Austin Roots

"Archiving The History of Austin" with Leea Mechling

"Archiving The History of Austin" with Leea Mechling "Prosperity doesn't always mean dollar signs. Sharing music and sharing art really expands your heart." (Leea Mechling) Leea Mechling grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where her earliest music experiences ranged from Czech dance halls to an Ike & Tina Turner backstage pass at age 11. After moving to Austin to attend UT, Leea fell in with the crowd at the Armadillo World Headquarters, where she worked from 1974 until its 1980 closing. She shares vivid stories from those years: the push to get women onto the main floor bar, and Henry Gonzalez's tireless creativity building stage sets and preserving posters. After the Armadillo closed, Leea worked with Asleep at the Wheel, Gregg Allman, and Stevie Ray Vaughan before channeling her passion for Austin music history into founding the Austin Museum of Popular Culture (AusPop) in 2004. What started on two folding tables next to Planet K on South Lamar has grown into a celebrated archive and exhibition space, with partnerships at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Wittliff Collections, and the Bob Bullock Museum. Leea sees AusPop's mission as essential in a rapidly changing Austin: not to recreate the past, but to inspire newcomers and young artists to build something authentic of their own. Content Warning: adult themes Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom. Chapters: 01:06 - Growing up in Corpus Christi; family music influences, Czech dance halls 02:03 - First concert: Ike & Tina Turner, 1968 (with backstage passes at age 11) 03:03 - The 13th Floor Elevators connection explained 04:05 - A fake Tiger Beat press passes and crashing a band rehearsal 07:09 - "Cowboys vs. surfers": the South Texas counterculture divide 07:44 - Friends from Corpus (John Main, Ken Featherston, Houston Evans) already at UT 08:38 - Starting at the Armadillo World Headquarters (1974) 11:55 - Women at the Armadillo: the fight to work the main floor bar 12:44 - The black nightgown strategy; breaking the barrier 13:55 - Jan Beeman: the Armadillo's den mother and moral compass 15:15 - Jan Beeman charms Frank Zappa into changing his backstage demands 17:54 - Henry Gonzalez: artist, muralist, and Armadillo creative force 22:48 - Most memorable musical nights at the Armadillo 23:58 - Roy Buchanan: babysitting Ben, and heartbreak at the Armadillo's closing 26:41 - Bruce Springsteen: "a Yankee who thinks he can rock and roll" 28:46 - Post-Armadillo: life after the Dillo closes, including a job with Asleep at the Wheel 30:42 - Founding the Austin Museum of Popular Culture (2004) 31:01 - Henry's poster preservation mission starting in 1968 35:01 - AusPop's role in a rapidly changing Austin 49:54 - Collaboration with the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills AND Check out our store here and collect our gear: https://Threadgills.com/merch Guest List: Leea Mechling, Founder, Executive Director and Curator, Austin Museum of Popular Culture Production Team: Host, Eddie Wilson - Armadillo World Headquarters founder @Threadgills Host, Dr. Jason Mellard - Cultural historian @jasondeanmellard Editor, Renee O'Connor Music Mixing, Matt Carlson @axemanguitar Producer, Renee O'Connor @realreneeoconnor Producer, Sandra Wilson @sandrawilson709 Executive Producer, TSSI Music by Jake Andrews Music @jakeandrewsmusic Production assistant, Miles Muir @miles_muir Production consultant, Katey Psencik

