Austin Roots

In March 2020, when the world shut down, Eddie Wilson compiled an eclectic list of Austin's artists, authors, movers, and shakers who defined the city’s cultural scene in the sixties, seventies, and eighties. In their words, we thread together what made the city they called home, a world renown destination for music, art, and food. Listen to Eddie (Threadgill’s proprietor and author of Armadillo World Headquarters), historian Jason Mellard, and our esteemed friends connect on a nostalgic journey down memory lane, with stories of food, music, politics, measuring the true character of Austin, Texas. Music by Jake Andrews Music Content Warning: adult themes 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

"Archiving The History of Austin" with Leea Mechling 05/20/2026

"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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/41285930

"A Cartoonist's View of Underground Characters" with Gilbert Shelton 05/13/2026

"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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/41135235

"Austin's Early Art Scene" with Danny Garrett 05/06/2026

"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: 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40694040

"The Contemporaneous Armadillo" with Woody Roberts 02/17/2026

"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: 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40142525

"Keeping the Heart in the Music Community" with Emma Little 04/22/2026

"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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40584655

"The Underground Comix Movement" with Dave Moriaty 04/15/2026

"The Underground Comix Movement" with Dave Moriaty "The Underground Comix Movement" with Dave Moriaty “The cartoons never made any money, in my opinion… we became the default printer for the revolution from the beginning. We printed family dog posters, we printed straight theater posters. I still have all the pamphlets that we did for the Berkeley Revolution, various types and, we also printed lots of pamphlets and books for people that were frankly either schizophrenic or bipolar, that were very amusing, even though somewhat confusing.” (Dave Moriaty) This episode of Austin Roots features Dave Moriaty, a key figure in the 1960s-70s Texas counterculture who bridged Port Arthur, Austin, and San Francisco. Moriaty co-founded the influential Underground Comics publisher Ripoff Press and later became managing editor of the Austin Sun newspaper. The conversation explores his journey from Port Arthur's surprising cultural scene, through University of Texas Austin's early counterculture, military service during Vietnam, founding Ripoff Press in San Francisco with fellow Texans, and his return to Austin to work on the Austin Sun. The interview reveals the interconnected web of Texas creatives who shaped both coasts' counterculture movements. Content Warning: adult themes, references to drug use Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom. Chapters: 03:00 - Port Arthur, how the petrochemical industry attracted professionals during Depression 05:00 - The "hood intellectuals" cohort: Jim Langdon, Janis Joplin, and others 06:00 - Louisiana bar scene and early creative friendships 08:00 - Arriving at UT in 1959 for aerospace engineering 09:00 - The Ranger humor magazine parties 10:00 - Jim Langdon 12:00 - Threadgill's and the beatnik scene 13:00 - Early Austin counterculture figures like Powell St. John 14:00 - Beatniks before Hippies 17:00 - European travel with Jack Jackson before being drafted in 1966 19:00 - Marine Corps experience during Vietnam escalation 20:00 - Typing skills saving him from combat deployment 22:00 - Moving to San Francisco and joining underground newspaper scene 25:00 - Founding Ripoff Press with Gilbert Shelton, Fred Todd, and Jack Jackson 26:00 - The "Texas Mafia" in San Francisco's counterculture 28:00 - Technical challenges: fires, relocations, equipment disasters 31:00 - Printing underground materials and establishing national distribution 38:00 - Working with Robert Crumb and other cartoonists 41:00 - Final visit with Janis Joplin 44:00 - Coming back to Texas in 1974 as underground scene changed 50:00 - Rescuing the Austin Sun from financial collapse 51:00 - Managing editor role and keeping the paper afloat 54:00 - The Sun's influence on the Austin Chronicle 59:00 - Austin's evolution from a place people left to a destination 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: Dave Moriaty, founder of the Underground Comix, Ripoff Press, and key figure in the paper, the Austin Sun. 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40587025

