James McMurtry: Austin Original

Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, and for good reason: its numerous live music venues and colorful local clubs offer seasoned professionals and up-and-coming bands the chance to perform for live audiences seven days a week throughout the year. One of the most popular local performers is James McMurtry, whose roots-rock anthems gained critical acclaim and popularity due to their inclusion of topical subject matter and down-home bluesy style.  McMurtry can be heard performing live on stage most Wednesday evenings at the Continental Club in Austin.

The son of famous Western novelist Larry McMurtry, James McMurtry first began playing the guitar at age seven; he did not break into the music business until 1987, eighteen years later, when he won the New Folk songwriting contest. Family connections helped McMurtry make contact with John Mellencamp, who later produced McMurtry’s first album in 1989, “Too Long in the Wasteland.”  Additional albums soon followed, including “Candyland” and “Where’d You Hide the Body” in the early nineties.   It was not until the release of McMurtry’s first tour album, “Live in Aught Three,” however, that McMurtry began taking a public stand in the political arena.

McMurtry had become concerned about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the attitudes of public officials, including Dick Cheney and George W. Bush.  His direct and cutting criticisms of the war and the prevailing political climate struck a chord with equally frustrated listeners, and McMurtry’s first big hit, “We Can’t Make It Here,” gave voice to the repressed political anger of music-lovers all around the world.  The song was made available for free download and received significant radio airtime, creating both publicity and controversy for the performer and album.  “I wasn't aware of the power of the Internet at all,” McMurtry stated in a 2008 interview.  The sudden success of the single helped “Childish Things” to achieve respectable sales and critical praise, and placed McMurtry squarely in the ranks of politically-active musical artists.

Further controversy came with the song “Cheney’s Toy”, which depicted George W. Bush as the puppet of his influential vice president and attracted a number of angry letters to radio stations and to McMurtry himself. The pressure brought to bear proved ineffectual, however, since McMurtry’s albums are produced by independent record labels.  “Childish Things” won the prestigious Album of the Year award at the 2006 Americana Music Awards, along with “We Can’t Make It Here” as Song of the Year.  

McMurtry’s most recent album, “Just Us Kids,” reached 136th on the Billboard charts, marking his first appearance in the top 200.  McMurtry currently divides his time between touring, making albums, and performing live at the Continental Club on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, his adopted home. While McMurtry’s stated liberal views might seem unusual for Texas, McMurtry said of Austin’s political climate, “It’s not tough living in Austin at all.  Austin’s a little blue dot in a sea of red.”  Certainly Austin residents have embraced the songwriter-performer and his unique roots-rock offerings, making his performances at the Continental some of the most well-attended and popular events at the historic club.  For those lucky enough to catch one of his live performances, James McMurtry offers his listeners a musical and political experience that truly is uniquely Austin.