by Melissa Huff
On the first Friday of every month, the lead singer for Mad Cowboys packs his truck in Abilene and drives 200 miles to Austin, to meet his band mates for their standing gig at the Carousel Lounge. The bar has been here for years, her brightly painted, circus-themed murals faded from many long nights and thousands of cigarettes past. Little has changed about the place, although thankfully smoking inside is no longer allowed. Patrons still double-park in the tiny parking lot out front. Just be sure to listen for your car if the bartender gives a shout. You can buy bottles of Lonestar for two dollars, and they offer a few wine selections from a box. If beer and wine isn’t what you’re after, Carousel Lounge is BYOL so bring your own bottle and buy set-ups from the bar.
Mad Cowboys’ set list is a collection of old cowboy songs, lots of Willie and Hank, Jerry Jeff Walker and Cash. The country twang of the vocals mixed well with drums and bass that felt a little more rockabilly. Their original stuff is definitely more rockabilly than straight-up country, but the songs rolled into one another seamlessly and, at times, inspired dancing.
Carousel Lounge is a good old-fashioned dive bar, with lots of regulars, a friendly barkeep, and great live music every first-Friday. Check out Mad Cowboys next time they’re there on Friday, March 1st.
I’ve been to the Carousel Lounge once before and it’s an interesting little bar! The Mad Cowboys sound like a great band. Rockabilly is such fun music. Maybe I’ll go check them out sometime.
Melissa, you’ve made me want to check out the Carousel Lounge. About the only place I go to now is Donn’s Depot, occasionally.