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Michael Corcoran has died. He was a one-of-a-kind music critic for decades here in Austin, a gadfly in the best sense of the word. He knew everybody and everything about everybody. He was a badass that even to be an object of his scorn was somehow special.  I saw him at a Shinyribs show in early May but I spoke with him on the phone less than two weeks ago when he called to tell me that he'd heard Jewel Brown was ailing. He was also a scholar: his books "All Over the Map" and "Ghost Notes"  are two of the best books ever written about Texas music. I crib from them for Traces of Texas all the time, shamelessly. I told him so and he said "I wouldn't have it any other way."   He was just about to finish a third one about Austin music history. It was to be published in early September. His essays on all manner of Texas music were definitive. One of my readers said that, when somebody dies, we lose a library. With Michael's death, we're losing not just a library but a museum. 

I am heartbroken. Damn. RIP Corky.

 

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No one has ever chronicled the Austin music scene better. His love of music was obvious and spanned the spectrum of all genres. His loss is huge for Austin.

Had to look, he was 68 and probably in generally poor health. Seems like maybe he was just coming into his own when I was there, mid- to late-80s.

But yeah, he just fit with the Austin ouevre in a way not many writers did.

RIP.

Even if you found Corcoran to be a bit smug in his writing, you never missed a column. He was a master at his craft and knew everything about Austin music.  There's no one left to fill that void.  Just another nail in the coffin of the Austin music scene.

 

My best Corky story has been told before, but that's never stopped me:

I was a volunteer for SXSW 2, working for Margaret Moser on "security".  (If you know me in real life you know how comical that is.)  I had the brilliant idea that we should provide sober rides for festival attendees, so Margaret got Louis Black (asshole) on board, and he told me to rent a Chevy van.  I did.  I drove that thing all over town for 4 straight nights, and I typically only had one passenger at any given time -- Corky.  He was pretty much continuously hammered, but a whole lot of fun to hang out with.  I don't think he ever got my name right.

Edited by jimmyjazz

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There will be a memorial service for him at Antone's on Monday, July 15th. Doors open at 1:30. Service at 2:00 p.m. Music at 4:00 p.m.

 

I got here in 1979 and he became as much of the music scene in Austin as the music itself over time.  Hell he just retired recently too.  I am pretty sure I was standing next to him at the Soulhat reunion show at Antones last fall.  

RIP you had a good run! 

Here is his Black Cat recollections https://michaelcorcoran.substack.com/p/clubland-paradise-black-cat-lounge

Edited by horn4life

That is a bummer. never met him personally, but saw him in clubs many many times in the late 80s and 90s.

He always look hammered or hungover - was just the way it was.

His articles in the Chronicle (or maybe it was the Stateman - memories fade) during that time where must reading.

Edited by yoladu

Is there even a relevant music venue left on Dirty Sixth?  Everything is on Red River or the east side.  Once developers finally make inroads on Red River, that's probably it for the Austin music scene.

 

Sad news.  I read many of his columns and reviews (particularly when I was living in Austin), and generally enjoyed his writing.  68 is too damn young.    

Somebody more astute than I should dig up his bit about new names for Zeitgeist (which became The Reivers).  I think one name was something like "No, We Never Did It, OK Maybe Once In The Van On Tour".

Well, funnier than I wrote it.

On 7/13/2024 at 4:33 PM, CooterBrown said:

Is there even a relevant music venue left on Dirty Sixth?  Everything is on Red River or the east side.  Once developers finally make inroads on Red River, that's probably it for the Austin music scene.

 

I don't even think of 6th for music... to me it is Red River.  Hope they won't screw it up but, that said, the scene will move and evolve.  The east side scene is growing.  It will shift.  For now, I love Red River...  go support live music this weekend.

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