Raul's (night club)
Encyclopedia
Raul's was a live music
nightclub
at 2610 Guadalupe Street in Austin, Texas
in the late 1970s
and early 1980s
, which specialized in punk rock
music. The location is very near the University of Texas
campus.
It was the first club of its kind in the city and consequently the only one, for a time.
run by Hispanic
s Joseph Gonzales (deceased in May 1996) and Roy "Raul" Gomez, when, in late 1977, four musicians, Jesse Sublett
, Kathy Valentine, Carla Olson and Marilyn Dean, approached them, looking for a venue
to play, since those performers had difficulties being accepted elsewhere. The four musicians had formed a new punk band called the Violators. Jesse Sublett, along with Eddie Munoz and Bill Blackmon comprised the other new punk band in town, The Skunks
. Raul's gave both bands a chance, but at first did not enjoy the new style, which they deemed too chaotic, preferring rather Tejano music
. The Violators and the Skunks first played at Raul's in February 1978 to a wildly enthusiastic audience. Thereafter, the Skunks garnered a huge following, not only at Raul's but other, more conventional venues around Austin.
Then there was the September 19 incident of the arrest for obscenity of the singer of The Huns, Phil Tolstead, while on stage for 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. 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 establishment experienced a noticeable increase in clientèle, fueled by curiosity, especially among young people, thanks to its proximity to the university.
Eventually the place became the punk rock venue in town, and its reputation was somewhat echoed throughout the United States.
, The Explosives, The Next, and Terminal Mind. Other regular performers included: 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, ROKKER, the Invisibles, Toxic Shock
; then later, the Big Boys
,and The Dicks
.
The club hosted a number of touring bands such as The Plugz
from LA, who had Texas roots, in the summer of 79, and The Dils
, also from California. The Urinals
, from Los Angeles, happened by. 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!
.
; another on September 26 of 2003 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the "Huns riot", at Café Mundi; a "Class of '78" performance at the Austin Music Hall for the Austin Music Awards on March 17, 2004; one at the Texas Showdown, the current bar at Raul's former location, on 2008-01-26.
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
at 2610 Guadalupe Street in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in the late 1970s
1970s in music
For music from a year in the 1970s, go to 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 1970s....
and early 1980s
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
, which specialized in punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
music. The location is very near the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
campus.
It was the first club of its kind in the city and consequently the only one, for a time.
History
Originally a barBar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
run by Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
s Joseph Gonzales (deceased in May 1996) and Roy "Raul" Gomez, when, in late 1977, four musicians, Jesse Sublett
Jesse Sublett
Jesse Sublett is a musician and writer from Austin, Texas. As a musician he is best-known for his long-running rock trio, The Skunks...
, Kathy Valentine, Carla Olson and Marilyn Dean, approached them, looking for a venue
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
to play, since those performers had difficulties being accepted elsewhere. The four musicians had formed a new punk band called the Violators. Jesse Sublett, along with Eddie Munoz and Bill Blackmon comprised the other new punk band in town, The Skunks
The Skunks
The Skunks are a three-piece rock band formed in 1977 in Austin, Texas.-History:The band debuted in early 1978 and quickly became a mainstay of the Austin, Texas scene, playing not only venues known for having an open-minded clientele, but clubs whose audiences crossed the spectrum, including the...
. Raul's gave both bands a chance, but at first did not enjoy the new style, which they deemed too chaotic, preferring rather Tejano music
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
. The Violators and the Skunks first played at Raul's in February 1978 to a wildly enthusiastic audience. Thereafter, the Skunks garnered a huge following, not only at Raul's but other, more conventional venues around Austin.
Then there was the September 19 incident of the arrest for obscenity of the singer of The Huns, Phil Tolstead, while on stage for their first performance, which drew considerable attention after a scoop article
Scoop (term)
Scoop is an informal term used in journalism. The word connotes originality, importance, surprise or excitement, secrecy and exclusivity.Stories likely considered to be scoops are important news, likely to interest or concern many people. A scoop is typically a new story, or a new aspect to an...
on the matter was published in the university students' newspaper, The Daily Texan
The Daily Texan
The Daily Texan is the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin. It is entirely student-run and independent from the university. It is one of the largest college newspapers in the United States with a daily circulation of roughly 30,000 during the fall and spring semesters and bills...
