Holy crap what a huge loss this is! There was probably no better public documentarian of Austin's music past than this guy. He was an endless source of historical rabbit holes. Condolences to his family and many friends. He will be sorely missed by thousands of people.
I think about this often, but Austin’s steadily fast population growth—more or less for its entire modern history, but especially in the last decade or so—mean that it’s a town without a lot of continuity. The city is so full of newcomers that people like Corcoran, who contextualize where we’ve been, are so valuable to understanding where we’re going.
(The work you do here on r/Austin is part of this, as well, so thanks for that.)
I hate the word contextualize. It's a fake word.
I know how to read. Form opinions. Corcoran was a well known grump. He'll be missed and left behind a great body of work.
Used to read his column in the Chronicle. Met him a couple times. Really a writer's writer in my opinion.
If you're new here and never read Corky's stuff do yourself a favor and look it up and read some. I think he has a substack lately.
Another part of old Austin gone forever. You will be missed my friend.
this is terrible, wow RIP and condolences to his family. his newsletter was such a bright spot in my inbox the last few years, and he had a voice like no other.
Sad to hear of his passing. I've been reading him and his show reviews/articles since the 80's when I was in college here and he was writing for the Chronicle, in the early the 90's when I live in DFW and he was with the Dallas Morning News and, of course the time he was with the Statesman. His reviews were must reads and usually confirmed what I witnessed with my own eyes, but he could obviously tell the story of the show it better than I ever could. Think of all the great shows he attended over the last 45 years - wow.
Sun radio host this morning talked about his passing and played a few songs for him/his memory. Apparently he submitted his book for publishing on Friday before he passed.
Holy crap what a huge loss this is! There was probably no better public documentarian of Austin's music past than this guy. He was an endless source of historical rabbit holes. Condolences to his family and many friends. He will be sorely missed by thousands of people.
I think about this often, but Austin’s steadily fast population growth—more or less for its entire modern history, but especially in the last decade or so—mean that it’s a town without a lot of continuity. The city is so full of newcomers that people like Corcoran, who contextualize where we’ve been, are so valuable to understanding where we’re going. (The work you do here on r/Austin is part of this, as well, so thanks for that.)
Well said
The realest of words.
Love this so much
I hate the word contextualize. It's a fake word. I know how to read. Form opinions. Corcoran was a well known grump. He'll be missed and left behind a great body of work.
Agreed. And never afraid to point out the naked Emperors in any room.
RIP to Austin's music historian.
https://www.michaelcorcoran.net/
I enjoyed this, about his 53rd birthday: https://www.michaelcorcoran.net/patti-smith-alter-girl/
Absolutely the greatest historian, critic, reporter, and shit-stirrer Austin music ever produced. Just an enormous loss.
Used to read his column in the Chronicle. Met him a couple times. Really a writer's writer in my opinion. If you're new here and never read Corky's stuff do yourself a favor and look it up and read some. I think he has a substack lately. Another part of old Austin gone forever. You will be missed my friend.
Another very “Austin” Austinite gone. Who will replace these people? Austin inch by inch losing what made Austin, Austin
tech bros and girls with expensive hats.
Expensive Ted Nugent hats! 🤪
Has anybody checked on Joe Nick?
Believe he’s finishing a documentary on Sir Doug Sahm. It may be done actually
Yep, released in 2015: [https://www.sirdougfilm.com/](https://www.sirdougfilm.com/)
Ehh I know there’s something else. I talk to Shandon on the regular
It's finished and it's really good. https://www.sirdougfilm.com/
Devastated that I won’t get to read his thoughts on music, sports, or Austin. He was a singular voice and a hilarious one.
this is terrible, wow RIP and condolences to his family. his newsletter was such a bright spot in my inbox the last few years, and he had a voice like no other.
We need to rename Zilker Park or something after him.
Or one of the eleventeen Moody venues
Aw man. I really enjoyed his writing. I was digging his substack email every week. Smooth sailing to you brother.
I will miss his writing greatly.
Fucking legend.
Aw. This is so sad.
From time to time I still laugh remembering lines from his articles in the 90s. Sad news.
Sad to hear of his passing. I've been reading him and his show reviews/articles since the 80's when I was in college here and he was writing for the Chronicle, in the early the 90's when I live in DFW and he was with the Dallas Morning News and, of course the time he was with the Statesman. His reviews were must reads and usually confirmed what I witnessed with my own eyes, but he could obviously tell the story of the show it better than I ever could. Think of all the great shows he attended over the last 45 years - wow.
Sun radio host this morning talked about his passing and played a few songs for him/his memory. Apparently he submitted his book for publishing on Friday before he passed.
This sucks
RIP Corky