Local Bar Done Good: Mohawk Scores Top Spot on Esquire's Best Bars List

Photo of Mohawk courtesy Chromewaves on Flickr

It's not just the new upper deck and fishbowl green room (complete with its own bar and baby grand), it's more than the secret shows, and it's certainly something other than the Beertunie (that's a Miller High Life garnished with an olive): it's the top rated bar in America (currently, according to Esquire), and it's our very own Mohawk.

As Matt Swinney points out, it's only been a year (or so) since the Mohawk entered the ring of contending Red River district clubs, but it's been a powerhouse of a year. In that time, the venue has acquired Austin's most connected independent booking agent, gained national attention with unique secret shows and festival events (the ACL Hot Freaks party was a huge success, involving collaboration between Mohawk and next door neighbor Club DeVille), and earned the trust and respect of local club-goers by curating lineups that traditionally picky folks will check out, simply because they're happening at 912 Red River.

The bar's battle cry is one of inclusion and celebration, and it's not just hype. The venue has succeeded because their desire to showcase under-the-radar acts (both local and out of town) as well as pinnacles of the independent music scene works because it's not a transparent marketing plan, it is just exactly what they say it is. The plan is to honor everyone from the woman who wanders in on a Wednesday night to sing a "Heart of Glass" at karaoke and then leave the same way it honors a spit-polished rock star from NYC who might have, before downing a Tomahawk, considered himself slumming.

James Moody, via the Mohawk blog, had this to say about the national recognition:

“Esquire thinks we are cool, but I think we are so far from cool we can’t even Google map it. We let people write on the walls and we only have 3 martini glasses in the entire joint. Regardless, we are just happy to be recognized as both a bar and a live music venue, because we are both. We have killer shows, but we also have bitchin' Camaro happy hours. I think that was one of the reasons they chose our club.”

Esquire's "Best Bars in America" campaign is an interactive one, and our local representative will appreciate your vote: head over and give Austin some love.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Paige Maguire in Arts & Entertainment on January 16, 2008 2:49 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Benj

9 or 10 years ago, Deville was Playboy's number 5 place to "party like a rock star."

Good new bars are always darlings, and most old bars are about as sexy as a bobby pin in your urethra.

Trancereducer

Room 710 second-rate?

I never ever thought I'd get a chance to hear Electric Frankenstein live until some metal-heads got them booked to play Room 710.

They were great.

Congrats to this Mohawk place but kudos to Room 710.

uselessgoo

Jackalope anyone?

Emo's?

ihateemo

"i wonder if andy langer had anything to do with that list, seeing as he writes the esquire music column, and all."

You mean to suggest that Austin is getting recognition due to nepotism and not on the merits?

Heresy!

/snark

LoudMouth

Seriously, the Mean Eyed Cat? You can't get a stiff drink, you can't get a seat, and they get a more interesting crowd at the free clinic.

LoudMouth

...thereby confirming that all Esquire writers have their heads up their asses.

Where's the news on the fire at UT? I thought for sure you'd get up on that one.

AustinCeltic

A little love for the Mean Eyed Cat as well, which scored as the #4 Best Bar!

Ursel

yuppie kidd Spoon lovers rejoice!!!

Room 710

Room 710 would like to congratulate Mohawk for their Esquire placement. It hearkens us back to the day when Jane Magazine considered Room 710 as one of the top live music venues in the country. Ah, the glory of youth. Hold onto it, Mohawk, as it is fleeting!! Why these days we're considered a bit flabby and our music "second rate" (as some writers on this very website would have some readers believe), but back then, "in the day", we were young, interesting, high energy and our sound was vibrant and, yes, rocking.

We wish you luck, Mohawk, in your continuing growth as a Red River venue. But keep in mind that dog years ain't nothing compared to bar years. When you're around for 7 of them, some folks out there will think that you've been around for 70, and will treat you as the nearly senile old man driving his 10 year old Chevy sedan too slow in the middle lane.

helloali

i wonder if andy langer had anything to do with that list, seeing as he writes the esquire music column, and all. but they definitely deserve the recognition.

JohnM

I was at Deville during Boris, seeing Caribou, and it was fine. When Caribou stopped though, I was surprised it hadn't been drowning us out.

cram

I felt bad for the band playing at Deville while Boris was drowning out incoming airplanes during their set at Mohawk.

davetx

Mohawk certainly books great and interesting acts, but the sound pollution from nearby Club Deville is a bummer. I'm sure folks seeing someone at Deville feel the same way.