"The Real Deal in Austin Food" with Hoover Alexander 04/08/2026

"The Real Deal in Austin Food" with Hoover Alexander "The Real Deal in Austin Food" with Hoover Alexander Food, Community, and Austin's Culinary Legacy, breaking bread with Hoover Alexander. In this deeply personal conversation, Hoover Alexander shares his journey from East Austin neighborhood kid to restaurant proprietor, weaving together stories of food, culture, and community. Growing up in a "small village" within Austin, Hoover describes a tightly-knit East Austin where everything was within bicycle distance - from Thompson's Grocery to Rosewood Park, from barbecue joints run by relatives to the Harlem Theater. His career in restaurants began almost accidentally at Nighthawk Steakhouse in 1973, where he learned under the legendary Harry Akin - a trailblazing restaurateur who integrated his restaurants during segregation and served as advisor to LBJ. The Nighthawk became Hoover's "parallel training ground" where he mastered every aspect of restaurant operations. Hoover eloquently describes how food serves as a prism for discussing culture, history, and heritage. His menu at Hoover's Cooking honors the "smoke culture" of Texas barbecue, the Tex-Mex influences from his Catholic school days, and the farm-to-table traditions of his family's roots in Elgin, Texas. He sees his restaurant as continuing Nighthawk's legacy of bringing diverse communities together across the table. The conversation also explores the transformation of East Austin, the entrepreneurial spirit of pre-integration Black businesses, and how the restaurant industry provided opportunities - and created lasting memories and relationships that transcend the challenges of the work. Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom. Chapters: 01:00 - The "small village" of East Austin 05:00 - Unpaved streets and dirt roads 08:00 - "Farm to table" before it was a buzzword 09:00 - The smoke culture of Texas beef 12:00 - Tex-Mex as "second food group" from Catholic school 14:00 - The soul in Texas home cooking 20:00 - The Nighthawk Steakhouse legacy 24:00 - Harry Akin as trailblazer 28:00 - Seven Nighthawk locations at peak 31:00 - Starting as busboy/dishwasher in 1973 at the Nighthawk Steakhouse 35:00 - Bringing people together at the table 38:00 - College years and working multiple jobs 39:00 - Opening Toulouse on Sixth Street in 1982 41:00 - Working at Good Eats Cafe and eventual buy-in 42:00 - The handshake deal for Hoover's 43:00 - Opening Hoover’s on Manor Road 44:00 - The restaurant as integrated space and community hub 46:00 - "Texas home cooking" honoring multiple influences 47:00 - Mississippi Delta hot tamales and cultural fusion 48:00 - Southern Foodways Alliance and Food Ways Texas 49:00 - Making something good from what's available 51:00 - Richard Overton's neighborhood 52:00 - Honoring great-great-grandfather's entrepreneurship 53:00 - The importance of relationships over material things 54:00 - Location: 2002 Manor Road, east of I-35 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: Hoover Alexander - Native East Austinite, fifth generation Texan, proprietor of Hoover's Cooking (2002 Manor Road) 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40693975

