Local Licks Live with Loris Lowe by Doug La Rue & Laura Rojo-La Rue

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"I am a big fan of the Austin Scene and I like having my own music show where I can play what I want and be involved with the local artists" Loris Lowe Austin has long been known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," and for good reason. Many of the world's greatest musicians have made Austin their home and many were lucky enough to be born here. The diversity of styles that make up almost any night on the town, is what sets Austin apart from Memphis, L.A., Chicago, Seattle or even New York. Before the 90's, it was difficult to find any of the local sounds on the radio unless they were already signed with a major record label and on the charts. One exception to the rule was found at the KLBJ-FM studios in the mid-80's. A much needed program, named Local Licks, was born within its walls, and it was the brain child of DJ Jody Denberg. Musicians would go into the KLBJ studios and record live sets which were aired at a later date. The program first aired on August 1984, and the first band to play was The True Believers. It was not until the late eighties when some of the shows began to be recorded in different venues, although more often than not, they were still being recorded in the studio. Some of the early live shows were recorded at Steamboat with people like Omar and the Howlers, Marcia Ball and Alejandro Escovedo.

By 1991, the live portion of Local Licks had found its present home at Pearl's Oyster Bar. Loris Lowe, Music Director for KLBJ-FM took over the program, and was excited by the challenge of working with the different local bands. "I'm a big fan of the Austin Music Scene and I like having my own music show where I can play what I want and be involved with the local artists," says Lowe. She has worked hard to ensure Local Licks Live showcases the high quality of music people are accustomed to listen to in Austin. Recently, Loris was awarded the 1996 Billboard Magazine Award for Best Music Director. Although Loris does not talk much about the award, it is something she has earned due to her hard work and commitment to the music played at KLBJ. Throughout the year, on Sunday nights from 9 to 10:30, she plays a wide array of music from all kinds of formats she receives in her office every day (cassette, CD, data, EP & LP.) She picks up the best from the local music talent and develops a list of 40 or so local bands she feels will fit the Rock-n-Roll format of the station, and starts thinking on a line-up she would like to see during the live season of the program. During the summer, the KLBJ staff along with the Pearls crew go to work to wittle the list down to eight bands who will play during the fall at "Local Licks Live" (simulcast live on 93.7 KLBJ-FM) once a week, usually during the months of September and October.

Lisa Tingle during a live broadcast @ KLBJ 93.7 FM. photo by Laura Rojo

The show has been a success from the very beginning because all the positive influences it has. The radio station fully supports the idea of assisting local talent and does a great job promoting the shows throughout the season. Pearls' Oyster Bar provides an excellent atmosphere for the various types of music featured during the "Live" portion of the season, as well as great cajun cuisine. The first years of "Local Licks Live" were mainly geared towards the blues bands like Bobby Mack & Night Train, and then they began to move towards a mixture of more contemporary styles. Not only does KLBJ provide a venue and a live simulcast for these bands but the staff also puts together a CD that is recorded live during the shows. Each band receives a tape recording of their show and gets to pick which one of their original songs they would like to have on the "Local Licks Live" CD. The CD is put together and sold, usually during the SXSW Music Conference, and always sells very well. All proceeds from the CD's are donated to The Victims of Domestic Violence Emergency Fund. In 1995, the CD's generated about $7,000. This year, the check was presented to the fund, as it has become a tradition, during The Musicians Appreciation Supper at Threadgill's which happens early during the calendar year.

"Heavy Weather" @ Pearls Oyster Bar by Laura Rojo

Bobby Mack & Night Train

Local Licks Live 1990

Omar & the Howlers
Eric Johnson
Slash Cowboy
Poi Dog Pondering
Bobby Mack & Night Train
High Noon
Chris Thomas
Native Sun
Shoulders
The Neptunes
House in Orbit
Big Car
The Vanguards
Twang Twang Shock A Boom
Sue Foley
E.R. Shorts
Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra

Loose Diamonds

Local Licks Live 1991

David Garza and The Lovebeads
Coffee Sergeants
Van Wilks
The Leroi Brothers
Pariah
The Reivers
Loose Diamonds
The Lillian Standfield Band
Jr. Medlow's Tornado Alley
El Jefe'
Three Balls of Fire
The Duckhills
The Wannabes
Hey Zeus
Soul Hat
State of Mind

Malfred Milligan of Storyville by Laura Rojo-La Rue

Local Licks Live 1992

Mason Ruffner
Heavy Weather
Lance Keltner
Toni Price
Bobby Mack and Night Train
Evan Johns and the H-Bombs
Ian Moore and Moment's Notice
16 Tons of Monkeys
Storyville
Two Hoots & A Holler
Big Car
Jimmy Lafave's Night Tribe

Eric Johnson

Local Licks Live 1993

Lost Weekend
Keri Leigh and The Blue Devils
The Ultimate Something
Doyle Bramhall
Radio Thieves
King Friday
Gary Primich
The Guy Forsyth Band
Bonus Tracks:
Omar and The Howlers
Poi Dog Pondering
Eric Johnson

Joe Ely

Local Licks Live 1994

Mr. Rocket Baby
Sue Foley
The Jim Scarborough Band
Jon Geiger
Omar and The Howlers
Teddy Morgan and The Sevilles
Urban Roots

Bonus Tracks:
Joe Ely
Ian Moore
Darden Smith

Van Wilks

Local Licks Live 1995

Pushmonkey
The Twigs
Velvet Hammer
Vallejo
Black Pearl
Laffing Sam
Breedlove
The Billy White Trio
Bonus tracks:
Van Wilks
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Storyville

Local Licks Live 1996

The Wannabes
Vox Box
Chris Duarte
The Lisa Tingle Project
Sunflower
Loose Diamonds
Plum

Local Licks Live 1997

Steamroller
El Flaco
Jackrabbitt King
The Sexton Sextet
Trish Murphy
Steven Doster
Soak
Storyville
Vallejo

As of this publication, we didn't have information about the artists on the bonus tracks.

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