Local Live Music :: Bob Schneider

People in Austin don't even use his last name. They refer to him simply by his first, like he's an old friend. Like he's everyone's old friend. I'm not sure why I haven't yet written about him; he's Austin's most popular singer-songwriter.

Bob Schneider's style is forever evolving. He writes sappy sweet love songs, silly jangly tunes and raunchy, sexy numbers that I skip over when my mom's in the car. (Did I mention my mom loves him too?)

He's been a cornerstone of the local music scene for decades now, a veritable flesh and blood Austin landmark. I came to know of him when I spent my nights (literally each and every night) catching local music on and around the notorious Sixth Street. As a porous college student with an intrinsic love for anything creative, it made sense for me to take my study materials to the upstairs balcony of the now-defunct Steamboat and watch random local bands perform unfamiliar songs while studying. Pen in hand, I'd work on art projects or psych papers while noting bands, songs and the like that caught my attention in the margins. Friends knew of my bizarre study sanctuary and began cluing me in to various musicians worth noting around town. This is how I was introduced to the Scabs.

How someone coaxed me to see a group with such a visually-disturbing name is beyond me. At the time, the nine-piece band enjoyed a Tuesday night residency at the renowned Antone's, a venue that was, conveniently enough, all ages. As a partial social phobe, I was immediately turned off by the unbelievably packed club. The rambunctious nature of the college crowd was almost too much for a sober, slightly shy bookworm with a live music fetish. It wasn't until the end of the show after several songs with sexually explicit lyrics that I grew numb to the crudeness and began to appreciate the fun-loving party band that a dirty-talking Schneider fronted.

Since that time nearly a decade ago, this workaholic musician has kept me entertained with his unbelievable ability to morph into a variety of characters in the span of one show. He currently plays in a low-profile band billed simply as Bob Schneider, alongside long-time bassist and equally awe-inspring artist Bruce Hughes. Biting lyrics, astute rhymes and a certain unexplainable stage presence keep his live shows worthwhile, no matter the group he's fronting.

And if his musical ability isn't enough, he delves into both poetry and art.

Look for the latest musical creations on his MySpace where saucy, fun tracks are available for download.