Cosmic Cowboy Culture
The Texas Cosmic Country Glossary: Slang, Concepts, and Venues
Last reviewed: October 27, 2026
Quick definitions for the words and names you'll meet when reading about 1970s Austin music.
Terms A–Z
- Armadillo
- The scene's unofficial mascot, and short for Armadillo World Headquarters.
- Cosmic cowboy
- A long-haired, boot-wearing fan or musician of the era. See cosmic cowboy culture.
- Dance hall
- A rural Texas venue built for dancing, often run by German or Czech community groups.
- Gonzo
- Wild, unscripted and over the top — the spirit behind The Lost Gonzo Band's name.
- Hill Country sound
- Informal name for the relaxed country-folk style tied to the Texas Hill Country.
- Luckenbach
- Tiny Hill Country town where ¡Viva Terlingua! was recorded in 1973.
- Progressive country
- The 1970s Austin blend of country, folk, rock and swing. See the scene overview.
- Redneck rock
- Writer Jan Reid's phrase for the music that brought rednecks and hippies together.
- Soap Creek
- The Soap Creek Saloon, a beloved Austin honky-tonk of the 1970s.
- Terlingua
- A West Texas ghost town near Big Bend, invoked in the title of ¡Viva Terlingua!.
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