Austin Eras
Backstage Austin: Two Brothers and the Soundtrack of a City
Key Takeaways
- 📼 The legendary Austin venues that shaped their lives
- 💻 How a rough start as a computer major led Kelly to the music industry
- 🎟️ How Kelly helped build Austin City Limits (ACL) Live
- 🎸 From metal band to mic: Chris’s path into radio and producing
- 🎶 How Austin’s Music Scene Transformed
Meet the Guests
Chris Mosser
Chris is a broadcasting and digital media veteran with over 30 years on the radio in Austin and lately specializing in political messaging for the non-profit progressive media shop Progress Texas. He also provides live AV and streaming services for a variety of local Democratic clubs and organizations. Chris has been heard on a wide variety of Austin stations since 1993, currently covering the afternoon drive show on Sun Radio. He also provides content for a cool indie station on Long Island NY, WEHM-FM in Suffolk County.
Kelly Mosser
Kelly grew up in the Lubbock, TX area and escaped to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where he got a Mathematics degree. After college, Kelly moved to Boulder, CO to launch his career in the live music industry. He was part of the founding team at Madison House Presents that created ROTHBURY Music Festival, where he managed sponsorship for the festival. Kelly moved back to Austin in late 2010 to help open ACL Live at The Moody Theater, which is where he remains today as head of Brand Partnerships and Premium Seating. Kelly loves to travel to new places (especially if live music or boating on a lake is involved) and is an avid Texas Longhorn sports fan.
Show Notes
In this episode, Adam welcomes brothers Chris and Kelly Mosser for a conversation that spans decades of Austin’s evolving music and media scene. Chris shares stories from his early days in a Lubbock metal band and how that journey led him to Austin, where he became a recognizable voice on iconic stations like KLBJ and now Sun Radio. Kelly, who arrived in Austin for college in 2001, reflects on his path from math major to Director of Brand Partnerships and Premium Seating at ACL Live, helping grow the venue’s national profile.
Together, they offer a unique perspective on Austin’s transformation, from clubs like Liberty Lunch and the Backyard to modern, high-end venues like Moody Center and ACL Live. They discuss how the music scene has changed, the role of corporate partnerships in preserving live music, and what it will take to keep Austin’s cultural identity intact. Chris and Kelly have experienced Austin’s music scene from every angle—from metal shows to media deals, and dive bars to VIP suites. Tune in for a backstage pass into the city’s evolving sound, told through the eyes of two brothers who lived it.
About the Podcast
Austin Eras is a podcast that unravels Austin’s transformation into a 21st-century boomtown and explores its potential future. We invite listeners to explore the ever-changing landscape of this dynamic city through a unique format where each episode of Austin Eras unfolds a story of the city dissected through time.
We’ll explore the roots of vital topics, step into the present to take the current pulse of the city’s heartbeat, and leap into the future to envision the potential that awaits. Topics will range from BBQ to transportation, professional sports to land development – and everything in between.