Aztec Theater

After long playing in the shadow of Austin, the San Antonio music scene may finally be coming into its own

San Antonio music fans may no longer have to make so many treks to Austin.

by DAN R. GODDARD

By inking a deal with House of Blues Entertainment (HOBE), a division of Live Nation, the world’s largest live entertainment company, San Antonio’s fabled Aztec Theater will be able to attract many of the same acts that play the House of Blues in Dallas, Houston and Stubb’s in Austin, says Keith Howerton, general manager.“Booking nationally touring acts takes an incredible amount of experience and knowledge and HOBE has a wealth of both,” Howerton says. “Whether it’s rock, blues, country, Latin or beyond, this deal greatly enhances our ability to bring top-flight performers across every music genre to the Aztec Theater.” Blues guitar slinger Kenny Wayne Shepherd, smooth jazz flamenco guitarist Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra, two-time Latin Grammy Award winning La Ley and country singer Craig Morgan are scheduled to make stops this summer and fall at the Aztec Theater.

San Antonian - Aztec Theater
Sam Panchevre, VP operations @ Aztec theatre Dec 23, 2013

After long playing in the shadow of Austin, the San Antonio music scene may finally be coming into its own, especially with the Majestic Theater and the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, which opens this fall, booking top-tier performers. The Aztec’s agreement with HOBE allows the San Antonio theater to book concerts independently as well as work with local and regional promoters, along with being available for rent for private events. “San Antonio will immediately reap the benefits of a new level of live music at the Aztec,” says Sam Panchevre, Aztec’s executive director. “This partnership is a real game-changer for us.”

Howerton and Panchevre are partners in PHH Entertainment Ventures, which has invested more than $2 million to convert the Aztec Theater into a first-class concert hall. They spent about $1.4 million just upgrading the sound and lights. Before PHH signed a long-term lease in September of 2013, the Aztec was home for three years to a Branson-style country revue, “San Antonio Rose,” which closed in 2012. The remodeled Aztec re-opened in February 2014 booking acts such as Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy and Southern country rockers Drive-By Truckers. Now the Aztec can be configured in various ways to handle audiences from 1,500 to 2,000, filling the mid-level concert niche the city has long needed, and providing a larger venue than the 500-600 capacity Sam’s Burger Joint, which Howerton and Panchevre co-own. The Aztec can be set up with 1,400 standing on the main floor and 550 seated in the upper mezzanine. Concertgoers can enjoy cocktails before the show in the opulent lobby and wind up the evening in a 12,000-square-foot lounge open 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Saturday and First Fridays.

The venerable 1926 movie palace is decorated in a gonzo Mayan revival style featuring stone temple-like columns and a two-story, two-ton, 278-bulb chandelier along with fantastic reproductions of Meso-American artifacts, including sculptures, furnishings and murals, not to mention the vibrantly colored and patterned floors and distinctive neon sign marking the entrance at 201 E. Commerce St. downtown.
Here’s a look at some of the acts coming to the Aztec:

The Yardbirds (June 26): Anthony “Top” Topham, the Yardbirds’ original lead guitarist before Eric Clapton, has taken the place of the British group’s founding member Chris Dreja, who had to leave the 50th anniversary tour for health reasons, according to Vintage Guitar magazine. Original drummer Jim McCarty will be performing and expect to hear “For Your Love.” Kansas (July 5): “Wheatheads” are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the progressive rock band from Topeka, Kansas, that’s more than “Dust in the Wind.” Currently featuring drummer Phil Ehart, bassist Billy Greer, violinist David Ragsdale, singer/keyboardist Steve Walsh and guitarist Richard Williams. Tab Benoit (July 12): Cajun blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who lives in Houma, La., near New Orleans made his debut album, “Nice and Warm” (1992), for Houston-based Justice Records. Known for his down-home blend of swamp blues and East Texas guitar-driven blues, his popularity is being compared to Stevie Ray Vaughn. Kenny Wayne Shepherd (July 22): Electrifying blues fans since the mid-1990s, the Shreveport native covers Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “The House is Rockin’ ” on his latest album, “Goin’ Home,” an homage to his influences, including Albert King, Muddy Waters, Freddie King and B.B. King. Toad the Wet Sprocket (July 28): Named after a Monty Python sketch, one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the 1990s is touring behind its first studio album in 16 years, “New Constellation.” Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra (July 31): The most recent album, “Dune,” reflects the landscape of the Southwest in cutting-edge nuevo flamenco mixing acoustic and electric instruments. Queensryche (Aug. 20): Original frontman Geoff Tate has joined the farewell tour of the pop metal band that earned four Grammy nominations and sold more than 20 million albums worldwide during its 30 years. G. Love & Special Sauce and Keb’ Mo’ (Aug. 31): The original lineup of the Philadelphia-based trio reunited for the new album, “Sugar,” and is joined by the Robert Johnson-influenced blues guitarist whose latest is “BLUEAmericana.” Zoé (Oct. 6): The five-piece band from Mexico is known for its psychedelic rock en españnol and in 2013 released “Programaton”. La Ley (Oct. 29): After a 10-year hiatus, the Chilean alternative rock band is making a comeback with “Retour,” a greatest hits compilation that also includes the new song “Olvidar.” Craig Morgan (Nov. 22): The laid-back country crooner with a military background has a greatest hits album, “The Journey (Livin’ Hits),” that also delivered the Top 40 single “Wake Up Lovin’ You.”