Austinist Show Preview: The Backyard's Second-to-Last Show is FREE

The Backyard, an award-winning open air venue in the furry bosom of the Hill Country is shutting its doors after 16 years of basking in the Texas sun. That may not seem like a long time, but it's been long enough for Willie Nelson to have played there over thirty times. Other acts that have graced the stage include Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Coldplay, and the greatest living artist (sorry Bob!) of our age: Tori Amos.

On Saturday, fans will have a chance to come out and search for one of her fabled red locks that may have been cast down into the pebbled audience area in the midst of her intense live shows...dripping in sweat...gyrating like a wounded tiger...hammering those lucky, lucky keys. AHEM.

In all seriousness, you'll most likely be drawn to the Backyard on Saturday for two reasons:

1) It's FREE. That means "requires no money." With the economy in the toilet and your 401k reduced to a handful of dried azuka beans, that concept should resonate.

2) The great lineup. We're talking about the steamy SRV-meets-Flamenco of Texan shred sextet Del Castillo, the ever industrious pop-rockers of The Boxing Lesson, swinging jazz-blues throwback of the White Ghost Shivers, and the "soulful American rock" of Alpha Rev, not to mention several more to tickle your fickle fancy.

While it is still up in the air as to whether The Big B is going to re-open at another location, there's still time to absorb the history at this fabled venue. So drive out into the country and catch it before the shopping centers and big-box superstores devour the poor bugger and turn it into another sepulcher in their giant, cement graveyard. Give Old Navy and Bed, Bath, and Beyond the finger while you're at it. Bastards.

[The Backyard Official]

[Del Castillo Official]
[The Boxing Lesson Myspace]
[White Ghost Shivers Official]
[Alpha Rev Official]