11/11/08

So disrespectful of customers and misrepresents venue

by concertlover

I am so dissapointed in the backyard recently. I had been a fan of the Austin icon until recently. The employees were recently very rude and inconsiderate to my husband and I and they misrepresented their show through advertising in my opinion. When I tried to discuss this noone was willing to work with us and treated us as if they could do whatever they pleased and forget about a positive customer experience! This was not the old backyard I discovered when moving to Austin 14 years ago. Better off seeing a concert somewhere in the air conditioning where the venue values their customers.

• Pros: good bands
• Cons: poor customer experience, lack of respoect of customers

Enjoy the amazing acoustics of this outdoor venue under the shade of 500-year-old oak trees.

by Contributor

In Short
This open-air amphitheater, with a capacity of 3,200 for seated shows and 4,500 for general admission, has hosted such notables as Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, Tracy Chapman and the entire cast of the Reggae Sun Splash. Neighbor Willie Nelson is also good for at least two shows a year. It's the sister venue--or, in this case, the country cousin--to both the Austin Music Hall and La Zona Rosa.

06/07/07

THE BACKYARD IS HORRIBLE!!!!!

by the9962

I bought FRONT ROW tickets for my husband and me to see the March 17, 2007 performance of Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, and Asleep at the Wheel. All I have to say is, we will NEVER return to the Backyard. From years ago, we knew parking at Backyard events is a joke, so we factored that in to our plans, figuring the tacky addition of cheesy, strip shopping centers behind the place would only magnify the problem. (Still, parking was a half hour in, and an hour and a half out: You would think the Backyard would care.) But after standing in line, enduring the drunks behind us constantly stumbling into our backsides, we were shocked to discover that we had to be FRISKED in order to enter the venue. I've been to plenty of concerts/events (including post 9/11), and I have NEVER been frisked - they don't even do that at the airport (unless you're some kind of suspect or you get stuck in a random search). I bought tickets for what was supposed to be a "fun" evening, but we got frisked quicker than you can say "arrest warrant." After that needless embarrassment, we finally got to our seats, only to discover the Backyard had hired SPINELESS to watch the left side of the area (as you're facing the stage) between the front row and the stage: There was a constant parade of pandering idiots wandering in front of us, snapping pictures, lingering, and acting as if they were the performers' best buddies. WE COULDN'T WATCH THE SHOW! What did our "usher" do? Nothing! In addition, there were two middle-aged, extremely hyperactive women sitting on my right, calling all their friends on their mobiles, yakking about how "great" the show is, and "can you just hear them?!" Forget asking spineless to intervene - it became completely useless to try to watch or enjoy the show. The Backyard ruined what was to have been a surprise anniversary gift for my husband! Well, no surprise here, folks: Just like those "made in China" box stores behind them, all the Backyard wants is your money.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Everything - don't bother

05/11/07

Parking is a NIGHTMARE

by apefish

The Backyard is a great venue to see bands. I just recently saw M o d e s t M o u s e there and it was a good time. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is beautiful, with many Live Oak trees that add to the "enchanted forest" feel of the place. Despite the fact that a HUGE shopping mall now surrounds the entire venue(as of 2006?) The Backyard still feels like a remote place in the Texas Hill Country.

With that said, this entire experience is ruined by the horrendous parking situation. Getting thousands of cars in and out of the parking area via a 2 lane dirt road is a maddening experience. It took 30 minutes to get in to park, and over an hour to get out. Not worth it.

• Pros: Great venue
• Cons: Terrible parking situation

01/06/07

Backyard mowed over -- Happy now!

by myownharmony

This profile is seriously outdated. There is no longer any charm to this venue.

To the person who complained about the parking fiasco, I hope you're happy now. The Backyard use to be fabulous because it was on a hillside -- the epitome of Texas' Hill Country lush, green beauty -- virtually protected from development (yes, I even appreciated that the land was respected enough not to pave it or add electric lighting. That is why it was so special. And the music was incredible under the stars surrounded by oak trees -- 100 years and older. Now, there's plenty of parking because the trees are gone, the land is paved over and The Backyard, is essentially the FRONTYARD of a friggin shopping center! I mean, I just passed it up and it IS in the shopping center parking lot now. Is nothing sacred?!! I can't tell you how incredibly sad/angry/disgusted I am for the loss of this unique Austin venue. Yes, it's technically still there, but it's lost. Believe me.

There is a lot of Austin's uniqueness that's going by the wayside just to accommodate the newcomers who came for Austin's unique setting but still want all the comforts of whatever hellhole they migrated from. Why can't they come, enjoy it for whatever drew them here and not change it. It feels like Austin is being raped and we're standing by til it's just another city.

When people would go to The Backyard, the stage would be open in the back and the age-old trees would get their own lighting becoming part of the set. It was quite magical. Now, there's Marshall's and Old Navy store fronts all lit up. I'll bet they paid extra for the prime spot in that shopping megapolis just to get the added exposure as "backstage" lighting.

So, I suppose there's plenty of parking now (for all you whiners who wanted it), but the Backyard is NOT worth the visit. Not anymore. I will not attend a show there anymore and I'll bet performers will lose their affection for it, too.

There needs to be a memorial service for it.

• Pros: Nothing good about it anymore.
• Cons: It's in a mall parking lot now.

11/20/06

fun place.....great bands come here

by binman69

this place is at a cool setting if there is good weather. in the back there is a huge tree that you can walk up stairs to get to. i saw string cheese incident here and it was great both nights! i can't wait to come back here for more music

07/05/06

Parking Fiasco

by dcain

Guess I was expecting a higher quality venue, given the cost of admission. Parking was half a mile across bald prairie, upon which, we had to park. The walk into the facility and back out (after dark with no lighting provided) was enveloped within a giant cloud of dust. Hardly what we had expected from "The Best Music Venue". As an added bonus, we got a flat tire out of the deal. It would be nice to see a paved road to the paved parking lot. Maybe it would show that the management cares about their patrons. It was our one and only visit.

• Pros: Food and staff were suffice
• Cons: Parking

02/01/03

Awesome

by lance627

The Backyard is an awesome venue. I was there in August to see John Mayer and the scenery is great and the facilites are wonderful.

• Pros: inexpensive, security

01/22/03

simply beautiful

by Barman1965

unlike anyplace in the world. the trees, the acoustics, the performances. A true Texas gem.

• Pros: sound quality, ambience, staff

11/17/02

Unique

by davidsapp

The most preasant place to enjoy live music in Texas. Large enough to attract top talent, yet small enough to provide close-up seating to the stage.