Austin 1969

Back in the late 60s, a band called Shiva's Headband was treating Austin to some very groovy tunes. Shiva's Headband, which could loosely be called a folk-rock act, played a major part in the founding of the Armadillo World Headquarters. Besides providing financial backing, Shiva's Headband was also the first band to play at the fabled Armadillo when it opened in 1970. The Armadillo, with help from its Headband friends, would go on to become one of the places that made Austin Austin, hosting acts such as the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Taj Mahal, Jerry Jeff Walker, the Lost Gonzo Band, and Willie Nelson among scores of others.

Here is the Shiva's Headband song "Take Me to the Mountains," which was released in 1969. The chorus features lines like "Take me to the mountains if you please / I will gladly trade the cement for the trees." Check out the little armadillos on the album cover by noted poster artist Jim Franklin.