday in 1978. This year, he returned to stage with the Louisiana Hot Band as part of the venue’s 50th anniversary SXSW showcase, one of many celebrations commemorating the milestone.
“I’m not quitting in 10 minutes ladies and gentleman – I’m not quitting in 10 minutes,” Chenier said. His set time was almost up but the audience was not ready to stop the party.
With the pearl keys of his Baldoni accordion, he commanded the frenzied crowd, who, for his final song, chimed in on the chorus of a zydeco-infused rendition of Bob Marley’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”
People come to clubs like Antone’s to be entertained and put distance between themselves and the outside world. But this year’s SXSW carried an undertone of political tension and a nervous uncertainty.
On stage, though, Chenier unified people under one chorus and excised that anxious energy.
His performance was church. And he was only the opening act.
“Clifford’s vision was to celebrate the people that didn’t get their flowers,” said Sam Boland, Antone’s retail and brand manager.
When Clifford Antone opened the venue in 1975, it quickly became one of the biggest and best nightclubs in America at the time, hosting legends like B.B. King and Jimmy Reed.
According to Boland, blues musicians are the roots of modern American music. “[They are the] people who built the foundation of what would become rock n’ roll and funk – and then funk turns into hiphop… So many people just don’t get enough credit.”.
The night’s lineup continued with Suzanne Santo, John Primer, and Ian Moore, who all have a special connection to Antone's nightclub.
Suzanne Santo
Suzanne Santo recently moved from Los Angeles to Austin. She blends multiple genres, but ultimately lands on gritty and heartful Americana. Santo's set followed CJ Chenier’s southern roots music, and set a precedent for authentic, high energy soul for the night. You could see her violin’s bow hairs breaking, trying to keep up with her energy.
John Primer
John Primer carries the torch of Chicago blues, a sound that defines Antone’s. A former guitaist for Muddy Waters, he was inducted into the Chicago Blues hall of fame in 2017. You can see him playing with Muddy Waters in a legendary 1981 performance where blues met rock with the Rolling Stones.
Primer became the connection between Texas and Chicago blues, opening doors for many other artists. The musician gave Antone’s a roadway for Texans to meet their blues heroes.
Ian Moore
Ian Moore belongs to a generation of artists who grew from musicians like Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson and Jimmie Vaughan. He blends rock ‘n’ roll with blues in his long form solos and gritty vocals.
“I had so much respect for [the blues],” Moore said in an Instagram message, “I was a young Austin kid and had all these other influences that were also in my music. I remember being really torn because I wanted to show my respect to the beauty and depth of the music but I also had to do my own thing.”
Moore grew up playing at Antone’s, and his 50th anniversary performance felt like a homecoming. Halfway through the set he paid tribute to venue founder Clifford Antone with Muddy Water’s song “Champagne and Reefer.” He joked that Antone’s would try to cut the rock ‘n’ roll out of his playing, but he managed to spin rock in anyways.
The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Bouderaux Jr
Closing out the night was New Orleans band The Rumble, who rounded off the showcase with the roots music that Antone’s is known for blending together.
Clifford Antone grew up in Port Arthur, Texas along the Louisiana border and was known to road-trip across the South’s various juke joints. The Rumble is unmistakably a Louisiana band that blends tradition and innovation through funk.
Their Grammy-nominated album, Stories from the Battlefield, brings the past, present and future of Mardi Gras to our ears.
The nightclub is celebrating its 50th anniversary all year long with special events including the Austin Blues Festival and New York City’s Lincoln Center Summer for the City. Their largest effort may be curating their artifact collection for their very own museum.Their collection includes instruments, Clifford’s personal items, performers’ outfits and historical documents.
“There are 50 years worth of posters and hats and harmonicas, amplifiers, organs and boxes. It’s actually been hard to boil down,” Boland said.
Although plans aren’t final, the museum may rotate items between seasons to share different eras of Antone’s story.
A special performance will be held on July 15, exactly 50 years after the first show in 1975. It will showcase artists that are part of Antone’s history and future.
“This is what we’ve done and we’re gonna keep doing it,” Boland said.