We’re all out there soaking in the musical riches. Here’s the ones that stood out for us in 2024.
Jack Anderson, Song of the Day producer
Megadeth at COTA
The Big Four of thrash metal includes Anthrax and Slayer, but it usually comes down to Metallica versus Megadeth. I love both, but I was a bit of a Megadeth purist in high school. Finally getting to see Dave Mustaine shred in person was a dream come true. And with a setlist full of cuts off of Rust in Peace, Cryptic Writings, Countdown to Extinction, and Peace Sells, I was one happy camper.
Diego Artea, KUTX intern
KUTX Live at Scholz Garten
Helping out during KUTX Live at Scholz Garten was, hands down, my favorite music moment of the year. Seeing everyone come together to celebrate music and community was very heartwarming. I didn’t even mind waking up early. I discovered some excellent artists and was blown away by the talent that performed those mornings. Plus, we raised thousands of dollars for the Central Texas Food Bank!
Maile Carballo, KUT/X graphics producer
Ringo Starr & His All Star Band at ACL Live
Ringo + Colin Hay + 5 ft in front of me = the closest thing to a mind explosion I’ve ever experienced. Not to mention the rockin’ on-stage chemistry between them and the great Hamish Stuart (Average White Band), Steve Lukather (Toto), and the multi-talented Warren Ham (Kansas & Toto). If you would’ve told lil’ 8 year old Maile that I would get to sing along to “Yellow Submarine” in the same room as Ringo Starr someday, I might’ve actually exploded. Thankfully I didn’t, but I may have shed a few tears of gratitude.
Susan Castle, host
Cyndi Lauper at Moody Center
After an outstanding meal at Este, attended Cyndi Lauper’s farewell tour stop at the Moody Center with my darling Genzennial. I told her we could leave at any point if she had her fill, but we stayed for the entire show cuz, you know, girls really do just wanna have fun! We had a BLAST!!!
Marnie Castor, host
LCD Soundsystem at the Hollywood Palladium
I went to see LCD Soundsystem on the last night of their eight-night residency (Nov. 10) at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. They played during a time when we all needed to sing and dance en masse with reckless abandon, and when they turned the lights up during the show and we all fed off of each other’s joy and love of music. It was unifying and powerful. One nation under a groove.
Bill Childs – host, “SpareThe Rock, Spoil the Child”
Soul Coughing Reunion Tour
In the spring of 1996, less than a year into living in Austin, I got to see Soul Coughing at SXSW on a bill with Cake (sensible so far), Jack Ingram (okay?), and, of all people, Carl Perkins. Soul Coughing was tight, funny, inventive, and just fun — and I assumed plenty more shows were to come. Then they broke up, in emphatic fashion, and it seemed clear that they were never to reunite. Until 2024. They’re still tight, funny, inventive, and fun. I don’t know if there’s anything more to come from them, but to get to that show, knowing it wasn’t one of many more, was special.
Jody Denberg, former host
Bob Dylan at ACL LIVE, April 6, 2024
I had already seen Bob Dylan once on his “Rough And Rowdy Ways” trek and loved it, but I wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming brilliance of THIS performance, the final of his tour. Add Jimmie Vaughan playing guitar into the mix for most of the evening and it was an unforgettable show. This was more than a concert, it was a singular life experience. Like every grain of sand.
V. Marc Fort, host
Superchunk at Radio East
This one’s easy: Finding myself flowing and levitating at Radio East (along with 500-ish other Austinites) as Chapel Hill indie rock legends Superchunk pulverized the audience with an inspired cover of Dead Moon’s “Fire In The Western World.” The anthemic garage/punk cover hit different during the band’s tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album Foolish, which landed in Austin just a few days before the 2024 election.
Jacquie Fuller – assistant program director
Spoon at Longhorn City Limits
Not only was it fun to see a former KVRX DJ headline the big game, but it was a final chance to see departing member Gerardo Larios (plucked from Hard Proof in 2017) shred with the band.
Laurie Gallardo, host
Jack White at The Mohawk
Master shredder Jack was going nonstop as each track bled into another, his multiple axe cache at the ready whenever it struck him. Was there enough room on the Mohawk’s stage for this gigantic energy? Jack handled it like a pro and seemed to love every minute of the intimate setting. Added bonus: Local artist Jonathan Terrell procured blackmail video footage of yours truly actually smiling at this surprise show. It was that amazing!
Deidre Gott, assistant program director
Camera Obscura at Studio 1a
My main responsibility at KUTX is booking the Studio 1A sessions, behind the scenes is where I’m most comfortable. But when Scottish twee pop band Camera Obscura announced their first album and tour in almost 10 years, I mustered all my courage and took over hosting duties. When I dropped a certain memory of an event that took place at their 2006 Emo’s show, the band was so tickled, they repeated my story and gave me a shout out from the Scoot Inn stage that evening. My life is now complete.
