Whiskey Myers in Austin: Southern rock for an arena built for concerts
Whiskey Myers are coming to Moody Center in Austin as part of the "Southern Hospitality Tour", where they perform alongside The Black Crowes, while Southall has been announced as the special guest. It is an evening aimed at an audience that loves guitar in the foreground, a rough vocal, a blues foundation and songs that rely not only on the chorus, but also on the story. The concert has been announced for Sunday, May 17, 2026, with the program starting at 6:30 p.m. local time. Ticket sales for this event are underway.
For Whiskey Myers, this is not an isolated date, but the first evening of the major North American leg of the "Southern Hospitality Tour". That is precisely why Austin carries additional weight: the tour starts in a city that prides itself on its status as one of the liveliest music environments in the USA, and Moody Center gives it the format of a large arena without completely losing the feeling of closeness to the stage.
The band's sound: between Southern rock, country rock and harder blues
Whiskey Myers grew out of East Texas, and their sound is best understood through a blend of Southern rock, country rock, hard rock and blues. This is not polished country production for background listening, but music that in an arena relies on strong guitar parts, the rhythm section and the vocal of Cody Cannon, who gives the songs a rougher, storytelling edge.
Their catalog works especially well live because it moves between two extremes: on one side are the harder, heavier rock songs, and on the other are ballads that ask for the audience's silence and attention to the lyrics. Among the most recognizable songs that have built the broader picture of the band, "Broken Window Serenade", "Stone", "Ballad Of A Southern Man", "Virginia", "Reckoning" and "Bury My Bones" are often mentioned. This does not mean that the set list for Austin has been confirmed - it has not been published - but it shows what kind of repertoire the audience associates with the band.
Whiskey Myers are not a band that is easily placed in one drawer. In one song they can sound like heirs to Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers Band, in another like a dirtier modern rock band from a Texas bar, and in a third like authors of an intimate story about loss, guilt and survival. It is precisely that breadth that explains why they are followed both by country lovers and by an audience coming from rock.
The current moment: the album "Whomp Whack Thunder" and a new phase of the band
Ahead of the concert in Austin, the band has a fresh studio context: the album "Whomp Whack Thunder" was released in 2025 and presented as their seventh studio album. Streaming platforms list it as an 11-song album, and Apple Music describes it as a release that is more rock than country, although the band's Texas roots remain clearly audible. The album's producer is Jay Joyce, known for his work with artists from the contemporary country and rock scene.
That information is important for visitors because the concert does not rest only on older favorites. "Whomp Whack Thunder" gives the band new material for a phase in which the rock side of their identity is emphasized even more strongly. In announcements and album profiles, songs such as "Time Bomb", "Rock 'n' Roll", "Born To Do" and "Rowdy Days" are especially highlighted, placing the band in a more energetic, more direct frame.
For longtime fans, this means an encounter with a band that still carries the recognizable roughness of East Texas, but arrives with a new studio chapter. For those who are only discovering them, Austin is a good starting point: the concert brings together newer material, a Southern rock legacy and the atmosphere of a major tour with multiple artists.
Tickets for this event are in demand because the program does not gather just one audience. There are fans of Whiskey Myers, followers of The Black Crowes, listeners of Southall and those who come to Moody Center for an evening of guitar rock in a city where live music is part of everyday life.
What the audience can expect from the evening
It has been officially confirmed that The Black Crowes and Whiskey Myers are on the program, with special guest Southall. This is a strong framework for an audience that wants an evening with an emphasis on American rock, Southern tradition, blues and a country undertone, but without the need for the concert to turn into a nostalgic museum of the genre.
Whiskey Myers are strongest in a concert setting when the songs breathe. The guitars have enough room to spread out, the ballads can drop to an almost acoustic level, and the harder parts of the repertoire carry an energy that fills arenas well. According to available concert statistics, "Broken Window Serenade" is one of the songs that often appears in their live context, but no confirmed set list has been published for this date, so it should not be treated in advance as guaranteed.
Southall as the special guest fits logically into the evening: this is a band that also comes from the broader space of red dirt, country rock and American roots sound. In practice, this means that the audience is not coming only to one performance, but to a musical sequence in which the styles build on each other. The Black Crowes bring their own history of blues-rock and Southern groove, while Whiskey Myers represent a stronger modern Texas line.
- For Whiskey Myers fans: an opportunity to hear the band in a large arena at the beginning of a major tour.
- For Southern rock lovers: the evening connects the tradition of The Black Crowes and the more modern, harder approach of Whiskey Myers.
- For the broader audience: the program is direct enough to work even for those who know only a few songs.
- For travelers to Austin: the concert takes place in a city that lives from club gigs, festivals and major arena performances.
Moody Center: a modern arena with an emphasis on music
Moody Center is located at 2001 Robert Dedman Drive in Austin, on the campus area of The University of Texas at Austin. The arena opened in 2022 and was built as a modern arena for concerts, sports events and major programs. According to the arena's data, it is a 375-million-dollar venue, with more than 15,000 seats and more than 150 evenings of entertainment programming annually.
For the Whiskey Myers concert, this is an important detail: Moody Center is not just a sports arena that hosts concerts, but a venue that directly presents itself as "designed specifically for concerts". In the visitor experience, this can be seen through the large floor, contemporary production infrastructure, wide corridors and a configuration that seeks to connect arena capacity with the feeling of a controlled, clear space.
