Music
January 3, 2019
Bobby Bones Is Just Getting Started
The unlikely rise (and rise, and rise) of the most powerful man in country music.
Music
Storytelling and reviews about the artists and trends that define the sounds of the Lone Star State
Music
January 2, 2019
The Best of Texas Music in 2018
Again, Texans proved that our state has one of the richest music scenes in the world.
The National Podcast of Texas
December 28, 2018
Leon Bridges: “I’m Not Afraid to Say I’m a Fragile Person”
The Fort Worth R&B star on his pair of Grammy nominations and a wild 2018—full of big shows and more than a little soul-searching.
Music
December 20, 2018
Exclusive Premiere: Robert Ellis Gets ‘Passive Aggressive’ on His New Song
The Austin-based songwriter opts for the keys and wry humor on his latest single.
Music
December 17, 2018
The Best Texas Songs for the Holidays
From classics like "Pretty Paper" and "Christmas Time in the Valley" to new releases from 2018, here's the perfect playlist for celebrating the holidays in Texas.
Music
December 11, 2018
End of an Era: Fitzgerald’s in Houston Closing at Year’s End
After 42 years, Fitzgerald's is closing. The legendary club certainly made its mark.
Music
December 10, 2018
Corpus Christi’s Chicas Rock Might Bring Us the Next Selena
Cecy Treviño started her girls' music school to provide a safe space for self-expression. But the bands are getting booked all over town.
Music
December 5, 2018
It’s Been One Hell of a Year for Texas Music
Kacey Musgraves, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Khalid, Maren Morris, and more have topped Apple’s charts—and are collecting accolades.
The National Podcast of Texas
December 3, 2018
Liz Rose: “You’re Only As Good As Your Last Hit Song”
On our latest podcast, the Texas songwriter who co-wrote sixteen songs with Taylor Swift details what’s behind a hit song and what makes Texas songwriters a whole different breed.
Music
November 30, 2018
Fort Worth’s Music Scene Is Finding Its New Groove
Two of the city’s veteran musicians talk us through its ongoing auditory transformation after the departure of Leon Bridges—and why some uncertainty is a good thing.
Music
November 19, 2018
Travis Scott Capped His Wild Year at Houston’s Astroworld Festival
His redefinition of his hometown's sound culminated with a celebration of all things Houston.
Music
November 18, 2018
The Power Issue: Beyoncé, Solange, Travis Scott & Khalid Are Telling the World That Texas Isn’t What People Think It Is
How three R&B singers and a rapper turned themselves into Texas’s biggest brand ambassadors.
Music
November 13, 2018
The Power Issue: Amy Corbin Is Programming Music Festivals in an Age When Music Festivals Are King
As radio and television stop breaking new bands, the curator behind Austin City Limits Music Festival’s crowd-drawing lineups has become a major player in the popscape.
Music
November 5, 2018
Spotify Made a Texas Voting Playlist
The Sweden-based music streaming service wants to rev up Texans to do their civic duty with songs popular in the state.
Music
November 1, 2018
Did Post Malone Deserve That Viral Takedown?
Pop music’s current king got a savage review of his festival. We're not sure he deserved it.
Music
October 29, 2018
Fortress Festival Seems to Be Finding Its Identity
Entering its third year, the Fort Worth indie rock festival is full of Texas talent.
Music
October 19, 2018
Khalid Is Still Very Much Representing El Paso on His New ‘Suncity’ EP
The pop star, forever from the city of the 915, releases his new EP.
Music
October 19, 2018
Molly Burch Blooms on ‘First Flower’
On her second album, Molly Burch gets vulnerable.
Music
October 11, 2018
Willie Nelson Officially Releases His Ballot Box Anthem “Vote ’Em Out”
And it's strangely bipartisan! Really!
October 9, 2018
Lisa Loeb: “Having a Huge Hit Is Amazing. I’m Not Angry at It at All.”
Talking with the Dallas native who scored big with 1994’s “Stay (I Missed You)” and won a Grammy earlier this year for an album of children’s music.
Music
October 6, 2018
Did Paul McCartney Mistake the Chilean Flag for the Texan One at ACL?
He proudly waved the South American country's flag toward the end of his headlining set Friday night.
Music
October 2, 2018
Buddy Holly Muse Peggy Sue Gerron Did More Than Just Get Married
The namesake for two of Buddy Holly’s hits passed away at 78 in Lubbock on Monday.
Politics & Policy
September 30, 2018
Beto O’Rourke Had a Very Different Type of Political Rally
And it wasn't just because of Willie Nelson. We spent time on the ground at Austin's Auditorium Shores on Saturday night, and here's what we found.
Music
September 28, 2018
Texas Musicians Love Beto O’Rourke
...and they've loved him long before Willie Nelson stepped up.
Music
September 27, 2018
Nobody’s Girl Perform ‘What’ll I Do’ at Texas Monthly Studio
The trio of award-winning singer-songwriters, formed in 2017, just released a six-song EP.
September 21, 2018
Ray Benson Introduced Willie to Beto. “Blame Me,” He Says.