Art Levy, MY KUTX producer
American Analog Set at the Long Center
I had the absolute honor of getting to introduce the American Analog Set’s first return to the stage in almost two decades. The Austin band played a 90 minute set of low-key classics to an adoring crowd. AmAnSet songs are subtle things, propelled by intricate bass lines, vibraphone, and Andrew Kenny’s knack for beautiful melodies. Hearing it all in a great sounding room was a real Austin treat.
Alex Marrero, host, “Horizontes”
Angélica Garcia at the State Theater
As a working musician, I’m blessed to have many amazing musical experiences. Garcia was the featured guest on one of the “Laboratorio” concert series shows led by Carrie Rodriguez, which happen a few times a year. The band was practicing “Color de Dolor” as Angélica walked in the rehearsal room for the first time. She couldn’t contain her emotions and cried on the spot. She had created and lived with those songs, strictly on the computer. Hearing the music come to life for the very first time moved her tremendously. Seeing that joy in her eyes was so beautiful. It was an amazing moment which serves as an important reminder as things move further into the unknown realms of advancing technology: nothing can or will ever replace the heart and soul of our (very necessary) humanity.
Jeff McCord, music editor, host “What’s Next”
Laurie Anderson at Big Ears/ Third Mind in Studio 1A
A tie between the unexpected triumphant pairing of Laurie Anderson and the NYC jazz outfit Sex Mob at the Big Ears festival, and the Studio 1A appearance of the psychedelic improv group The Third Mind. Both equally mind-blowing.
Rick McNulty, music director, host
Leon Bridges at the Continental Club
I caught Leon Bridges on the first night of his shows at the Continental in October. The band was stellar and Leon was churning out an endless stream of great songs that were so tight, I never deemed any one of them worthy of a bathroom break–which would have been impossible anyway since the joint was packed to the gills.
Elizabeth McQueen, podcast manager
Chappelle Roan at ACL Fest
I got to see Chappelle Roan perform both weekends of ACL Fest, once with my daughter and once with my son. Both sets were incredible – the enormous crowd was so excited and into it. Singing all those lyrics at the top of my lungs with my kids and their friends and my friends and tens of thousands of other people was an experience I’ll hold with me forever.
Jake Perlman, engineer
The Jesus Lizard at the Far Out Lounge
I got to see The Jesus Lizard one more (last?) time at the Far Out during Levitation Fest. The very day the missus and I moved to Austin in 1996, we heard that The Jesus Lizard were playing a place called Liberty Lunch. We were unfamiliar with Austin and had no idea what Liberty Lunch could be, but we knew The Jesus Lizard – one of our favorite bands. It seemed impossible, but the energy at the Far Out this time around was so close to what I remember rumbling around Liberty Lunch almost 30 years ago. The Jesus Lizard are one of the greatest live rock bands of my lifetime, and I’m so thankful that they’ve given folks another chance (or 2?) to see what they’re about.
Trina Quinn, host
Kassa Overall at KUTX Live at Scholz Garten
I wish everyone I love in the world could have experienced this show with me. It was uplifting. They put on an exciting, high-energy show and I swear – everyone there jumped in their merch line afterwards. They signed records and took pictures with everyone — including KUTX staff. Super sweet, fun, fantastic, feel-good musical moment.
Soundfounder, host
Kamasi Washington interview
One of the my highlights of the year was getting to interview Kamasi Washington again just before his new album came out. The record features Andre 3000, George Clinton and many more, so getting to talk to him about all that was such a treat. He’s such a nice, humble guy and an incredible artist. What an honor!
Jay Trachtenberg, host “Sunday Morning Jazz”
Billy Harper at the State Theatre
Seeing a master of spiritual jazz, Texas tenor sax man Billy Harper and his quintet with trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, launch into the musical stratosphere at their State Theatre concert.
Taylor Wallace-Riegel, host
The Return of the SNL Digital Short (“Sushi Glory Hole”)
Even with it being SNL’s 50th anniversary, I did not foresee getting a new SNL Digital Short right off the bat. “Sushi Glory Hole” is a tour de force return. Shot as a Shark Tank-like pitch with Andy Samburg and Akiva Shaffer dressed like Gordon Gekko, they dive-in to a signature Lonely-Island-style rap about a simple idear: Sushi. Being. Fed. Through. A Hole. In. the wall. Ridiculous lines like, “can’t being eating omakase in the middle of the street,” and “no gimmicky roles, just strictly nigiri coming out of the holes,” are both new classics and a warp back to my college years. Truly, this is the musical moment that brought me the most joy in 2024.
Ryan Wen, producer, host
Helado Negro in Studio 1A
Watching Roberto Carlos Lange (Helado Negro) dance during his performance in Studio 1A. The man has moves.