"A Cartoonist's View of Underground Characters" with Gilbert Shelton

"A Cartoonist's View of Underground Characters" with Gilbert Shelton "Chet Helms and Jack Jackson and some others, and then I bought a printing press. It was our idea to print rock posters. That was a big thing at the time. Nobody knew how to run our new printing press and our posters were really crappy, but then we discovered that printing on the comic books didn't have to be good printings. We shifted over to comic books at Ripoff Press. (Dave Morty) was running the small printing press and he had long hair. This is not a good idea for a printer. And the printing press caught him by the hair and pulled him in, but it wasn't powerful enough to crush him. And after 30 minutes, the postman came in with the mail. After a few minutes, Morty was able to instruct him how to find the off switch, and he was able to pull his hair, where that name comes from." Gilbert Shelton This episode of Austin Roots features an in-depth conversation with legendary underground cartoonist Gilbert Shelton, creator of Wonder Warthog, the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, and Not Quite Dead. Eddie Wilson and Dr. Jason Mellard speak with Shelton from his home in France, where he's lived since the 1980s, about his formative years in Austin during the 1960s counterculture movement. The conversation spans Shelton's time as editor of the Texas Ranger humor magazine at UT, his role as creative director of the Vulcan Gas Company, and his eventual move to San Francisco where he co-founded Rip Off Press. Shelton shares vivid memories of Austin's underground press scene, including colorful stories about fellow artists Jack Jackson, Joe Brown, and Jim Franklin, as well as musicians like Janis Joplin and encounters with Bob Dylan. The discussion also touches on the Austin Police Department's surprisingly lenient attitude toward marijuana, the origins of the armadillo as Austin's unofficial mascot, and how the Freak Brothers became an enduring symbol of 1960s counterculture. Content Warning: adult themes, stories of drug use Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom. Chapters: 02:00 - UT's humor magazine culture in the early 1960s 04:00 - Jack Jackson's artistic development and later historical work 08:00 - Early Comics as political and social satire elements 13:00 - Role as art director and poster designer for the Vulcan Gas Company 15:00 - Jim Franklin's arrival and armadillo artwork 20:00 - The armadillo as UT mascot movement 21:00 - Wonder Warthog and the evolution of the character through the decades 23:00 - First publication in Bacchanal magazine 27:00 - Billy Lee Brammer 29:00 - Drugs and artistic influence 31:00 - Early Influences: Dick Tracy and other comics 36:00 - The Bob Dylan encounter 40:00 - Musicians: PJ Proby and Tommy Hall 42:00 - Founding Rip Off Press with Dave Morty, Fred Todd, Jack Jackson 44:00 - Origins of 'The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers' in the Austin Rag newspaper 48:00 - Freak Brothers' cultural impact and resonance 50:00 - Rip Off Press, the warehouse space and legendary parties 54:00 - The Caswell House commune parties 59:00 - Living with Janis Joplin on East Ninth Street in Austin 1:03 - Final thoughts on the counterculture legacy Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills AND Check out our store here and collect our gear: https://Threadgills.com/merch Guest: Gilbert Shelton - Underground cartoonist and creator of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Production Team: Host, Eddie Wilson - Armadillo World Headquarters founder @Threadgills Host, Dr. Jason Mellard - Cultural historian @jasondeanmellard Editor, Renee O'Connor Music Mixing, Matt Carlson @axemanguitar Producer, Renee O'Connor @realreneeoconnor Producer, Sandra Wilson @sandrawilson709 Executive Producer, TSSI Music by Jake Andrews Music @jakeandrewsmusic Production assistant, Miles Muir @miles_muir Production consultant, Katey Psencik

