It's hard to attach much sentimentality to
halls-for-hire, which are seldom noted for
their personality or warmth. Of notable
exception are places like San Francisco's
Fillmore and, of course, Austin's own
Armadillo World Headquarters. But since
it opened four years ago, the Austin Music
Hall has thrived on a combination of savvy
booking and genuine respect from the
varied audiences that come and go
through its doors. From the whimsical
mural by artist Nathan Jensen that
overlooks the back bar to the wide, easy
viewing of the stage from almost every
vantage point, local music scene veteran
Tim O'Connor and his Direct Events
associates have created a nearly ideal
midsize, 3,000-head, venue for Austin.
The Music Hall has brought in acts from
Bruce Springsteen to Soundgarden, Tori
Amos to Lou Reed, and is home to the
annual Austin Music Awards. The venue's
proximity to Sixth Street, the Fourth Street
bars, Liberty Lunch, the Electric Lounge,
and its sister club La Zona Rosa also
make it a desirable location for touring
acts. O'Connor's Direct Events also
books and manages the Backyard on
Highway 71, and acts that might play the
Music Hall during the summer are likely
to be booked out under the shady trees
outside town. O'Connor maintains close
ties to his longtime friend Willie Nelson,
having run the Nelson-owned Austin
Opera House in its heyday and worked for
FarmAid, and his years of experience are
much of what makes the Austin Music
Hall the professionally run venue it is. – Margaret Moser
