‘Nothing Stays The Same’ Film Highlights Struggles of Local Venues
Whether it’s the worry specifically about all of the legacy music venues closing down in Austin, TX amid the continued contraction in the “Live Music Capital of the World,” or similar scenarios unfolding all across the United States and the World as the protracted COVID-19 pandemic continues to reap a devastating toll on local stages, a documentary on one of Austin’s most cherished venues offers great insight into the heart and community that makes these venues so important and vital to music.
The 70-minute film Nothing Stays The Same: The Story of the Saxon Pub might be about a specific venue in Austin—and a very important one to the city’s long-standing musical ecosystem. But even if you’ve never been to Austin and don’t know a lot of the names of the artists featured, the film offers a great encapsulation of why it’s so critical to preserve these performance spaces, and the risks behind losing them.
First debuted on the film festival circuit in 2019, and then released to the general public in 2020, the film has received some renewed attention after being released for free to Amazon Prime subscribers and other places, and because it pairs so well with the concerns for local venues in Austin and beyond during the pandemic.
The film focuses on the over 30-year-old Saxon Pub on South Lamar in Austin, which is more of a blues and singer-songwriter spot than a country one, though important names in the Austin country scene are also featured, like the recently-passed James Hand, Joe Ely, and important Texas country character Rusty Wier who played a long-time residency at the location, along with other Austin mainstays such as Guy Forsyth, Bob Schneider, Hector Ward, Patrice Pike, Carolyn Wonderland, and Robynn Shayne also making major appearances.
Nothing Stays The Same directly tackles how rising rents and encroaching developments are creating incursions into the city’s music scene, both through the challenge artists themselves face with cost of living increases, and the challenges the buildings themselves are facing with rising rents, and plans to raze properties for more lucrative developments. The struggles of Saxon Pub owner Joe Ables who opened the establishment in 1990 are chronicled as condo developments choke the establishment on all sides, and the property owner notifies him of plans to sell the location.
The film does a quick, but quality job setting the context of the Austin music scene through a foray into its history, so you understand why an establishment like The Saxon Pub is so critical to Austin music culture, while creating an in-depth view on the Saxon itself—including interviewing some of the venue’s staff and regulars. The film also brings in the perspective of other endangered and important Austin music spots such as The Broken Spoke, The Continental Club, and the now-closed Threadgill’s through interviews with the owners of these establishments, giving you a more complete encapsulation of the challenges facing Austin music beyond the plight of one specific venue.
Along with perhaps turning you onto some good music, showing proper respect to an important Austin night spot, and illustrating the challenges Austin music faces, Nothing Stays The Same also has a happy ending. It won’t be spoiled here, and though it’s not the fate every threatened venue can hope for, it does present one path forward for these important music places, instead of just presenting a problem with no solution.
While many local music venues continue to remain closed, and many music fans miss those intimate music moments, Nothing Stays The Same and director Jeff Sandmann give you an opportunity to live those experiences again vicariously through a well-made film that conveys a passion for local music, while also presenting both the problems and potential solutions of how these vital music institutions can survive.
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‘Nothing Stays The Same’ is currently streaming for free for Amazon Prime members and other places, and is also available for purchase on Amazon and other major retailers.
January 7, 2021 @ 12:16 pm
I wasn’t aware of this — thanks for pointing it out. Will watch it tonight. Saw Walk Wilkins there on one of my two visits to Austin. Magical night.
January 7, 2021 @ 12:51 pm
My new year’s resolution is to speak my mind more openly.
The coronavirus has a survival rate of over 98%, and it affects the elderly. It is laughable compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, which primarily affected young people. Lockdown measures and masking have demonstrably zero correlation to coronavirus death rates. Zero. I can point you to the stats.
The closing of music venues is, like the closure of many other small businesses, part of a concerted plan to destroy the middle class in the western world. It’s happening all over the west, and it will continue until those who enforce it experience enough pain and cost. These are the new rules. I didn’t make them.
If you care about live music, you should care about all this. There are good people making and supporting live music, and not just in Austin. If you care about them, you should be mad as hell. The vaccines are band-aids at best. Things are going to get much worse before they get any better on a national level, so I believe it’s imperative to get involved at the local level and raise hell at every opportunity.
Sorry, but we didn’t start this fight.
January 7, 2021 @ 1:02 pm
I agree with the Corncaster, except the survival rate is higher, more like 99.6%.
This whole thing is a joke that I never took part in, but I’m still really sick of watching others take part in it. I’m embarrassed for them.
January 7, 2021 @ 1:32 pm
Corncaster,
I suspect you are right in most of your assertions though I am not minimizing Covid in any way.
