Austin News

Wild Bill Ogden has been playing music professionally for more than two decades and has no intentions of stopping.

The only problem is that something has stopped him and scores of other Austin musicians: The COVID-19 pandemic.

It has largely silenced the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World,” closing bars and other venues, canceling concerts and festivals and leaving musicians and others who rely on their talent to draw people without reliable incomes.

Wild Bill and The Lost Knobs | Facebook

Ogden, an Enid, Oklahoma, native who has been performing and recording music in Austin since 2004, said the local government has failed to support the industry that helped the city thrive in the last half century.

He told Austin News that more than $200 million in a Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) reserve fund should be made available to musicians and businesses.

On Oct. 1, the Austin City Council unanimously approved the SAVES Resolution, which set aside $15 million in three funds. It allocated $5 million each for a music venue preservation fund, Austin legacy business relief grant program, and the Austin child care provider relief grant.

There was a rally days before the council vote asked for $10 million for music venues. Since it can apply for both the preservation fund or the legacy grant, that amount has been dedicated to the places that hosted live music before the pandemic.

That’s a welcome bit of news for people involved in the city’s famed live music industry, but they have their eyes on a bigger pool of city dollars.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler has said the HOT funds cannot be used for such a purpose. Austin Tourism District 7 Commissioner District John Patrick “JP” Riedie said that is wrong.

“No, there is over $200 million in the Convention Center reserves that can be used for this purpose since those businesses contribute to tourism,” Riedie previously told Austin News. “These reserves were generated by user fees, parking garage revenue, vendor fees and excess hotel tax subsidies.”

Riedie and Ogden agree that a planned convention center expansion project should be put on hold until the music industry is back in tune fiscally.

“I think it's messed up that there are so-called music nonprofits who told people to vote for that,” Ogden told Austin News. “Clearly not in the best interest of the music community, and look at the mess we are in now.”

He said it just makes sense economically.

“Another part of the story I think you should examine is the future tax implications,” Ogden said. “Because the HOT tax revenue is going to be pretty damn small for the next few years.”

The economic pain is being felt this fall, after a spring and summer of empty bars and quiet streets.

A University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs survey conducted by the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force noted that the majority of the 52 music venues surveyed – 62% – said they would be forced to close by Halloween.

Ogden has witnessed how the Austin music scene has exploded and brought millions of dollars into the city. He was right in the midst of it.

Ogden and his band the Lost Knobs describe themselves as “a high-energy, roots-rock band.” They have toured internationally and set up a “Hillbilly Happy Hour” residency at the most famous live music venue in the city, Antone’s.

Ogden and his band say they were “heavily influenced by music from Austin's trademark ‘70s era” and blend blues and country music with a progressive style and sound.

Like so many Austin musicians, Ogden refuses to be stuck in one genre. In 2012 he wrote produced an original Christmas musical, “Honky Tonk Holidaze,” which has become an annual benefit event to support local charities such as Austin Pets Alive, Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and Front Steps.

Wild Bill has stepped off the stage and into the studio during the past decade. His band’s debut album, “The Show,” was released in 2014, and three videos were produced to promote it. 

“The video for ‘The Show’ swept top honors over some of Austin’s biggest names at the Austin Music Video Race winning for best art direction, best concept, best use of song and best music video,” according to the band’s website.

The publicity — and their ability — led them to be invited to perform at the Eroica Britannia Festival in England in 2015.

Ogden has since released a solo album, “Fighting for the Title” in 2017.

“I can safely say is this the most ambitious project I’ve worked on yet,” he said when it was released. “I’m very proud of it, and I hope you will run and tell all your friends and strangers to buy one.”

Right now, however, he’s fighting for the Austin music industry, adding "It may be down, but it’s not out."