The arena states that for this event parking begins at 4:30 p.m., doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. CT. The same information states that times are subject to change, so it is reasonable to check the arena's latest notices before departure. No age restriction is listed for this event.
Seats disappear quickly when a large arena, the beginning of a tour and a program with multiple artists come together on the same evening. It is worth securing tickets in time, especially if you plan to arrive in a group or want to choose a specific section of the arena.
Arrival, parking and public transport
Moody Center is located in a traffic-active part of Austin, near the university campus and major city routes. The arena and the university parking system recommend arriving earlier because of large crowds, construction work and possible security barriers around the venue. For visitors arriving by car, nearby garages are especially mentioned, including Manor Garage and Trinity Garage, with a note that rules and availability may change by event.
If you use rideshare, the drop-off and pick-up zone is listed on the northeast side of Moody Center, in the Clyde Littlefield/Manor Rd and Red River area. For persons with disabilities, a separate ADA drop-off and pick-up is listed on the northwest side of the venue, along Robert Dedman Drive. These are practical details that can save time after the concert, when traffic around the arena becomes congested most quickly.
CapMetro lines listed as high-frequency routes toward Moody Center include 7 - Duval / Dove Springs, 10 - South 1st/Red River and 20 - Manor Rd/Riverside. The university parking information also lists routes 670 and 671, with a note that they do not operate on Saturdays. For the Sunday concert, it is most useful to check the current timetable and the nearest stops around San Jacinto, Dean Keeton and Red River in advance.
- Address: 2001 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712.
- Event parking: according to the arena announcement, it begins at 4:30 p.m. local time.
- Doors: according to the arena announcement, they open at 5:30 p.m. local time.
- Program start: it has been announced for 6:30 p.m. local time.
- Note: times are subject to change, so they should be checked before arrival.
Austin as host: a city that understands this kind of concert
Austin is not an accidental choice for opening this leg of the tour. For years, the city has presented itself as the "Live Music Capital of the World", with a large number of clubs, halls, festival stages and daily performances. This is not just a tourist slogan; for a concert visitor, it means that an evening at Moody Center can easily turn into a broader musical weekend.
For travelers, it is practical that Moody Center is located near the campus of The University of Texas, with relatively quick connections toward downtown, the Red River area and East Austin. Before the concert, it is possible to stay in the campus zone, head toward restaurants downtown or plan arrival by public transport in order to avoid congestion around the arena.
Austin suits bands like Whiskey Myers particularly well because the city's audience has a developed ear for genres that stand between country, rock, blues and roots music. In such an environment, songs that carry story, guitar and Southern identity do not sound like a visiting import, but like a natural part of the city's musical map.
Who this concert is especially attractive for
This is a concert for listeners who like a large arena not to turn only into a visual show, but for the songs to remain the center of the evening. Whiskey Myers attract an audience that values a guitar-driven sound, Southern melodicism, lyrics about everyday life and a performance that is not overly polished. The Black Crowes add a layer of rock history and blues-rock authority, while Southall introduces a contemporary red dirt and roots tone.
Longtime Whiskey Myers fans will recognize the continuity from earlier albums to the new material from "Whomp Whack Thunder". A newer audience will get a clear entry into their world: songs that rely on the chorus, but also those that ask for patience; guitars that can be heavy, but also ballads carried by vocal and lyrics.
It is worth securing tickets in time if you want to experience the first date of a major tour in a city that gives concerts an additional rhythm. That evening, Austin will have a program that does not try to hide its roots: Southern rock, country rock, blues and firm American rock meet in an arena made for major performances, but still clear enough for the audience to feel the band.
Practical notes before departure
The most important thing is to plan an earlier arrival. The arena warns of crowds, works and traffic changes around the campus, and a concert with multiple artists naturally increases pressure on entrances, garages and rideshare zones. If you arrive by car, check the rules of the garage you plan to use. If you go by public transport, check the CapMetro route in both directions, especially for the return after the concert.
You should not expect an exact set list published in advance or special guests beyond what has been confirmed. The confirmed framework is clear enough: The Black Crowes and Whiskey Myers at Moody Center, special guest Southall, program start at 6:30 p.m., with no listed age restriction. Anything beyond that is best treated as a concert surprise, not as guaranteed information.
For the best experience, it is good to arrive early enough to pass through the entrance without rushing, find your seat or place in the arena and catch the beginning of the evening. On tours like this, the opening act is not just "warming up", but part of the musical picture of the program. Southall has its own audience and stylistically fits into the same Southern, guitar-driven story because of which Whiskey Myers and The Black Crowes share the stage.
Sources:
- Moody Center - event page used to confirm the date, arena, tour name, special guest Southall, parking time, door opening, program start and age restriction information.
- Whiskey Myers Official - tour page and band page used to confirm the performance in Austin, tour context and current album "Whomp Whack Thunder".
- Apple Music - used for information about the album "Whomp Whack Thunder", number of songs, genre description and producer Jay Joyce.
- LouderSound / Classic Rock - used for the context of the "Southern Hospitality Tour", the tour start in Austin and the broader framework of the collaboration between The Black Crowes and Whiskey Myers.
- Moody Center - About Moody Center - used for data on 15,000+ capacity, arena value, opening in 2022, annual number of programs and the venue's concert purpose.
- Moody Center Parking and The University of Texas Parking and Transportation - used for information on arrival, garages, rideshare zone, ADA drop-off, traffic warnings and CapMetro routes.
- Visit Austin - used for the context of Austin as a city with a strong live music scene and visitor environment for concert travelers.