On this week’s podcast, Andy Langer talks with the Asleep at the Wheel leader about the tricky intersection of music and politics.
Music
September 21, 2018
The Making of the Roy Orbison Hologram Tour
This fall, Roy Orbison is back on tour. Sort of. Here's how the Vernon native returned to the stage nearly three decades after his death.
Music
September 15, 2018
In Our Hyper-Political Times, Even Willie Nelson No Longer Unifies Us
The Red-Headed Stranger announced he’d be playing a rally for Beto O’Rourke. What happened next was predictable.
Music
September 13, 2018
Video: Eliza Gilkyson Sings From the Heart
The two-time Grammy nominee performs 'Seculare' for the latest in our Sound Check series.
Music
September 7, 2018
Ghostland Observatory Performs ‘Miss Abyss’—And Yes, There Are Lasers
Watch our latest Sound Check, in which the Austin-based duo performs a song from their new album.
Music
August 31, 2018
Sound Check: The Suffers Perform ‘Sure to Remain’
The Houston-based group stopped by our studios to perform a song off their latest album, 'Everything Here.'
Music
August 29, 2018
The CMA Nominations Prove That Texas Women are the Queens of Country
Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, and Miranda Lambert are the new faces of country music.
Music
August 24, 2018
White Denim: ‘Performance’ (Album Review)
For Austin’s White Denim, everything old is new again.
Books
August 24, 2018
The Blaze Foley Biopic, Through the Eyes of His Greatest Muse
Nearly thirty years after he died in relative obscurity, songwriter Blaze Foley is on the verge of newfound fame thanks to an Ethan Hawke–directed biopic. In a series of dispatches from her time on set, Sybil Rosen, widely known as Foley's muse, ponders the widening divide between the man and
Music
August 22, 2018
People Shouldn’t Have to Turn to Travis Scott and Lemonade Stands for Our Social Safety Net
The rapper’s generosity allowed a fan to bury his mom. That says more about the state of affairs in our country than it does about Travis Scott.
Music
August 17, 2018
Not Your Granddad’s Country Band
Watch a special ‘Texas Monthly’ Sound Check performance by Mike and the Moonpies, whose third album is layered with stories of love, family, and loss.
Music
August 9, 2018
Exclusive Premiere: Kacey Musgraves Is a “Kansas City Star” on Roger Miller Tribute Album
Musgraves joined Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, and others to honor Miller's legacy.
The National Podcast of Texas
August 3, 2018
Amanda Shires and Shea Serrano Are Paving Their Own Lanes
On a doubleheader podcast, Andy Langer speaks with a pair of guests who refuse to settle for the status quo.
The National Podcast of Texas
July 27, 2018
Kam Franklin Is Her Own Woman
On this week’s National Podcast of Texas, Andy Langer speaks with the frontwoman for Houston soul powerhouses The Suffers.
Music
July 13, 2018
Khalid’s 2018 Guest Appearances Could Make an Entire Album
And it’d be really good.
Music
July 12, 2018
Kacey Musgraves Brings the ‘9 To 5’ Fire In Her ‘High Horse’ Music Video
The new queen channels the old queen.
Music
July 10, 2018
A Hologram of Roy Orbison Is Going on Tour
As with Tupac and Michael Jackson before him, death won’t stop the Vernon native from performing live.
Music
June 20, 2018
‘Everything Is Love’ Shows Why the Surprise-Drop Album Is Over
The Carters’ new album is a treasure. We wish we could have looked forward to it.
Music
June 14, 2018
Rio Grande Valley Musicians Reflect on Home in Stanford University Project
Stanford Ph.D student Jonathan Leal and producer/filmmaker Charlie Vela teamed for a project exploring this moment in Valley music.
Music
June 9, 2018
Kacey Musgraves Takes Her Place as a Proudly Subversive Texan
At her Austin City Limits performance, Musgraves paid homage to female country icons.
Arts & Entertainment
June 8, 2018
Here’s What Solange and Saint Heron Should Call Their IKEA Collaborations
Looks like Solange’s seat at the table may have a minimalist aesthetic.
The National Podcast of Texas
June 1, 2018
El Dusty Is Reimagining Cumbia and Helping Reinvent Corpus Christi
On our latest podcast, Andy Langer talks to El Dusty, the mayor of Cumbia City. Plus, a “meat up” with our barbecue editor, Daniel Vaughn.
Music
May 30, 2018
Why ScoreMore Shows Sold to LiveNation
The Austin-based hip hop and EDM promoter announced a deal with LiveNation on Wednesday.
Music
May 29, 2018
Growing Up With Steve Miller
Eleven years ago, the man who topped the charts with ‘The Joker’ and ‘Rock’n Me’ took a thirteen-year-old guitarist and would-be songwriter under his wing. Eleven years later, he’s still teaching me lessons on how to be an adult.
Music
May 29, 2018
Bill Malone on Fifty Years of ‘Country Music USA’
Fifty years after it was first published, Bill C. Malone’s 'Country Music USA' remains the most comprehensive look at the genre.