(image from here)
The Backyard was a music venue about twenty miles west of Austin in I believe the city of Bee Caves. On this website, which doesn't seem to know it's been closed for over a decade, it says, "The Backyard is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country in a natural, open-air setting enveloped in the shade of 400 year old live oaks. This one of a kind amphitheater hosts music of a varied & eclectic mix of musicians."
The Backyard is a venue I think I went to more than I actually did. I saw Elvis Costello there at least three times - his gigography says he performed there four times, so maybe I saw him there four time. I saw Belle & Sebastian there twice. My three favorite shows there were Leonard Cohen in 1993, Richard Thompson in 1994, & Morrissey in 2007.
It was a very secluded place, with a dirt parking lot, & no matter how hot the day was - & it was usually hot - it felt about fifteen degrees cooler under those trees. It was a lovely place to see a show. & for some reason, I didn't go out there between 2004 or so & 2007, & when I did, holy shit.
A mall had sprung up around it. It was like a completely different place. We parked in an actual parking lot & walked past a Best Buy. It was indicative of the changes Austin went through before I left - I can't be certain, but there were probably people who complained about the noise of the live shows at the Backyard which caused it to close.
It was such a nice venue to see music. Here's how isolated it was: when Leonard Cohen played, he came out alone with a guitar for a few songs. He had just started the song "A Singer Must Die" when - as if on cue - a police car came screaming past outside. The place was so out-of-the-way there couldn't have been more than a dozen cars that drove by during his entire show. He stopped playing & said, "Listen. What a sad, lovely sound." & he waited for the doppler effect to subside before he started an entirely different song.
It was at the Backyard that I saw Richard Thompson for the first time, just him on a guitar with a stand-up bassist at his side. I had never heard the song "Beeswing" before & his performance of it made me cry. Tears just falling down my cheeks. & he would crack jokes in-between the songs as he retuned his guitar. He gave me emotional whiplash.
& after I had back surgery, I painfully made my way out to the Backyard to see Belle & Sebastian. I lay on one of the grassy parts & enjoyed the show & it was almost a ritual event to ease my transition back into the world.
Despite being a huge fan, I had never seen Morrissey, not the least because he hardly came to Austin & also he cancels shows a lot. So seeing him in 2007 was just a joy. Look! Here's a picture of it! I'm in the audience you can't see.
It would be strange to do a show about yards & not think about the Backyard.
The weird news: this website says it'll reopen in 2024. But will you be able to sneak in to see Elvis Costello & the Attractions at their soundcheck? I don't believe you will.
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