"The Vulcan Gas Company" with Don Hyde 04/01/2026

"The Vulcan Gas Company" with Don Hyde "The Vulcan Gas Company" with Don Hyde “I never had the idea of making money. That wasn't the point. I don't think there were many clubs anywhere that had that as a premise. Utopia… it was one of the first countercultural clubs run by the counterculture itself.” (Don Hyde) This episode of Austin Roots features Eddie Wilson and Dr. Jason Mellard in conversation with Don Hyde, a pivotal figure in Austin's 1960s music scene and the principal founder of the legendary Vulcan Gas Company. Hyde shares his journey from arriving in Austin at age five in 1953 to becoming a central figure in the city's psychedelic rock movement. The conversation explores Hyde's early experiences with peyote and LSD, his iconic front-row encounter with Bob Dylan's first electric tour performance, and his vision of creating a San Francisco-style ballroom venue in Austin. Hyde candidly discusses the political intrigue surrounding his work on John Tower's Republican campaigns while simultaneously running a countercultural music venue, the intense pressure from authorities to shut down the Vulcan, and the complex relationships with his partners. The episode also covers Hyde's life after Austin, including his relationship with director Sam Peckinpah, running a movie theater in Sonoma County, and eventually settling in Italy. Throughout, Hyde provides a rare insider's perspective on how Austin's music scene evolved from folk to psychedelic rock, and how the Vulcan Gas Company laid the groundwork for what would become the city's legendary music culture in the 1970s. Content Warning: adult themes, references of drug use Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom. Chapters: 01:00 - First impressions: the Capitol, natural beauty, and the Frisco restaurant 04:00 - Father's conservative politics and friendship with progressive figures like Ronnie Dugger 05:00 - 1963 as the pivotal year: Kennedy assassination and LBJ's presidency 06:00 - Working at Tasker Hudson's cactus garden and discovering peyote 07:00 - First peyote experience 09:00 - Bob Dylan's September 1965 concert: front row, first electric tour performance 10:00 - Trips to San Francisco and exposure to the ballroom scene 11:00 - Working for John Tower's 1966 reelection campaign 14:00 - Sister's betrayal and the LSD drug bust 18:00 - Austin’s folk music to electrical amplification 19:00 - Being raised on the music of Jimmy Rogers, Big Bill Bru and Lightning Hopkins 23:00 - The Vulcan Gas Company’s Utopian Vision 26:00 - The physical space: warehouse layout, light show, church pews, swamp cooler 29:00 - Constant police surveillance and raids 33:00 - Booking philosophy: original music only, no cover bands 35:00 - Austin's problem: requiring validation from outside before embracing local talent 36:00 - Breaking down barriers: bringing West Coast acts to Austin 41:00 - Partner dynamics: Gary Eitel, Houston White, Sandy Lockett 45:00 - Blues connections: Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, Big Joe Williams 51:00 - Jerry Spain's warning in March 1969 52:00 - San Francisco move and life after Austin 53:00 - Running the Raven Theater in Sonoma County for 10 years 55:00 - The erasure of history: Bill Bentley interview controversy 1:05 - Relationship with Sam Peckinpah 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: Don Hyde - Founder of the Vulcan Gas Company, theater owner, Sam Peckinpah archivist 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40584495

"Famous Texas Legislation" with Dave Richards 03/24/2026

"Famous Texas Legislation" with Dave Richards "Famous Texas Legislation" with Dave Richards “What I remember is Eddie coming by one time and asking Ann (Governor Ann Richards) and I to go with him to see this old armory he'd found. He was thinking of making it into a music venue. And we went down to this dusty old place and uh, I suppose we were encouraging.” (Dave Richards on the Armadillo World Headquarters) David Read Richards (June 10, 1933 – November 13, 2025), interview recorded in 2021. This episode of Austin Roots features an extensive conversation with attorney Dave Richards, a pivotal figure in Texas civil liberties, voting rights, and labor law from the 1960s through the 1990s. Richards shares stories spanning from his early labor law practice in Dallas through landmark Supreme Court cases, his involvement in Austin's countercultural movements, and the evolution of Texas politics. The conversation covers his role in the May 1970 anti-war march, defending underground newspapers like the Rag and Dallas Notes, dismantling loyalty oaths at UT, and the groundbreaking White v. Regester case that revolutionized minority representation in Texas. Interwoven throughout are colorful anecdotes about the Armadillo World Headquarters, Scholz Garden, the Raw Deal, and legendary Austin characters including the Mad Dogs, The Flying Zs, and fellow activists who shaped the city's progressive culture. Content Warning: adult themes, obscene language, references to drug use Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on computers zoom. Chapters: 01:00 - Introduced to Eddie through Stan Alexander 02:00 - Dallas days and right-wing atmosphere 03:00 - Meeting Eddie to see the future the Armadillo World Headquarters 04:00 - The May 1970 anti-war demonstrations 07:00 - Judge Roberts saying “Let 'em March” 09:00 - The improbable “Bud” Shrake 10:00 - The honorary Mad Dogs 12:00 - Eddie opens the Raw Deal 16:00 - Jane Fonda stops in Austin to protest the war 18:00 - Scholz Garden as a liberal gathering place 19:00 - The Flying Zs and legendary Austin characters 27:00 - Defending the Rag, the underground newspaper 30:00 - Young waves of activism and the “radical lawyers conferences” 34:00 - Stoney Burns and the Dallas Notes obscenity case 39:00 - Texas Supreme Court arguments and victories 40:00 - University of Texas loyalty oath elimination 43:00 - Becoming a labor lawyer in Dallas 46:00 - Role of unions in Texas progressive politics 49:00 - Coalition of labor, civil rights, and liberal movements 52:00 - White v. Regester (1973) landmark case 54:00 - Creating single member districts 56:00 - Staying in the fight 58:00 - Working with Judge Wayne Justice 1:00 - County commissioner and city council redistricting in East Texas 1:03 - Shuttle bus worker strike activates campus students into politics 1:04 - Ann Richards' county commissioner campaign 1:05 - Ann’s swearing-in ceremony at the Raw Deal 1:07 - Connections across generations of activists 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: Dave Richards, an accomplished civil rights and labor lawyer, with a “sue the bastards” battle cry; head of the landmark voting rights case, White v. Regester. Dave’s memoir: Once Upon a Time in Texas: A Liberal in the Lone Star State is published through UT Press. 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 On November 13, 2025, David Richards passed away peacefully at home at age 92, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Novack; his children Dan, Clark, Ellen, Sam, and Hallie Richards, 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Cecile Richards. (Dignity Memorial, November 17, 2025) /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40584295