"Austin's Early Art Scene" with Danny Garrett

"Austin's Early Art Scene" with Danny Garrett "The San Francisco posters sort of resonated with everybody and I mean everyone across the country, across the world. Of course, there was a very strong connection between Austin and San Francisco. There was direct feedback from that, from what was going on in San Francisco, especially with Gilbert (Shelton) and (Jack) Jackson out there. There was a resonance, but it wasn't the same thing. Approaches were very different anyway. I think the success of the San Francisco posters sort of drove the other poster scenes here and elsewhere." (Danny Garrett) Danny Garrett, a central figure in Austin's music poster art scene, joins Eddie Wilson and Dr. Jason Mellard to discuss his journey from Vietnam veteran to iconic poster artist. The conversation covers his work with the Armadillo World Headquarters Art Squad, his deep relationship with Clifford Antone and the blues scene, and his iconic posters for Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Garrett also shares stories about the transition from counterculture to tech industry, his teaching career in New Zealand, and the evolution of Austin's music venues from the 1970s to today. Chapters: 02:00 - Early musical influences: Bobby Blue Bland, Roy Head and The Traits, BJ Thomas and The Triumphs 03:00 - Discovering art through comics and Mad Magazine 04:00 - Drafted in 1969 while pursuing history degree at Stephen F. Austin 05:00 - Return to civilian life and joining the counterculture in March 1970 06:00 - Moving from Houston to Austin in 1971 08:00 - First visit to Austin: Enchanted Rock trip, spring 1971 09:00 - Meeting Jim Franklin at the Armadillo to discuss underground comics 10:00 - First poster commission: John Sebastian (a financial disaster for the venue) 11:00 - Introduction to the Armadillo Art Squad 12:00 - Artistic education from peers, especially Guy Duke, Michael Priest, and Bill Narum 13:00 - Common visual language: Texas/Western iconography, music imagery 17:00 - Michael Priest's iconic first Willie Nelson poster (cowboy crying into beer, "Hello Walls") 20:00 - AWHQ Posters, importance of readability: "need to read it driving by a telephone pole" 23:00 - Creating the Antone's logo (also Texas Chili Parlor logo the same year) 25:00 - The iconic Muddy Waters bust poster (using Watt Casey photograph) 27:00 - The 21st Anniversary poster: petitioning Clifford to feature Stevie instead of Albert Collins 30:00 - Six locations of Antone's club over the years 34:00 - First seeing Stevie Ray Vaughan play at Antone's circa 1976: "the kid brother" 37:00 - Working with Willie's organization: "challenging" but an honor 39:00 - Eddie Wilson's story of booking Willie at the Armadillo 41:00 - The chaotic 1972 Dripping Springs Reunion 45:00 - The Tech transition: Michael Priest and Sam Yates founding Schenough Studios 48:00 - Origin Systems and Gaming 50:00 - Immigration to New Zealand after George W. Bush's reelection 51:00 - Teaching at Auckland University of Technology (2005-2010) 52:00 - Founding faculty member of digital graphics program (now partnered with Peter Jackson's studios) 53:00 - The challenge of old-style poster pricing vs. digital work Content Warning: adult themes, stories of drug use Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom. Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills AND Check out our store here and collect our gear: https://Threadgills.com/merch [https://armadilloworld.com/shop/] Guest: Danny Garrett, visual artist, author of Weird Yet Strange: Notes from an Austin Music Artist Production Team: Host, Eddie Wilson - Armadillo World Headquarters founder @Threadgills Host, Dr. Jason Mellard - Cultural historian @jasondeanmellard Editor, Renee O'Connor Music Mixing, Matt Carlson @axemanguitar Producer, Renee O'Connor @realreneeoconnor Producer, Sandra Wilson @sandrawilson709 Executive Producer, TSSI Music by Jake Andrews Music @jakeandrewsmusic Production assistant, Miles Muir @miles_muir Production consultant, Katey Psencik

"The Contemporaneous Armadillo" with Woody Roberts

"The Contemporaneous Armadillo" with Woody Roberts (January 10, 1941 - May 20, 2023) What does a Top 40 DJ, the Armadillo World Headquarters, a failed but ambitious TV and radio show project, within Austin City's limits, have in common with Horse Racing? The city's original influencer in media, Woody Roberts. This episode of Austin Roots features Woody Roberts, a veteran of Texas radio and the Austin music scene, discussing his career spanning from Top 40 radio's golden age through the Armadillo World Headquarters era to Maynard Downs and the Austin Music Network. Roberts shares firsthand accounts of how radio integrated American culture, Willie Nelson's first 4th of July picnic, the development of Austin as "Live Music Capital of the World," and his work with artists like Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The conversation reveals the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that transformed Austin into a major music city. Chapters: 03:00 - The Radio Revolution and the Birth of Top 40 Format (1952-53) 05:00 - Gordon McLendon bringing format to Texas (KLIF Dallas, KTSA San Antonio) 06:00 - First time in history: popular music available 24/7 07:00 - The British Invasion (1964). Woody playing "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" 10:00 - Childhood inspiration: Herb Ruth & Paul Berlin 14:00 - Radio as integrated space in segregated era; Sammy Allred's influence 16:00 - Origins and Planning of Willie Nelson's First 4th of July Picnic 19:00 - Television and radio show ambitions at the ARMADILLO WORLD HEADQUARTERS 23:00 - The ZZ Top UT Stadium Debacle (1976) 27:00 - Tina Tacky and Lone Star Beer campaign 30:00 - Community arts laboratory exposing audiences to national and local acts 32:00 - The Armadillo pilot as inspiration for the Austin City Limits. 34:00 - The origins of Maynard Downs, built from a dirt bike track 35:00 - Stevie Ray Vaughan Era 37:00 - End of rock era (1986) - return to horses only 39:00 - Launch and Vision of the AUSTIN MUSIC NETWORK 40:00 - Houston group takeover and shutdown (2008) Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills AND Check out our store here and collect our gear: https://Threadgills.com/merch [https://armadilloworld.com/shop/] Guest List: Woody Roberts - Author, Horse Racing and Rock and Roll: How America's Live Music Capital Tripped Out, Cowboyed Up and Shook the World Production Team: Host, Eddie Wilson - Armadillo World Headquarters founder @Threadgills Host, Dr. Jason Mellard - Cultural historian @jasondeanmellard Editor, Renee O'Connor Music Mixing, Matt Carlson @axemanguitar Producer, Renee O'Connor @realreneeoconnor Producer, Sandra Wilson @sandrawilson709 Executive Producer, TSSI Music by Jake Andrews Music @jakeandrewsmusic Production assistant, Miles Muir @miles_muir Production consultant, Katey Psencik Content Warning: sexual references, adult themes