I think the “cures” are worse than the disease in this instance and are part of an overall narrative that some hwo drive on the left side of the center lane have used to their advantage.
That being said, those that recognize this tend to also minimize the Covid outbreak and that is a most dangerous reaction.
It’s just bad all the way around with seemingly no end in sight.
January 7, 2021 @ 2:09 pm
Did you do your research on Youtube?
January 7, 2021 @ 2:53 pm
Corncaster, I’m a diabetic and just a tad younger than steve earle, so I don’t want to become part of the 2% you cite that doesn’t survive covid. neither does another diabetic middle aged member of my family, my s.o. who is half a decade out of sucessful organ transplant, my 80+ parents, or the 93 yr old dude who shares my office space. I don’t go anywhere but the grocery early in the morning before anyone gets there, and an empty office, and I go nowhere outside without a mask. I am in no hurry to go back to seeing the latest allegedly country acts in a crowded local place in my urban area in the yankee part of the usa. But you do your bro country if you want. Man, that came out meaner than I planned it.
January 7, 2021 @ 3:30 pm
You’re wrong. Completely. Maybe your New Years resolution should be to seek out facts and logic.
What I will agree to is that shutting down small businesses and then not helping them out financially was a terrible plan. If the government is going to take away peoples livelihood, then it also needs to figure out how to sustain them through it. And if they can’t do the latter, it’s not reasonable to do the former.
January 7, 2021 @ 4:25 pm
These shutdowns have nothing to do with survival or infection rates. It has to do with over running the hospitals and taking away resources from people who really need them. When hospitals get overwhelmed, that’s when these shutdowns occur. That’s why I hated the idea of mass testing. Most don’t even know they have the virus, but once they test positive they panic and overwhelm or terrible, dysfunctional health care infrastructure.
January 7, 2021 @ 8:59 pm
It’s funny (and sad) to see all the videos of empty hospitals online, and the people filming the videos being chased out by security.
The Covid virus can be deadly for a small portion of the population. Those people need to be isolated and looked after medically and financially. Everyone else needs to get back to work. If you’re afraid, stay home.
Forget the 1918 pandemic, do a bit of reading on the ’57 and ’68 pandemics if you want to see how badly the governments and the corporate-sponsored experts and scientists have handled this pandemic.
They held Woodstock in the middle of the Hong Kong Flu pandemic (’68-’70), which was much worse than Covid (and the world population was half of what it is now — 3.54 Billion). BTW: despite vaccines, the Hong Kong Flu is still with us today. It just eventually lost its sting, like Covid will one day.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure this all out. It just takes not being lazy, and doing your own research from reliable sources instead of letting other do you thinking for you.
January 7, 2021 @ 9:15 pm
Your research consisted of watching some videos online and you are accusing people of being lazy. We live in a society were we only believe what we want to believe and seek out sources the affirm and not inform.
January 7, 2021 @ 9:17 pm
That’s a total lie. Hospitals aren’t empty, they’re full of dancing nurses making Tiktok videos.
Getting back to this story…sort of…it’s sad when the Babylon Bee has the headline of the week on this: “Walmart Thanks Government For Completely Obliterating Their Small Business Competition.”
People need to get it out of their heads that the alleged compassionate party of our government gives even half a shit about anything but their careers and their donors, let alone small music venues.
January 7, 2021 @ 1:50 pm
About four months ago I attended a music event in a tavern that was supposed to be closed (as were all bars in that area) due to Covid. I had been in the tavern some time before, and the only thing that was different this time was that the drinks were served in plastic cups instead of glasses.
I approached the owner and congratulated him on being open in spite of the orders to close, and I asked him why he had determined to stay open when no business that sold drinks was supposed to be up and running.
The owner looked at me and pointed to the beer in my hand and said, “What did you pay for that beer?”
I said, “$4.25.”
He said, “No, you didn’t. You paid $4.25 for the plastic cup, and I’m giving you the beer.”
January 7, 2021 @ 2:35 pm
Look, I don’t want to perpetuate an argument that is off topic, but please guys.
I live in Australia, we aren’t completely virus-free, but comparatively neglegible. We have live music and even some small festivals, probably the best place to be at the moment except for NZ.
Now, we can’t say for sure why we were lucky, but most people here have very different attitude that seems to be helping. My opinion is: if my older friends are in any form of danger, even if it’s only 2% or whatever you say, I am more than happy to wear a mask, stay home, go without sex (there, I said it, as a single guy, its a part of lockdown), whatever it takes. Freedom has a cost and sometimes its swallowing your pride and taking one for the team.
