Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2008 > November > 24 > Entry
Guest blogger Alison Willis: Red River Street
We’ve been working on the December XL club and bar guide. Guest blogger and St. Edward’s University student Alison Willis provided this excellent run-down on the Red River Street scene. Remember, these are her conclusions.
Emo’s: A name synonymous with live music for many years now. In addition to a small indoor dive-y venue, Emo’s also has a large outdoor venue that attracts many big-name artists. They also run a lounge next door, but I heard that they were closing it to put in El Sol Y La Luna (a restaurant on Congress). Not sure when that will happen or the details. Also known for the nastiest bathrooms in town.
Plush: A lounge club that specializes in dance, hip-hop, primarily DJ-based music.
Elysium: Goth-y dance bar straight out of the ’80s.You will see people clad in black with tons of eyeliner looking like they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. They also have a good ’80s night, where old people like me can dance to all the favorites from high school and junior high. They also attract a gay/lesbian crowd. Elysium features live music from time to time.
Beerland: Dive bar featuring live music. Usually punk-y bands, with a good mix of indie and garage thrown in. Problemmatic sound if you happen to be playing there. Love the name.
Red-Eyed Fly: Another dive bar. Has good-sized stage and bar in outdoor area. Think that this bar is mostly metal and hard rock, with a few hair metal-ish bands thrown in for good measure.
Room 710: Live music. Metal, metal, metal! Used to be a little more diverse in its musical tastes, but seems to be steering towards the heavier bands these days. Gutter punks and aging metal musicians (the old skool Red River crowd) are at home here.
Headhunters: The name says it all. Another bar that caters to old skool Red River crowd. Usually the same mix of people. Metal and hard rock.
Stubbs BBQ: Premier live music venue. Music featured outdoors and indoors. Outdoor area showcases touring bands that have achieved a larger measure of success. Indoor is more local bands and smaller touring acts.I heard that they were doing a renovation of the outdoor area to make the stage more accessible and expanding to make the capacity higher.
Club Deville: A hipster hangout. Great outdoor area that now features bands often. Indie-rock is the main staple at this joint. Mostly local bands, but sometimes touring bands are featured.
The Mohawk: Another hipster hangout for the late-twenties/thirtysomething set. Owners have been successful in turning this formerly cursed location into a crucial component of the live music scene. Indie-rock/pop/dance touring acts frequent the outside stage, while the inside stage keeps it mainly local. Transmission Entertainment, which features Graham Williams, the former booker of Emo’s, and another local booker, Rosa Madriz, is the main reason this bar is so successful.
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By Bob
November 24, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
Regarding the Mohawk, I think you should give its owner, James Moody, who is also with Transmission, at least an equal mention for its success. James also was instrumental in the Live Music Task Force.