"Keeping the Heart in the Music Community" with Emma Little

"Keeping the Heart in the Music Community" with Emma Little "I think I learned that a lot of the guys who were successful generally had a woman backing them up at home, helping them out. That's the thing is you have to have somebody, and I think that that's where the women came in most… they could also run anything. We were the invisible matriarchy." (Emma Little) Emma Little shares her unique perspective on Austin's cultural history, from growing up in Travis County to becoming a key figure at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters. She discusses her rural upbringing near Lakeway among political elites and astronauts, the vibrant hippie community on 33rd Street, and her multifaceted role at the Armadillo including poster distribution, hospitality, and print shop work. The conversation explores overlooked artists like her late husband DK Little and blues legend Denny Freeman, examines the "invisible matriarchy" of women who powered the Austin music scene, and discusses the founding of the Austin Museum of Popular Culture to preserve this cultural legacy. Content Warning: adult themes Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom. Chapters: 01:00 - Growing Up in Travis County 02:00 - Babysitting for White House aides and socializing with sports legends 03:00 - Early Austin memories: Big Bear Grocery, cotton fields, driving cattle down Highway 620 05:00 - Sewing hippie clothes and selling them at Maya and other stores 07:00 - Meeting Eddie Wilson and getting involved with the Armadillo 10:00 - Living in Hirschberg's house with its medicinal/psychedelic plants 12:00 - First weekend at the Armadillo, no beer license 16:00 - The atmosphere and audience response to legendary performances 17:00 - Emma's roles: poster distribution, airport pickups, hospitality, food planning 18:00 - Working with the Armadillo Art Squad on posters and t-shirts using split fountain printing 23:00 - The Artist, DK Little 24:00 - DK playing with Alvin Crow 26:00 - DK's struggles with avascular necrosis from Agent Orange exposure 32:00 - DK's missed opportunities with Jerry Wexler and Atlantic Records 36:00 - Hanging with the Blues crew 38:00 - The Artist, Denny Freeman 40:00 - Eddie and Emma's perspectives on Denny as "the coolest guy" and cornerstone guitarist 41:00 - Denny's career with Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan, and teaching himself lap steel guitar 43:00 - Denny's legendary Saxon Pub residency 45:00 - Denny's relationship with Emma's granddaughter, Lily Pearl 46:00 - Henry Gonzalez's vision to preserve the Armadillo Art Squad legacy 47:00 - Finding lost Henry Gonzalez murals around Austin 50:00 - Preserving cultural DNA in a rapidly changing city 52:00 - Emma's challenging year and the importance of community and resilience Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills AND Check out our store here and collect our gear: https://Threadgills.com/merch Guest List: Emma Little - Key figure at Armadillo World Headquarters, co-founder of Austin Museum of Popular Culture Production Team: Host, Eddie Wilson - Armadillo World Headquarters founder @Threadgills Host, Dr. Jason Mellard - Cultural historian @jasondeanmellard Editor, Renee O'Connor Music Mixing, Matt Carlson @axemanguitar Producer, Renee O'Connor @realreneeoconnor Producer, Sandra Wilson @sandrawilson709 Executive Producer, TSSI Music by Jake Andrews Music @jakeandrewsmusic Production assistant, Miles Muir @miles_muir Production consultant, Katey Psencik