The Sidewinder

Don’t listen to what the detractors say. Sidewinder is doing everything it can to maintain the DNA of the Red River district. A constant stream of awesome bands, cheap beer, awesome space.
All 1 and 2-​star reviews are likely from condo dwellers who live on Red River posing as show-​goers trying to dissuade folks from visiting area venues so they can live in their quiet little homogenized bubble.

I was recently here for a concert at the outdoor stage and there were some things I loved about it and some things I hated.
Will call was super simple. I’ve been to some venues with an awful will call experience and luckily this one was less than a minute long process.
The atmosphere was amazing. There isn’t much better than watching some great artists perform as the sun goes down. It was beautiful outside, but I can’t even imagine attending a show there during summer. I can see it getting hot very quickly.
The music sounded great… Until about 9pm. Another band began playing inside at that time and we heard them OVER the music going on outside (which was quite loud) so that was a downside.
The outside area was very very small, but that didn’t bother me. The area it was in, however… I felt safe once actually in the crowd, but walking to the show and (even worse) walking back to our car outside the show was awful. We had to park pretty far away because there wasn’t great parking at the venue itself. Luckily we were in a big group because I wouldn’t have even considered walking back alone in that area.
All in all if a good band is coming through, it’s worth going! Make sure you’re with someone or just feeling incredibly brave though.

Since when do rock shows end at 11pm? Since this place.
Let’s do the math. Doors at 8, 3 bands. So when does the headliner start? 9:45! So they can be done by 11:00 because noise, condos, we can’t afford a permit, blah blah blah.
I’m out $ 30 for two tickets, because I bought ahead and was operating on rock time, so I arrived 6 minutes before the show ended. But 4 friends who met me at the show arrived at 10:50 and were also all charged the full ticket price at the door — ten minutes before the headliner ended.
The sidewinder: another nail in Austin’s coffin.

Pretty small venue that it set up a little odd. Door man and security either have power trips or are new and dont really know what they’re doing. Plus the drinks are super expensive. $ 4 pbr? Give me a break. I don’t see this place lasting much longer if they keep up their ways they have going now

I’ve seen two shows on the outdoor stage, and they were both fantastic. Great view, cheap beer, and good acoustics. Their outdoor stage is probably my favorite venue in Austin.

I want to love this venue. But it has one glaring issue. The sound absolutely awful. The highs/​mids are super muddy. I get better sound quality standing outside Mohawk.
I think the issue may stem from the two dual 18″ subs hanging over the stage. Put those on the ground where they belong. Hopefully with Transmission doing more shows there, they’ll actually invest in some decent sound.
Other than that, the bar/​space is quite lovely. Some great trees surround the stage, and it kinda feels like you’re watching the band on your back porch. Not too big of a space, but not too small.
Prices are about what you expect, $ 5 for a good beer. Checkout via Square is simple, you close out your tab each time. Service was quick. Self-​serve water available.

It’s funny how the people who most loudly bemoan the changing music scene in Austin are the ones you never see out paying cover and buying drinks and seeing the bands they supposedly love. It’s easy to sit at a computer and bitch.
But fantastically, in the midst of all these changes, something else has happened and that is Lyft. ‘Wait, I came here for a review about a music venue, this chick is cray’ you’re thinking. And you might be right but, driving, looking for parking, paying for parking, the potential for tickets, towing, vandalism, DWIs, etc. are all valid reasons to avoid most of the Austin’s music venues but with Lyft, even on ACL Festival weekend, it was super easy to go out, catch one band at The Sidewinder and call it an early night. No muss, no fuss.
On Friday night at 10:40, I walk into the newly christened Sidewinder for a show: A Giant Dog was going at at 11. Perfect timing. Other than the huge blue stamp on my hand, it was free entry. Score! Except for blue ink on my face this morning. Ah, it’s like being 15 again. Except under 21 had a $ 5 cover *and* blue stuff on their face this morning.
I went to the bartender and sweetly asked him if they had and specials and he looked a little at a loss and said, ‘no.’ I asked how much a Deep Eddy and soda would set me back and he said ‘$ 6.’ I laughed and said, «put that on a chalkboard, that is a special!». Downtown, Friday night, and a pour that makes you glad you took alternate transportation for $ 6. Yes, please.
And they have Square here. The bartender and I jived awhile about how cool that was, no pens, no math, no paper, no left cards, much easier for them to close out at the end of the night. The only thing, it might still be super cool if you carry a little cash for tips but you can tip on your card so either way is appreciated I’m sure. I used to be cool and always tipped in cash, I’m not as cool anymore but I tip more on credit. Square has the percents all built in for you so, it’s super easy.
The only drawback I found to this incredible system is that you get an email receipt for each transaction cause Sidewinder closes you out every time. So if you don’t want to wake up with three emails from Square in your inbox, wondering how you had three drinks in an hour and a half, and how you’re going to get that blue shit off your face, set up a rule to banish the Square receipts to another email folder and wonder about your functional alcoholism another day.
As for the blue shit, I can’t help you, even eye makeup remover is powerless against it.
As for the sound, A Giant Dog sounded like a totally different band than what I recall. In a good way. Because I’d only seen them at Hotel Vegas, the venue with the worst sound in town by many opinions, which interestingly, totally works for AGD, but so does better and/​or different sound. The system at The Sidewinder is much better and Waller Creek in the background and the openness of the back aid in smoothing and dampening the sound. Which proves, you have to see bands at a variety of venues to really get a sense of them. And besides, if you like a band, it’s cool and easy to follow them to various venues and it helps you get a sense of what you like and don’t like.
Instead of complaining about the changing scene, go see local bands where you can, while you can. Especially if it’s no cover and drinks are cheap. Then in 10 years, when that local band is headlining at ACL Fest, you can be a smug jerk and say, «I’m not going to ACL, I used to see those guys for free at The Sidewinder.»