That Eric Alper

Antone’s: 50 Years Of The Blues – the five-disc, 41-track box set celebrating the legendary Austin music venue – has been previewed today with a pair of advance singles from Gary Clark Jr. and Los Lobos. Calling on their deep ties to the club’s rich history and enduring spirit, these trailblazing artists have each shared a never-heard recording in celebration of Antone’s 50th anniversary. Both will be included when the full box set is released August 22 via New West Records, a collection which consists of: three full-length albums (each capturing a unique element of the club’s history), a special bonus 45, rare and unseen photographs, an updated hardcover edition of Picture the Blues by Susan Antone and a new, definitive Antone’s history – written by revered Texas music historian Joe Nick Patoski with fresh interviews.

Clark Jr. began playing at Antone’s when he was just a teenager, noting that “I was a kid sitting around playing my guitar with no direction. I already loved to play, but when I jumped onstage at Antone’s, I felt like I was part of something important…It changed the way I thought about life and ended my search for acceptance, because I knew this was what I was supposed to do.”

This previously unreleased – and recently unearthed – board recording of “Catfish Blues” dates from 2004, when Clark was 20 years old and unsigned – but sharing the Antone’s stage with artists like Double Trouble, James Cotton and Jimmie Vaughan for a Hubert Sumlin benefit show. In this sense it’s a perfect embodiment of what Antone’s is all about – coming together to help their elder statesmen, while giving remarkable opportunities to the next generation. “Catfish Blues” will be released on We Went Live In ’75 (the box set’s collection of rare live recordings from the club) – one of the three full-length albums included within, alongside Tell Me One More Time (long-lost cuts from the club’s label Antone’s Records) and The Last Real Texas Blues Album (new material recorded by artists integral to Antone’s story).

In addition to the three full-length albums on Antone’s: 50 Years Of The Blues, a bonus 45 will feature Los Lobos’ brand-new studio recording of the Chicago blues classic “Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy” – written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Howlin’ Wolf. While synonymous with Southern California, Los Lobos hold a lifelong connection to Antone’s, thanks to a crucial encounter early in their careers. “Clifford Antone rescued us in 1983 when we found ourselves kicked off a tour and stranded in McAllen, TX with no money to get home to LA,” remembers Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin. “He said get to Austin somehow, and he’d pay us $100 a man per night to open for a week of shows at Antone’s. That was just enough to make it home, so it is in some very small measure our way of saying ‘thanks for saving our asses’ to do this song for him and his great club. God Bless Clifford and the entire Antone’s family.” Longtime Antone’s house band guitarist Derek O’Brien adds: “Clifford loved it when [Los Lobos’] Cesar Rosas would do Howlin’ Wolf.”

Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues is part of a major year-long celebration of Antone’s, which will include performances over the next month in both Austin and New York City. On June 29, the club will bring the sounds of Antone’s to one of the world’s most prestigious stages – hosting a curated night of music as part of Lincoln Center’s Summer For The City series. The evening before (Saturday, June 28), they will host a Super Blues Party at Manhattan’s intimate Bowery Electric. This New York City run will feature music from Texas icon Jimmie Vaughan, 2025 GRAMMY Nominee Sue Foley, C.J. Chenier (Crown Prince of Zydeco), Benny Turner (Freddie King Band), Swamp Pop Legend Jivin’ Gene (Jin Records), Big Bill Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters, co-star of A Complete Unknown), Kam Franklin of The Suffers, John Primer (Muddy Waters Blues Band), Steve Bell (son of Carey Bell), Lurrie Bell (Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine), Rodd Bland (Bobby “Blue” Bland Orchestra), Lil’ Ed Williams (Alligator Records), The Texas Horns, Joe Sublett and surprise guests.

Both the Bowery Electric show and the Lincoln Center showcase are free and open to the public. For more information visit: https://antonesnightclub.com/50th-anniversary/ 

Back in Austin, the first ever show at Antone’s took place on July 15, 1975 – from zydeco king Clifton Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band. To mark the 50th anniversary proper, the club has announced a month of concerts featuring Antone’s staples, returning to their hallowed stage. Highlights include Take Me To The River All-Stars Memphis Soul Revue featuring Carla Thomas and Hi Rhythm on June 20, as well as Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-A-Whirl Band with Anson Funderburgh on July 12. On the 15th, C.J. Chenier will lead his Red Hot Louisiana Band at Antone’s – alongside sets from Primer and the Antone’s 50th Allstars, including Derek O’Brien, Lou Ann Barton, Marcia Ball, Rodney Craig, Sarah Brown and many more.

Check out the full line-up for Antone’s 50th anniversary concert series here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/3704509?venueID=476138 

Previous celebrations of Antone’s 50th anniversary have included two nights of Allstar Jams at Austin Blues Fest in April featuring Gary Clark Jr., as well as a day party and official showcase during SXSW, which was praised by Rolling Stone for “pointing the way towards the future of the blues.” Later this year, a special episode of Austin City Limits will air on PBS nationally celebrating Antone’s 50th – including performances from many of the artists listed above.

Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues Tracklist

The Last Real Texas Blues Album

Going Down – Bobby Rush & Jimmie Vaughan
Reconsider Baby – Benny Turner feat. Derek O’Brien
Flip, Flop And Fly – Jivin’ Gene feat. Charlie Sexton
You’ll Lose A Good Thing – Kam Franklin
If You Change Your Mind – Lil’ Ed Williams
Talkin’ ‘Bout My Friends – Kim Wilson & The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Those Lonely, Lonely Nights – McKinley James
The Sky Is Crying – Lurrie Bell feat. Joe Sublett
Lead Me On – Ruthie Foster
Bad Boy – Doyle Bramhall II
Just Like A Bird Without A Feather – Big Bill Morganfield
Honest I Do – John Primer
Lookin’ Good – Eve Monsees feat. Lurrie Bell & Billy Gibbons
The Things That I Used To Do – Lynn August feat. Marcia Ball
Willie The Wimp – C.J. Chenier
You Got Me Where You Want Me – Sue Foley
If (I Could Be With You) – Kam Franklin
Message From Miss Lavelle – Lavelle White feat. Derek O’Brien & Marcia Ball

Bonus 45 

Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy – Los Lobos

Tell Me One More Time

Sugar Coated Love – Lou Ann Barton
I’m So Glad – Snooky Pryor
It Hurts Me, Too – Angela Strehli Band
No Special Rider – Lazy Lester
You’re Gonna Make Me Cry – Lavelle White
I Won’t Cry – Doug Sahm
A Fool in Love – Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli
Too Sorry – Doyle Bramhall
Gone Blind – Sue Foley
Hear From My Daddy – Barbara Lynn
Don’t Touch Me – Kim Wilson
Going Down Slow – Pinetop Perkins
 

We Went Live In ‘75

Chicken Shack / Sugar Bear Intro (Live) – Pinetop Perkins
Walking By Myself (Live) – Jimmy Rogers
Built Up From The Ground (Live) – Sunnyland Slim
Double Trouble (Live) – Otis Rush
Bigtown Playboy (Live) – Eddie Taylor
Look On Yonder’s Wall (Live) – Buddy Guy
What It Takes To Get A Good Woman (Live) – Angela Strehli
Cold Cold Feeling (Live) – Albert Collins
Catfish Blues (Live) – Gary Clark Jr.
Midnight Creeper (Live) – James Cotton