Editor’s note: This podcast was originally published on Spotify on September 27, 2023.

Join us for an inside look at the Cactus Cafe’s vibrant open mic nights, where students and Austin locals showcase their original songs. In this episode, podcast reporter Karina Revilla talks with Cactus Cafe coordinator Dylan Smith, performers and attendees.

*crowd clapping, beginning riff of a song played live*

Karina Revilla:

The Cactus Cafe, a local live music venue and bar, located right in the Union on campus, opened in 1979 and has since become a globally recognized venue known for its welcoming atmosphere and attentive and supportive crowd.

Dylan Smith, the coordinator for the Cactus and a senior student programming advisor with the Student Programs Office, talks about how he got his start working at the Cactus in 2021

Dylan Smith:

I’ve always had an interest in live music. It’s why I moved to Austin. I had dreams of like, I’m gonna go to six shows a week, and it’s gonna be amazing. And I think another reason I was offered this, this role was that I have a lot of love for this place. I think the Cactus is a really unique and important and special venue here in Austin. It’s consistently been voted one of the best small venues in town. It’s known internationally. I’ve gotten emails from folks who have said, Hey, we’re visiting Austin from Brazil, and we’re going to be here on these dates. And we want to see a show with the Cactus. Do you have anything going on? And like that’s how far the Cactus’s reach has gone over the years. And so yeah, I get to do cool things here. Like I’m booking shows, that’s pretty cool, I get to work with amazing people. And we’ve brought in some killer acts. And so that’s a pretty fun job.

*a performer strums their guitar and introduces themself, more live music plays*

Karina:

One of the most popular events is the weekly open-mic nights, hosted each Tuesday and reserved for original songs.

Dylan:

One of my favorite things about open mic is you see this progression, particularly with student performers, of a student comes to watch open mic three, four times, maybe an entire semester, maybe an entire year. And then they get the courage to sign up one night and they play. And to see that student who’s who’s like that, you know, that takes courage. 

A lot of times, that’s the first time they’ve ever performed in front of an audience. It’s the first time anyone else heard that song that they’ve written, and to see that student come off the stage and sort of be embraced by the room with just like, hey, I just wanted to say like, I love your singing voice, or the lyrics in your song were wonderful, or you’re an amazing guitar player. And then that leads to, you’re going to sign up next week, right, and we should sign up as a duet, or you should come jam with us. Or you should check out this other open mic. And now all of a sudden, you know, you’re being embraced by what’s often a lot of the working musicians in town. So that’s just a really wonderful opportunity that I’m so happy that we are providing for students on this campus

You can’t really beat the vibes here. You know, the Cactus really prides itself on where we’re not just the venue, we’re a listening group. And the listening room really comes down to your audience. Our audience is here for the music, you know, they’re going to mingle and socialize and get their drinks before the show starts. But when the music starts, the room gets hushed.

Karina:

First time attendee Mackenzie Pilgrim shared her positive experience at the Cactus.

Mackenzie Pilgrim:

This was my first time at the Cactus Cafe but I like live and local music.

I feel pretty at home. And I loved everyone’s performance. I think everyone was very vulnerable and sweet. 

Karina:

Billy Chancellor, an audience member who came to support his friend during an open mic night, had a similarly positive experience with the atmosphere the Cactus provides to its audience and performers.

Billy Chancellor:

I liked it. It was really cool. It was chill. It was nice seeing people support everybody you know and saying I feel like it was a place where you can be yourself for the performers, for the show. and you ain’t got to worry about whether this your first time or if you messed up or none of that you know these people will still be able to support you. I really liked that.

Karina:

Not only is the Cactus known for its intimate and welcoming atmosphere for the audience, but it’s known among the performers for being a supportive and sought after place to play.

Dylan:

Our performers really talk about that experience about how different it is here compared to the majority of places that they play. And that like, you know, we’ve been told consistently, we have like one of the best crowds in the city. 

Karina:

Kevin Stanley, a regular open mic performer echoed this sentiment

Kevin Stanley:

The cactus has a really cool vibe. It was definitely fun. It was a little bit intimidating because I haven’t played here before. But then getting up there, you know, and having all the lights in your face and stuff and the people kind of, you know, paying attention to you made me a little bit more nervous than some of the other open mics I’ve been to. But it was still very, very fun and I felt like I was lucky to get in.

Karina:

Coordinator Dylan Smith shared some of what he felt makes the Cactus such a special place for the community.

Dylan:

I think the cactus is this amazing gem, that the union and the university has, and I think it’s something that really needs to be celebrated and preserved, and sort of shepherded into the future so that future generations of students, community members, musicians, whoever can continue to enjoy it, like I think, you know, in an environment where the city of Austin has changed so much in the last 10 years. Places like this are dying, they can’t keep up, they can’t pay their rent, they can’t get the kind of audience they need to be sustainable. And so I feel like every year preserving places like this, you know, these parts of old, weird Austin, is vital. And it’s, it’s like a public good. 

I’m always excited whenever a student takes interest in this place, because I think being shut down for the year, two years, for COVID. And the transition from KUT to back to the unions, I think like a lot of students who knew about this place graduated, so kind of taking the last few years to remind students like, Hey, this is a place that exists. But then also, this is a place that’s for you as well. And not just like older folks who come in from town to see shows like it’s, you know, it’s for the students.

You know, we’re doing live music here two, three nights a week. And it’s free, and it’s open to everyone. And so we’re contributing to that mission. And that, you know, we’re enhancing campus life by being here. And I think that this is a place worth celebrating and enjoying. And that’s really my message. I want everyone to know that this place is open. We’re here. We’re here for you. And we want to see Tuesdays and weekends.

*ending riff of performance, crowd noise/crowd cheering*

Karina:

This has been a production of the Daily Texan Audio department, reported and edited by me, Karina Revilla. Thanks for listening.