"The Austin/San Francisco Connection" with Travis Rivers 03/18/2026

"The Austin/San Francisco Connection" with Travis Rivers "The Austin/San Francisco Connection" with Travis Rivers From underground publishing to music management to technology adoption, Travis Rivers' life exemplifies counterculture entrepreneurship. “I've remarked that my entire life's career has been noticing a need and filling it.” (Travis Rivers) This episode of Austin Roots features Travis Rivers, a pivotal figure in the Texas-California music connection of the 1960s. Rivers discusses his Austin upbringing, his role as a co-founder of the San Francisco Oracle newspaper, and his catalytic influence on Janis Joplin's career with Big Brother and the Holding Company. As manager of Tracy Nelson and Mother Earth, Rivers helped pioneer the country-rock movement by recording in Nashville, reducing touring costs and opening the city to West Coast artists. The conversation traces his journey from Austin bookshops and UT libraries through the Haight-Ashbury scene, explores the cultural shift from community-building to commercialization, and concludes with his transition to the early computer industry and Adobe Photoshop. Content Warning: adult themes Chapters: 01:00 - Family history in Austin since the 1880s 03:00 - Early entrepreneurship - paper route success 04:00 - High school and introduction to theater 05:00 - Travis Bookshop and rare book dealing 09:00 - Library work and archival skills 14:00 - Jazz clubs and integration (Tropicana, Flamingo, Deluxe Hotel) 15:00 - Relationships with Bobby Bradford and other musicians 16:00 - Folk and country connections (Mance Lipscomb, Powell St. John) 20:00 - California Migration (1965-1966) 22:00 - Arrival in Haight-Ashbury 23:00 - The Print Met bookstore 25:00 - San Francisco Oracle (1966-1968) 27:00 - Connecting Janis Joplin with Big Brother 28:00 - Building Mother Earth around Powell St. John 30:00 - Bill Graham and the Fillmore Auditorium 33:00 - Bill Graham at the Armadillo World Headquarters 39:00 - Haight-Ashbury's Decline (1967-1968) 40:00 - The Human Be-In as peak moment 42:00 - Securing Mercury Records deal 44:00 - Tracy Nelson's preference for Nashville 45:00 - "Make a Joyful Noise" album 47:00 - Career Transitions and Film school in New York 49:00 - Computer industry entry and Adobe Photoshop involvement 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: Travis Rivers - Cultural entrepreneur, San Francisco Oracle co-founder, music manager for Tracy Nelson and Mother Earth 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40158705

