James Speer

James Speer plays The Continental Club Gallery this Thursday, September 17, at 8:30 PM. He's an Austin-based piano virtuoso who handles the keys and the singing himself, and the set pulls from jazz, R&B, and modern standards. It's a night that works just as well if you're there for the piano as for the voice.

Speer's singing is described as blending the soul and character of R&B legends like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder with the charisma and swing of contemporary troubadours like Michael Bublé and John Legend, and he's at ease with classic jazz standards. That range is a good way to get a sense of what he does: he can lean into the R&B side of things or stay in the jazz pocket, and he's comfortable with both. The piano work is the other half of the equation, and he's known for combining those keyboard skills with his singing in the same set.

The venue is the Continental Club Gallery, which opened in 2008 in the upstairs room above the club's main floor. It holds around 40 people and books rotating acts across jazz, singer-songwriter, and jam-band styles. Every quarter it hosts Tertulia, in the Iberian tradition of mixing poetry, song, and performance. The Austin Chronicle Critics Picks named it Best Intimate Music Moments in 2015 and Best Re-Opened Li'l Lounge in 2009, and the room has a reputation for the occasional rock or movie star sitting quietly at the bar.

Speer's performance is part of the Gallery's Thursday night series, which runs through September 24, 2026. The show starts at 8:30 PM, and there's a $10 cover at the door. It's a 21+ room, so bring your ID.