Austin Is Ground Zero for a Different Kind of Neoliberalism
Known for its quirky institutions, eccentric characters, and progressive culture, Austin’s famous “weirdness” has long masked a deeper commitment to neoliberalism — which has in turn accelerated its de-weirding.
Festival goers are seen during Austin City Limits at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. (Rich Fury / Getty Images)
In January, Elon Musk, Grimes, and Joe Rogan were photographed with Dave Chapelle during the comedian’s residency at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, the revered Austin music venue in the iconic Red River live music corridor.
To the irritation of many locals, the three had joined the latest surge of transplants, many of them Californians, fleeing to a state with abundant local culture and no income tax. Rogan had relocated his podcasting operation to a house on Lake Austin in the summer of 2020, and Musk had followed just a few months later, building a Tesla facility outside Austin and a SpaceX launch site near Brownsville.
A comment on the Instagram post summed up a common sentiment about the trio’s arrival: “That ‘new’ Austin.”
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