Looking for a new city

[Colossal]

Hi Mr. Bowman. Yes, Austin is a nice city and I've enjoyed my visits there for recreation and concerts. I'm over in Houston but would much prefer Austin (that's a no brainer). I was being selfish when I suggested Miles come here although he'd probably be well employed. But yes, Austin has a real music scene. I saw Them Crooked Vultures (Dave Grohl, The John Paul Jones, Josh Homme supergroup) at the beer garden. That was a great show on a killer summer night. Would love to live on the west side out in the bush a little bit. Just beautiful there.

[crbowman]

There are parts of Houston I really love as well, and all told, might make more money there. I've had many fun nights playing at Fitzgerald's, Mucky Duck, and Blythe Spirits when it was still around (I'm getting all misty here).
You kinda have to watch where you are in Houston (more so than Austin) as it can get pretty dicey pretty quick, but that's true of most places.

[Cliff Schecht]

Hi Mr. Bowman. Yes, Austin is a nice city and I've enjoyed my visits there for recreation and concerts. I'm over in Houston but would much prefer Austin (that's a no brainer). I was being selfish when I suggested Miles come here although he'd probably be well employed. But yes, Austin has a real music scene. I saw Them Crooked Vultures (Dave Grohl, The John Paul Jones, Josh Homme supergroup) at the beer garden. That was a great show on a killer summer night. Would love to live on the west side out in the bush a little bit. Just beautiful there.

Ah heck I bet this was a great show. When I heard about these guys (especially with Grohl back on drums) I knew some great music would result. JPJ is my friggin hero. It's a shame that Jimmy Page gets all of the glory in Zep when JPJ was responsible for their (maybe IMO) best riffs. Not that I don't love Page as well...

I do miss Austin as well, but even moreso I miss the old Austin. I totally agree that things are changing and the assholes are taking over. I can still go have my fun but any of the big city events turn into drunken/stoned clusterfucks of people who are just there to be cool. I can deal with hipsters in small numbers but when there are 10,000 of them conglomerated on 6th St. it gets to be unbearable. I guess I just don't enjoy going downtown like I used to..

[crbowman]

Hi Mr. Bowman. Yes, Austin is a nice city and I've enjoyed my visits there for recreation and concerts. I'm over in Houston but would much prefer Austin (that's a no brainer). I was being selfish when I suggested Miles come here although he'd probably be well employed. But yes, Austin has a real music scene. I saw Them Crooked Vultures (Dave Grohl, The John Paul Jones, Josh Homme supergroup) at the beer garden. That was a great show on a killer summer night. Would love to live on the west side out in the bush a little bit. Just beautiful there.

Ah heck I bet this was a great show. When I heard about these guys (especially with Grohl back on drums) I knew some great music would result. JPJ is my friggin hero. It's a shame that Jimmy Page gets all of the glory in Zep when JPJ was responsible for their (maybe IMO) best riffs. Not that I don't love Page as well...

I do miss Austin as well, but even moreso I miss the old Austin. I totally agree that things are changing and the assholes are taking over. I can still go have my fun but any of the big city events turn into drunken/stoned clusterfucks of people who are just there to be cool. I can deal with hipsters in small numbers but when there are 10,000 of them conglomerated on 6th St. it gets to be unbearable. I guess I just don't enjoy going downtown like I used to..

Ha!
Welcome to old age you young whipper-snapper.
By the by, I agree with you on JPJ.

[Colossal]

John Paul Jones should be knighted. One of my favorite Zep tunes of all time is Carouselambra. Jones cruises the fretboard like it's free.

Cliff, yeah that TCV show was great! Jones did a solo keyboard piece. Phenomenonal!

[Zippy]

If I could pick anywhere to move to in the US, just pack up, move, and plug in with a job waiting for me...it'd be Portland OR. That was a great place to live.

I came real close - made the short list for Corvallis/Albany twice. I cased the area, found some nice houses... but the positions were both wired for inside candidates. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

I'm still jonesin' for a move back to the left coast - maybe Nor' Cal if I can swing it.

G'luck, Colossal. For the music scene and cost o' living, I give another +1 for Austin. I've a couple friends that have moved there in the last few years.

[LeftyStrat]

Yeah I loved Portland the two and half years I was there. Unfortunately the tech economy is not quite as strong as Seattle. After 9/11, the VC checks stopped showing up at the startup I was working for, and the only jobs to be had required leaving.

We still visit from time to time. My wife grew up on the Oregon coast and has lots of friends in Portland. I love heading out to Seaside and Cannon beach.

[billyz]

Austin is very good as has been noted. I have more work than I can stand right now and am about to raise my rates just to keep my sanity.

There are more than a few talented Luthiers and Amplifier techs, Pedal guys too. But I find there is always room for a talented person who has high ethical standards. I don't know if having worked for big names means as much here though. There are alot of big name players here and if you are any good you will be working for them.

Cost of living is very reasonable , Traffic is becoming an issue though. It gets pretty blasted hot here in the summer.

Good luck.

[Reeltarded]

I have guns. All I need is a horse.. and a hat.

You guys still have steak joints on every corner? Mm...

[LeftyStrat]

I have guns. All I need is a horse.. and a hat.

You guys still have steak joints on every corner? Mm...

Mmmm, brisket.

[Reeltarded]

We don't have local food here. Paula Dean makes garbage from a box, and all the BBQ is made by people who moved here from somewhere else. Somewhere else makes the worst I've ever had. BBQ isn't supposed to be coated in sugar and served with syrup. Meat tastes good with fire thrown at it, done.

I had the best steak I ever tasted in my life during the 1991 Dallas guitar show. 1991. That must have been a great steak, huh? Fabulous! Worth moving for, for sure.

[billyz]

Rudy's BBQ is just around the corner. Pretty good. But you can always find a decent BBQ side smoker at Academy sports or even HEB. Lots of real wood charcoal too.
But then I am partial to Torchy's taco's.

[tubeswell]

Wow! the scenery in Washington State sure is pretty!