"Early Folk Singing" with Powell St John 03/04/2026

"Early Folk Singing" with Powell St John "Early Folk Singing" with Powell St John Powell St. John (September 18, 1940 – August 22, 2021) Episode recorded in 2020 Wednesday night hootenannies, Peyote, and Janis Joplin, brim the surface of Powell's contributions to folk music and Texas songwriting. This episode explores the vibrant Austin folk music scene of the 1960s through the eyes of two key figures: Powell St. John and Eddie Wilson. Powell St. John was a harmonica player and songwriter who performed with Janis Joplin in the Waller Creek Boys, wrote songs for the 13th Floor Elevators, and later pioneered country rock with Tracy Nelson and Mother Earth. Eddie Wilson became the impresario who brought folk legends to the Armadillo World Headquarters stage. Together with host Dr. Jason Mellard, they paint a vivid picture of Kenneth Threadgill's legendary venue - Threadgill’s Place, the University of Texas folk scene, integration of blues artists like Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin' Hopkins, and the meteoric rise of Janis Joplin from local folkie to rock icon. Content Warning: adult themes, references to violence and drug use, offensive language Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on computers zoom. Chapters: 02:00 - Growing up in Laredo - farm life on the Mexican border 04:00 - Learning harmonica after doctor prohibited flute playing 05:00 - Meeting Lanny Wiggins and forming Waller Creek Boys 06:00 - Janis Joplin joins the group 07:00 - Kenneth Threadgill's background 08:00 - The bootleg operation and whiskey stash house 10:00 - Eddie Wilson's initial visits to Threadgill’s in 1959 12:00 - UT Sings and the student union scene 15:00 - Jack Jackson's comics documenting the scene 17:00 - The Hootenanny Hoots band formation 21:00 - Threadgill’s Place, physical space and atmosphere 22:00 - Mance Lipscomb’s broad repertoire and gentle nature 26:00 - Lightnin' Hopkins performance at Armadillo World Headquarters 28:00 - First impressions of Janis Joplin 33:00 - Janis’ friendship with Powell and migration to California 34:00 - The Psychedelic Transition and the formation of the 13th Floor Elevators 35:00 - Rocky Erickson's spectacular performances 36:00 - Powell's songwriting contributions 37:00 - Charles Whitman tower shooting impact 38:00 - Travis Rivers as manager for Mother Earth 40:00 - Reconnecting with Janis in California 41:00 - "Bye Bye Baby" recording and credit issues 42:00 - Importance of preserving history Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills AND Check out our store here and collect our gear: Guest List: Powell St. John - Harmonica player, songwriter, founding member of Waller Creek Boys with Janis Joplin, songwriter for 13th Floor Elevators, pioneer of country rock with Mother Earth. 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40318075

"Austin in the 1920s" with Richard Zelade 03/04/2026

"Austin in the 1920s" with Richard Zelade “We have this idea now of Austin being this liberal, communist bastion, but a hundred years ago we were one of the most conservative cities in Texas.” - Richard Zelade. Richard Zelade, author of Austin and the Jazz Age, shares fascinating details about how UT Austin became the epicenter of early jazz culture in Texas, producing influential musicians like Jimmy's Joys and pioneering figures in country western music including Tex Ritter and John Lomax. The conversation explores the stark contrast between conservative Austin city politics and the liberal university culture, covering topics from wild jazz bands to the Ranger humor magazine, hamburger culture on "the drag," and legendary figures like gunslinger Ben Thompson. The episode reveals how Austin's 1920s cultural renaissance - driven by innovations like radio station KUT's powerful broadcasts and the university's bohemian spirit following WWI and the Spanish Flu - laid foundations for the city's later reputation as a music capital. CW: adult themes, historical references Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on zoom. Chapters: 03:00 - Bicycle training and the Handbook of Texas 05:00 - Advertisements of early jazz records 08:00 - The Marshall of Austin, Ben Thompson 13:00 - Early bands: Shakey's Orchestra, formation and exile 17:00 - Radio station KUT's crucial role in spreading jazz nationally 20:00 - Unbridled nature of early jazz music as a result from WWI 24:00 - 1920s humor magazine and the Steiner family 26:00 - The sexual revolution and temporary marriages 30:00 - John Lomax's cowboy song collection journey 33:00 - J. Frank Dobie and Carl Sandberg's East Austin club visits 36:00 - Barbette: Round Rock's gender-bending trapeze artist in Paris 38:00 - Moton Crockett: elevator music and Big Bertha cannon 39:00 - John Bowles as premier yodeler and early singing cowboy 43:00 - 1904 origins at Camp Mabry fair and "Hamburger Alley" 46:00 - Jimmy Joy’s improvisational and wild performances 49:00 - Gene Ramey's path to Kansas City 51:00 - 1928 segregation plan vs. jazz appreciation 52:00 - Conservative city vs. liberal university dichotomy Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills AND Check out our store here and collect our gear: Guest List: Richard Zelade, Austin historian and Author, Austin Murder & Mayhem, Austin in the Jazz Age, and Guy Town by Gaslight 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 Producers, 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 /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40306620