Oh, f+ck it. Screw the polite version, guys, we all live under some sort of government. They will not allow live music until you all wear masks. I don’t care what you believe, I don’t care if they don’t work, I just know they are no big deal and not wearing one is being a dick and stopping live music returning.
January 7, 2021 @ 3:39 pm
I’m going to and participating in a live music event tonight, as I have done every Thursday night (except Christmas) for the past two years.
I won’t be wearing a mask, and I’ve never worn one at the event.
No one else in attendance will be wearing a mask, either.
Guitar pull.
About 50-60 people in attendance.
A great time will be had by all.
January 7, 2021 @ 7:13 pm
Blackh4t,
Not being argumentative with you.
Corncaster is correct.
Could go into the whole pandemic explanation again, but Trigger will now allow that. And that is OK, this is his site.
Will say that Disney World and Universal Studios have been open since June 2020.
Running 10’s of Thousands of guests from around the globe, through the gates DAILY. The only reason this is happening is because Disney & Universal have ties to a certain political underworld. Lots of toddlers running around Disney & Universal that are completely mask free. And, as we all know, this is perfectly safe and sanitary because babies and toddlers are the cleanest people on the planet.
Anybody ready to get real yet?
STILL waiting.
I most definitely support live local music, at Hard Truth Hills in Nashville, Indiana. Have on many weekends, throughout this past Summer & Fall.
January 7, 2021 @ 7:53 pm
Hi Di,
I respect your opinion a lot and I think you’re a great person. And that applies to most of the commentors here 🙂
Look, I’m not trying to say “all hail big government” but we also have to accept that we share this world with others, many of whom are idiots, so they need to govern to lowest denominator. So maybe we should just do what we can.
And the conspiracy theories all sound fine until you realise that it would mean that Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and other places somehow got cut from this middle class emasculation deal.
Although, the one about Disney Land having political ties so they can be unfair ultra-douches sounds about right.
And hey, I get that its easy for me to talk. Different country, much more cohesive government etc.
My only point here, to bring the subject back to live music, is that attempting to comply with health directives is the quickest way to bring back the live music industry. Little backyard concerts are nice but not sustainable.
And hey, none of us are perfect, I get that. But really, masks seem such a small thing.
Sorry. A good friend of mine in U.K. just got it. I’m sure she’ll be fine, but it seems unfair when she did all she could to prevent it, but other people didn’t.
And again, not criticising or judging anyone here, just sharing an opinion based on what happened here.
January 7, 2021 @ 8:14 pm
Blackh4t,
Appreciate your opinion Very much.
Really hope your friend in the U.K. will be fine. Definitely putting her in prayer.
Am somewhat in agreement that using some health measures, & opening up large venues for live music, needs to happen now.
Just use the measures Disney World & Universal Studios, Orlando, are using.
People need to demand that this happen.
Demand, not ask.
Asking, hoping, twiddling thumbs, whining, is not moving the world forward, at all.
A few (several) hundred attend the live concerts in Brown County, each weekend.
Things are fine. Great crowd of people. Very enjoyable evenings of music.
Could it be that the whole Covid thing wasn’t tried in your area, because you Aussie’s have far more balls, and are more independent?
Food for thought.
I’m embarrassed that i have to ball up so much, currently, being a lady.
The men of the U.S. need to finally stand up and say, no more, we’re done.
This is the United States of America. Men used to protect this country.
January 7, 2021 @ 9:05 pm
Di, you have more nuts than all of the big talking Patriots on sites like Cold Dead Hands, etc. Be strong, be safe and keep that blind fold in the drawer for other activities. 😉
Australia is bragging and confident now, after being under house arrest for most of 2020, but the virus is coming. Nothing will stop it. Lockdowns, in the long run, don’t work. Lock at California. Then look at Belarus. Interesting studies, both.
January 7, 2021 @ 9:34 pm
Hi Jimmy,
I am a Patriot, to be sure.
Served my country, both in the U.S. & the Azores Islands, and then again, with 20 of our nation’s baddest badasses. Handpicked men from around the U.S. & Hawaii, as they bridged to Paramedic.
Black Ops, Special Forces, Navy Seals,
One of the biggest honors of my life.
Not putting the men of America down, just trying to remind them, they have balls, & it is high past time to use them.
I for one will Not stand by & have my freedoms taken away.
True story.
While on Pass-A-Grille Island, Florida, went in to the tiny post office to set up a P.O. Box.
Asked Richard, the Postmaster, who owned the shop across the street that was flying the Chinese flag, right beside the U.S. flag.
Richard told me that would be Evander Preston. Heard the door open & the little bell tinkle while we were talking.
Told Richard that flag is coming down. I turned around, as Richard introduced me to Evander, & Kenny. (Both great guys).
