A Little Bit Country

Beyond the typical SXSW bar scene

March 18, 2005—Here are two pieces of advice for anyone parachuting into Austin for the South by Southwest music festival. 1. Stick around after band-of-the-moment Bloc Party’s gig at Stubb’s tonight—the fashionable gents in Fischerspooner are spinning at midnight, followed by a set from the reunited (sans Johnny Thunders, of course) New York Dolls. 2. Don’t leave town without exploring the real local scene. Hipsters will be heading to Oslo-Austin, a block-long bar that foregoes the town’s traditional front porch stylings for modular chairs, moon rocks, and a very un-country array of cocktails. For a more authentic experience, though, stop by the Dry Creek Saloon, a ramshackle, bi-level lakeside roadhouse that offers cheap beer, endearingly cantankerous ownership, and one of the finest sunset views in the Southwest. Then, for some authentic Tex-Mex, try Guero’s, a warehouse-sized spot specializing in killer enchiladas and life-affirming margaritas. (Bill Clinton has been known to stop by when he's in town, though likely not with his doctor’s consent.) A few shows and several drinks later, you may even understand why tequila-swilling cover boy Matthew McConaughey calls Austin home.
Oslo-Austin, 301 W. 6th Street, (512) 480-9433; Dry Creek Saloon, 4812 Mount Bonnell Rd., (512) 453-9244; Guero’s Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress Ave., (512) 447-7688.