06/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 09:31
Listen To A 20-Year-Old Gary Clark Jr. Perform "Catfish Blues" Live At Antone's Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dgi_F29Svg
Los Lobos Cover Willie Dixon's "Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy" Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCdibW0VNcI
Read More About The New Singles Via Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gary-clark-jr-catfish-blues-antones-1235365125/
50th Anniversary Celebrations Planned This Month In Austin And New York City
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.
Gary 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).
Gary Clark Jr. at Antone's, 2004 (Photo courtesy of Susan Antone) |
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."
Listen to Gary Clark Jr.'s "Catfish Blues" here: http://newwst.com/catfishblues Listen to Los Lobos' "Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy" here: http://newwst.com/threehundred Pre-order Antone's: 50 Years Of The Blues here: http://newwst.com/antones50 Read more about the new singles and thebox set via Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gary-clark-jr-catfish-blues-antones-1235365125/ 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
Bonus 45
Tell Me One More Time
We Went Live In '75
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Antone's 50th Anniversary @ New York's Bowery Electric (Saturday June 28 )
Jivin' Gene (swamp pop legend)
John Primer (Muddy Waters Blues Band)
Mike Buck (The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
Joe Sublett (Paul Ray & The Cobras)
With DJ sets from: Todd-O-Phonic Todd (WFMU), Eve Monsees, Billie Buck
and Very Special Surprise Guests!
Antone's 50th Super Blues Party is proudly presented by Visit Austin . Follow @visitaustintx on Instagram for upcoming giveaways, promotions, and more.
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