Pastiche: Boom and Bust

Also on our recently deceased list are two much smaller joints, The United States Art Authority and The Opera House. A small mixed-use space, the USAA has had to deal with “unforeseen issues” involving permits, a sadly bureaucratic end to what could’ve been a flowering development on Guadalupe. While they do hope to reopen (we’ll see), The Opera House on S. 1st is also now homeless – though the art collective responsible for hosting that space over the last three years plan to continue the fight elsewhere. Heck, sometimes this sort of thing can be for the best. The Church of the Friendly Ghost, forced to abandon its initial place of prayer, is now a movable feast of worship at the accommodating, comfortable and much more official-feeling Salvage Vanguard theater where they now have a residency. Those old days out on Pedernales will always touch a heartstring, but the theater has allowed the Church to expand its programs, audience, and expose new people to new music.

Just as some venues seem destined for just a short time on this earth, others burn with a longevity that would stun even Cher. How can you, for example, chalk up Emo’s longstanding chokehold on Red River? Is it the well tempered bar staff, the clean bathrooms, or the terrific ambiance as best expressed by “spooky” clown art and a painting of Wilma and Betty from The Flintstones dressed in bondage gear and engaging in some old fashioned nipple-pinching? Is it the lack of anything we typically describe as civilized that makes Emo’s such a breath of (now smoke-free) fresh air to young people after 10 p.m.? Either way, the line outside on Saturday evenings keeps getting longer, the fans keep getting younger, and, maybe most tellingly, the tour buses (not vans, people) keep getting wider.

If we’re going to talk longstanding, though, we’d be amiss to mention that other clubs on Red River have had a similarly long shelf life, including but not limited to Room 710 or Beerland. And yet any old-school Austinite would rather regale you about clubs now since departed, from Liberty Lunch to the Armadillo World Headquarters. But instead of ending this column on that bum trip, how about calling out to some up-and-comers and, alternately, venues that we’d like to host more or just more interesting shows.

First up are the newer venues we’d like to throw a spotlight upon. The Monarch Events Center has been generating some buzz lately, and while you can’t count on them for rock shows every weekend, in just a month they’re hosting High On Fire. Whoa. And beating Emo’s for the filthy bathroom prize is The Broken Neck, a D.I.Y. establishment out on East Cesar Chavez and Springdale. With not much of a stage to speak of, a half pipe and a BYOB or nothin’ policy, it’s the new go-to venue for all of the hardcore and gutter-punk shows you could possibly want to attend.

And as far as that second category of venues, let’s throw Ruta Maya’s name into the ring. The great, under-appreciated Austin act Glass Eye played a show there two years ago, and had this to say in a blog: “We played at Ruta Maya tonight, & that place is really a secret gem that should be the "new" Liberty Lunch! It's decent sized, has a good sound system, great beer selection (& coffee/snacks etc), & plenty of parking. It was a fun show. We'll definitely be playing there again in the future & urge other bands to play there & also urge everyone to check it out!” What has happened since then? I witnessed one great performance (Mirah, some time ago) but more typically it’s a venue that caters to New Age/hippy-dippy shindigs like Tai Chi with Guy Forsyth (this is not made up) or NORML benefits. More like Mirah, please? On a less stoned tip, peeps swooned when Shearwater played The Central Presbyterian church a few SXSWs ago, and while they have some neat folk, jazz, and “spirited Jewish music” concerts planned, an avant-pop/indie rock show would change things up nicely. Just don’t expect it to be as fun as their talent show.

Do you agree, take exception or have a longwinded memory about The Vulcan Gas Company you’d like to share? Comment away!