"The Dixie Mafia" with Jesse Sublett 02/27/2026

"The Dixie Mafia" with Jesse Sublett Bank burglaries, prostitution, and gambling, the hidden layers of Austin history. "Everybody knew who all the tough guys were... every couple of years there was a new super bad guy." In this episode of Austin Roots, hosts Eddie Wilson and Dr. Jason Mellard sit down with Jesse Sublett to explore the hidden criminal history of 1960s Austin. Sublett, a musician-turned-author, discusses his research into the Overton Gang, a notorious criminal organization that operated in Austin during the 1960s, and the colorful underworld characters who shaped the city's darker side. The conversation covers the gang's leader, Tim Overton—a former UT football player who turned to crime after being kicked off the team by coach Darrell Royal. The discussion explores the gang's criminal activities, and their connections to Austin's nightlife scene, particularly venues like Ernie's Chicken Shack on East 11th Street. Sublett reveals fascinating connections between Austin's criminal underworld and mainstream history. The episode also examines legendary madam Hattie Valdez, who ran houses of prostitution on South Congress for decades while becoming a respected civic figure. The conversation extends into the 1970s, discussing how law enforcement evolved, the role of reformers like DA Ronnie Earle, and Sublett's research into bail bondsman Frank Smith's criminal empire. Throughout, the hosts connect this criminal history to Austin's music scene, showing how these worlds intersected at venues like the Armadillo World Headquarters. Content Warning: sexual references, adult themes Chapters: 01:00 - The Overton Gang. 04:00 - Tim Overton's background as UT football player under Darrell Royal. 05:00 - Madams Hattie Valdez - Legendary madam operating from 1920s-1960s, civic donor, real estate investor. 14:00 - Ernie's Chicken Shack, gambling and prostitution. 17:00 - East Austin blues clubs and the integration era. 22:00 - Frank Smith - 1970s bail bondsman 30:00 - East-West class divide at Austin High School. Eddie Wilson's Switchblade Business. 33:00 - Formation of the Overton Gang. Gang's criminal activities: operating territory: small-town banks across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas. 40:00 - Charles Whitman - UT Tower shooter who lost money to gang in poker game (1961). 47:00 - The 13th Floor Elevators and police surveillance. 51:00 - Hattie Valdez's Complicated Relationships. 55:00 - Overton Gang's dissolution in the early 1970s. 57:00 - The 1964 UT Co-op heist during the UT-A&M Thanksgiving game (biggest cash burglary in Austin history). 59:00 - 1966 FBI bust in Moody, Texas and subsequent conspiracy trial. 1:03:00 - Armadillo World Headquarters relationship with law enforcement. Musicians' empathy with outlaws due to shared police harassment. 1:04:00 - Armadillo World Headquarters solving the Ken Featherston murder. 1:07:00 - Frank Smith's Criminal Empire. 1:14:00 - Ronnie Earle and Reform. 1:17:00 - The Reform Generation, including Dave Richards. Vietnam veterans' influence on progressive politics. Transition from fist fights to gun violence. Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook, at @Threadgills Check out our store here and collect our gear: Guest List: Jesse Sublett - Author, 1960s Austin Gangsters and Last Gangster in Austin; Musician, and Austin historian @jessesublett https://jessesublett.com 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 Producers, 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 created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on zoom. /episode/index/show/dd791af3-b4ea-452c-ad5d-5f4bafe75df2/id/40243645

Austin Roots 02/21/2026

Austin Roots

TOPICS