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support your local scene | keep the music live

by hark55 from Houston

Last Post 191 days Ago


I created this blog to discuss the local music scene in Houston...

I have promoted live music in Houston for over 20 years... I am very interested in hearing what others have to say about the Houston music scene...

If you are a fan, share which bands and music venues you like??? 

If you are a musician, ask questions, share promotion ideas, venue info, etc...

Together we can keep the music scene alive and well in Houston...

6 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 6
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GeeDubya3 read my blog view my photos
Jun 13, 2007 | 4:11 PM

Hark, Im all about "music on the patio" scenes. I remember this little restaurant that was on the end of a strip center nearby where I live and on every Thursday evening, there was always live music(weather permitting). It was just one of those environments where you could sit outside w/your friends, listen to some good music, eat some good food, enjoy watching the sun go down as you were listening to the tunage on the patio. I remember when I lived in Ft. Worth, there was a place in the downtown area called the Grotto Bar where the bar was on top of the building(trying to give you a visual here, lol) where it was kinda like the restaurant that I was discussing earlier except this one was in the heart of downtown FW and you could look down and see people walking around and get a great view of the skyscrapers as they lit up at night. I would like to see a lot more of those type of environments for listening to some good music. Take for example, Deep Ellum in Dallas. It's nothing but one long strip of restaurants where the patio faces the street and practically every single one of them has a live band playing if not practically everyday of the week but the weekends for sure. Anyway, that's my idea of a perfect environment for listening to some good live music.

jhollywood read my blog
Jun 14, 2007 | 8:24 AM

Houston music scene is so bad because everything is spread out. If you want to check out multiple bands in an evening, you have to get in your car and drive to each location.
Austin and Dallas have great music scenes as most clubs are centrally located and it's nothing more than a casual walk from one place to another. At one time, early in the 90's, I thought Washington Ave. would obtain that crown w/ clubs like The Vatican, Fitzgerald's and the Fabulous Satellite Lounge.

I think radio stations play a big part as well. I hardly hear any stations outside of KPFT and KTRU supporting local acts. Whereas a station in Austin, such as KPFT that play mainstream radio, also proudly play local artist.

As mentioned before, The Fabulous Satellite Lounge was a great music venue and I think local music took a big hit when they were forced to close (I hope the property owners of Star Pizza are happy with that). I use The Continental Club to make up (some) for the heavy lose I have suffered.
Scout Bar has been pulling in some top acts, but it's just too far away (Clear Lake / Nasa Rd 1). I'm sure those individuals who live in the surrounding area are enjoying it, but (true) downtown Houston is taking another hit. The bands they've been booking should play within the city so surrounding areas (Katy, The Woodlands, Kingwood) can come in town and enjoy a good show. I give the club and whomever is booking the bands their props.

hark55 read my blog view my photos
Jun 14, 2007 | 2:20 PM

Thanks for your comments GeeDubya3 and jhollywood... Both of you seem to think that Houston needs a centrally located entertainment area with live music venues in close proximity to each other... I could not agree more... I was involved in promotion and booking at The Vatican... Tom Bunch and I worked hard to bring in the best national touring acts and we did many great shows... I always tried to put a local act on with every major label touring act... I would like to see more venues putting local talent in support slots for major touring acts... Local bands can not increase their fan-base if they are not permitted to play in front of new faces...I feel that more local bands in support slots for major label touring acts and a centrally located entertainment area would definately cause the Houston scene to flourish...

Ruben_Dominguez read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2007 | 1:25 PM

jhollywood nailed it. If Houston was ever going to truly have a scene like Austin and Dallas, it would have happened long ago. With that said, the fact is that Houston is a great city filled with some really creative and talented musicians. The scene that does exist is small but filled with some really great bands. With a little research it's not hard to find a great local band playing at Rudz or Fitz on any given night of the week. And hark55, I haven't heard the name Tom Bunch in years .. that's a blast from the past. I remember him from the old days when he was promoting shows a different venues and I was working the door at the Axiom. ah, the good old days.

hark55 read my blog view my photos
Jun 18, 2007 | 12:12 PM

Ruben, Thanks for your comment... The music scene in Houston is small... Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States... The music scene here can be one of the strongest in the country if we all work together to promote Houston Music... Any Ideas???

hark55 read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 12:09 AM

Seeking musicians and volunteers for benefit at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar

You may or may not be aware of the fact that Bob "Bobcat" Edward's (owner of Dan Electro's Guitar Bar) fell off a ladder while changing the Dan Electro's marquee... He sustained serious injuries that required a hospital stay and he is currently in an extensive rehabilitation program... Like so many of us in the music industry, Bob does not have hospitalization insurance and the bills are piling up...
I am organizing a benefit weekend at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar to raise money to offset some of Bob's medical expenses... Bob Edwards has worked hard to support the local music scene in Houston and this is a good time for all of us, in the music industry, to show our appreciation for his contribution to local music...
"The Bobcat Benefit" is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 11th and 12th, 2008...
Any bands interested in performing or Any individuals interested in volunteering time to help with the organization of the benefit, please contact Chris Harkness…
email: chris@mm55productions.com
pho: 832-651-1861

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hark55

I am a local music promoter interested in contributing what I can to strengthen the local music scene...

Member Since: 6/12/2007