, and on to other publications such as Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
in the UK. 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 establishment experienced a noticeable increase in clientèle, fueled by curiosity, especially among young people, thanks to its proximity to the university.
Eventually the place became the punk rock venue in town, and its reputation was somewhat echoed throughout the United States.
The bands
A recording was made there, the 1979 Live at Raul's, a compilation of songs by five of the most popular of the Raul's bands: The Skunks, Standing Waves, Roky EricksonRoky Erickson
Roky Erickson is an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist from Texas. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.-Biography:...
, The Explosives, The Next, and Terminal Mind. Other regular performers included: Radio Free Europe, Eddie and the Inm'8s, Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns
Joe Carrasco
Joe "King" Carrasco is a Tex-Mex "new wave" musical artist, based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He is most widely known as part of "Joe 'King' Carrasco and the Crowns".-History:...
, 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
MDC (band)
MDC is an American hardcore punk band formed in Austin, Texas in 1979. The band were subsequently based in San Francisco, California, and are currently based in Portland, Oregon. MDC originally formed as The Stains before changing their name...
, the Gators, the Derelicts, Radio Planets, the Rejects, Secret Science, Perverted Popes, ROKKER, the Invisibles, Toxic Shock
Scratch Acid
Scratch Acid was an Austin, Texas noise rock group formed in 1982. When they first began, their lineup was Steve Anderson , David Wm. Sims , Brett Bradford , David Yow , and Rey Washam and Win Vitosky...
; then later, the Big Boys
Big Boys (band)
The Big Boys were a pioneering band who are credited with helping introduce the new style of hardcore punk that became popular in the 1980s.-History:...
,and The Dicks
The Dicks
The Dicks are an American punk rock band from Austin, Texas, originally formed in 1980. They initially disbanded in 1986 before reforming in 2004...
.
The club hosted a number of touring bands such as The Plugz
The Plugz
The Plugz were a Mexican-American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1977. They and The Zeros were among the first Chicano punk bands, although several Latino garage rock bands, such as Thee Midniters and Question Mark & the Mysterians, predated them...
from LA, who had Texas roots, in the summer of 79, and The Dils
The Dils
The Dils were an American punk rock band of the late 1970s, originally from Carlsbad, California, and fronted by brothers Chip Kinman and Tony Kinman...
, also from California. The Urinals
Urinals (band)
The Urinals are a punk rock band from Southern California. Known for their minimalist approach to songwriting and recording — their lyrics have been called "punk haiku" — the band influenced other punk rockers of the 1970s and 1980s including the Minutemen....
, from Los Angeles, happened by. Also : The Psychedelic Furs on their first US tour (1980), the Dinettes from Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, on June 25 & 26, the Controllers from L.A. (November 17 & 18). Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
made an appearance, and so did Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
. Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
was once spotted in the audience.
A fanzine
Punk zine
A punk zine is a zine devoted to punk culture, most often punk rock music, bands, or the DIY punk ethic. Punk zines are the most likely place to find punk literature....
was circulating, named Sluggo!
Sluggo!
Sluggo! was a pioneering Austin, Texas fanzine covering the late 1970s Punk rock/New Wave music scene. Founded in 1978 by Nick West and E.A. Srere, Sluggo! began as a tabloid-sized photocopied publication, and evolved into a quintessential DIY publication...
.
Reunions
There have been several "Raul's reunions" around town, one in 1988, one on October 29 of 1994 at Liberty LunchLiberty Lunch
Liberty Lunch was a live-music venue in Austin, Texas. It began in the 1940s as an eatery and, over the years, evolved into a live-music venue. It closed in 1999....
; another on September 26 of 2003 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the "Huns riot", at Café Mundi; a "Class of '78" performance at the Austin Music Hall for the Austin Music Awards on March 17, 2004; one at the Texas Showdown, the current bar at Raul's former location, on 2008-01-26.
External links
- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=107372828
- One of Chris Wing's (of Sharon Tate's Baby) web site