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Out of nowhere it came.  The ability to record a Cwcclark1D WITHOUT a studio.  The ability to instantly capture your sound made all the difference in the world.

Musicians everywhere were freed from the tricky scheduling and impressive expense of studio time.  They were able to capture that moment of magic when everything gelled.

1994 witnessed the start of the independent music scene.  And, in no time, Austin music exploded.  The number of venues rocketed.  Musicians who considered themselves lucky if they got a gig suddenly found their recording on a music store shelf.

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bookNever Heard Of ‘Em is something of an eyewitness account of the Austin music explosion as told from the co-owner of an Austin music shop, Local Flavor.

Local Flavor was started by Sue and Mike Donahoe exclusively to be an outlet for local musicians.  Starting with 8 CD’s and a lot of shelf space, Local Flavor ended in 2000 with over 1000 titles are their shelves – and no more room.

Never Heard Of ‘Em is a story-lined collections of articles written by Sue for various magazines throughout the county plus articles written exclusively for this book.  With sections entitled “Indie Austin Distribution” and “6th Street Buzz”, you’ll learn of the excitement and vitality that permeated Austin from 1994 through 2000 – and beyond.

For the story behind the story and to learn the heritage of this great book, grab the introduction.

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Musicians

Here are some of the musicians you’ll read about – as they were happening on the scene.

Roy Heinrich
Roy Heinrich

Marti Brom
Marti Brom

Bukka Allen
Bukka Allen

Jack Hustinx
Jack Hustinx

Peter Voskamp
Peter Voskamp

George Rarey
George Rarey

kindred
Mike Kindred

Jon Dee Graham
Jon Dee Graham

Randall Stockton
Randall Stockton
Mark Stultz
Mark Stultz

The Scene Then

This book is all about an insider’s viewpoint – someone on the outside but yet a witness to the boon in the Austin music scene.

Sue and Mike in front of Local Flavor
Sue and Mike in front of Local Flavor

It all started in 1995. Sue Donahoe and her husband, Mike, started their music shop, Local Flavor, in the early 1990s.  Their purpose was to highlight and sell the music of local artists.  They experienced excited musicians popping into their shop to present their latest recording.

Venues sprouted up.  6th Street started to buzz with the energy of talented musicians.

It was the first year that Local Flavor “was ‘used’ by bands to actively help them promote themselves.”  Artists would bring “extra” CDs to be handed out to anyone who might be able to help them.

Mike was really good at determining who actually had the potential to help one of their favorite bands and who was just looking for free stuff.

Before the year was out, nearly 80 bands were on the Local Flavor shelves.  No other record store had all those Austin artists.  Many of the bands were appearing on all kinds of wonderful radar screens around the US and a few on foreign shores as well. Everybody who knew anything about the Austin music scene was telling everyone they knew.

This book is the story of a small music shop starting with 6 artists that grew to more than 150 artists and 1000 titles.  It’s told through articles written for magazines throughout the country.  You’ll almost “smell” how hot the local artists were.

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There are other books about the Texas music scene, but you won’t find stories as fresh as these.  The articles were written when the Austin music scene was, literally, exploding.

The pictures capture artists in the midst of their work.  Many are personal photos that have been kept and cherished.

Austin is called the “Live Music Capital of the World.”  In this book, you’ll read how it happened.  You’ll meet musicians you know.  You’ll meet others that you’ll wonder why you “Never Heard of ‘Em.”

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