Raul's (night club)
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Raul's was a live music nightclub at 2610 Guadalupe Street in Austin, Texas in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which specialised in punk rock music. The location is very near the University of Texas campus. The telephone number was 477-1431[1] (in area code 512).
It was the first club of its kind in that town and consequently the only one, for a time.
[edit] History
Originally, in 1978, a bar held by hispanics Joseph Gonzales (deceased in May 1996[2]) and Roy "Raul" Gomez, when the emerging, aspiring punk rockers approached them, looking for a venue to play, since those performers had difficulties being accepted elsewhere. Raul's gave them a chance, but at first did not enjoy the new style, which they deemed too chaotic, preferring rather Tejano music. Then there was the September 19 incident of the arrest for obsenity of the singer of The Huns, Phil Tolstead, while on stage on their first performance, which drew considerable attention after a scoop article on the matter was published in the university students' newspaper, The Daily Texan, and on to other publications such as Rolling Stone and the NME in the UK.[3] A photograph had been taken at the moment where a bare-chested Tolstead, being handcuffed on stage, was reaching to one of the police officers for a kiss on the cheek. The punk rockers insisted, and the establishment experienced a noticeable increase in clientèle, fueled by curiosity, especially among the young people, as its proximity to the university should supply.
Eventually the place became the punk rock venue in town, and its reputation was somewhat echoed throughout the United States.
A recording was made there, the 1979 Live at Raul's, a compilation of songs by five local bands of the time. Were also regulars there: Radio Free Europe, Eddie and the Inm'8s, Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns, Sharon Tate's Baby, The MiƧtakes, Boy Problems, the Chickadiesels, the Re*cords, the Reactors, the Delinquents, D-Day, the all-girl band the Foams, Action Toys, the Electric Tools, the Stains, the Gators, the Derelicts, Radio Planets, the Rejects, Secret Science, Perverted Popes, the Invisibles, Toxic Shock;[4] then later, the Big Boys, and The Dicks. The club hosted a number of touring bands early on from elsewhere such as The Plugz from LA, who had Texas roots, in the summer of 79, with several other LA bands following. Also The Psychedelic Furs on their first US tour (1980), the Dinettes from Santa Barbara, on June 25 & 26, the Controllers from L.A. (November 17 & 18). Patti Smith made an appearance, and so did Devo, and Elvis Costello. Robert Fripp was once spotted in the audience.
A fanzine was circulating, named Sluggo!.
There has been several "Raul's reunions" around town, one in 1988, one in September 1994 at Liberty Lunch; another on September 26 of 2003 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the "Huns riot";[3] a "Class of '78" performance at the Austin Music Hall for the Austin Music Awards on March 17, 2004.[5][6]
[edit] References
- ^ Lieck, Ken (2000-12-08). "Young, loud, and cheap". The Austin Chronicle 20 (15). Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ Black, Louis (1996-05-23). "Columns". The Austin Chronicle 15 (38): 2. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ a b Gray, Christopher (2003-09-26). "TCB - 'Eat Death Scum!'". The Austin Chronicle 23 (4). Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ Rabid, Jack (1998-05-05). Jesus Lizard's David Yow spoons out the goods on new record. Rolling stone. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
- ^ Hernandez, Raoul (2004-03-12). "Get me back to Austin". The Austin Chronicle 23 (28). Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ Gray, Christopher (2004-03-19). "2003-04 Austin Music Awards". The Austin Chronicle 23 (29). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