Told Evander i appreciated his right(s) to fly the Chinese flag.
Also told him, that there were older Veterans who secured his rights to fly that flag, some of whom lived on the island.
It was a very friendly, warm conversation.
Also told him he had 24 hours to remove the Chinese flag, or i was going to shimmy up to his balcony, & take it down myself.
He asked what we should put up there instead. Told him, didn’t matter as long as it was an ally.
The next day, the Union Jack flag was flying from that staff.
And Evander & Susan, Kenny, Richard & i were fast friends.
I don’t think Blackh4t is bragging – at all.
I think we are all just trying to get things moving again, where musicians can ply their craft, as they should.
And you are correct, lockdowns do not work.
January 8, 2021 @ 2:46 am
Thanks Di much appreciated.
And, no, I am no bragging. But I am very thankful that we did something right. Except for Melbourne, most of the country has only been in short bursts of lockdown. My state was at 0 cases, it went up to 30 a day and is going back again (4 today)
Melbourne had 700 a day and is back to 0 or close.
I personally haven’t been affected much at all. Except i can’t travel internationally and no festivals.
And I don’t think its because of size of balls. If its any cultural difference its that we care less about patriotism and more about doing anything we can to help people around us.
But our music scene isn’t as good as USA so I really hope things fix up over there. 🙂
I agree with Di, that it should be possible to do music under reasonable conditions. But would you trust people to stick to them? And would you want to be responsible if it doesn’t work?
In march, the word went out internationally that masks might help and over here we rang all our friends and gave them masks if we had spare and wore them everywhere even if they said it should be safe. And gloves etc, and stayed 2 m apart just in case 1.5 wasn’t enough. And it worked.
So I get not wearing a mask and being apologetic because they are annoying, but I don’t like when people are proud that they are risking other’s lives. There is no pride in risking other people’s lives for your own comfort.
Sorry again to Trigger, i know this is off topic. Please understand that I am only trying to share something that worked here.
Last post. Peace all and God bless you Di 🙂
January 7, 2021 @ 7:07 pm
Lots of irresponsible things feel good at the time. Thats why the world still has herpes.
I’m just saying they for live music to come back properly, we need government backing, so pissing them off for the illusion of independence isn’t helping.
Sometimes you just have to be the bigger man, roll over and suck it up just to help out some poor musicians who were already struggling when this started.
Even if you don’t do it for science, do it because real men try to help other people.
January 7, 2021 @ 11:34 pm
I have been meaning to watch that, just watched Festival Express free on Prime last night, some cool roots music (Buddy Cage, Burrito Bros, Buddy Guy etc). Other good free stuff on Amazon is Red Dog (doc about songwriter Luke Dick growing up around a Tulsa strip club) and Verlon Thompsons songwriter showcase Barnegie Hall, which is a must watch for any songwriter. As for going to live shows, I am holed up in my trailer writing songs, listening to Mickey Newbury and Clarence White. My song for the week has to be Clarence White with Ry Cooder doing “Why You Been Gone So Long?”! It has to be up there with Mickeys over all the other versions I have heard. Let’s all kill a 5th of Thunderbird and try to write a sad sad song! See you all in 2022!
January 8, 2021 @ 6:53 am
Why do people like you think your fear is our cross to bear?
January 10, 2021 @ 3:43 am
This latest crisis reminds of when my musical career basically started its downward tailspin around 1990. Before M.A.D.D. came along and began screeching, every city and most towns across this country had live music venues. Many of them had live music 7 days a week. If you were any good, you could keep a 5-piece band working 5 or 6 nights a week. There were even “house” jobs where you could remain the only band playing there for years. This was my life back in the ’70’s and 80’s. I didn’t even need a “day job.”
Then, politicians started catering to MADD’s agitating and came up with new laws and tactics like roadblocks, stiffer fines and jail time, and lowering the legal blood limits, etc. Soon, people became too afraid to come out drinking and dancing. Bar owners, with their backs to the wall, started replacing expensive 5-piece bands with Karaoke, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Sure, we were just honky tonk musicians, playing mostly cover tunes for people to dance to. Most of us never did become stars. I guess we were expendable. Now, with the latest crisis, even bigtime stars and venues are suffering. Hey, been there, done that! Welcome to the club! You can always reinvent yourself in mid-life, like I did, by going to truck driving school. Oh wait! Aren’t driverless trucks the way of the future?
And the beat goes on…
January 10, 2021 @ 5:44 am
Just remember “You don’t look stupid wearing a mask…but you do look stupid not wearing one!”
January 13, 2021 @ 11:40 am
Well, I watched the documentary and all I can say is that the world needs more Gary Kellers. Austin for sure does.