All is not lost, Emo’s already opened a second location this Fall appropriately named Emo’s East which also happens to be the former Back Room. Last night was the final indoor show but the rumors had been flying for weeks. I am not surprised. Sixth Street has been transforming into a place to avoid: it’s mainly teeming with Hip Hop (aka ©Rap music), Fratboy/Susie hangouts and a couple Hipster scenes. Looking back, I don’t even recall what its appeal ever was, Milwaukee and Chicago have streets populated with overpriced bars too.
I had great musical and non-musical memories of Emo’s:
- My first date with trainwreck Alison, she wanted to show me the paintings I think she loaned them.
- New Pornographers
- Donnas/Longwave/OK Go
- OK Go/Plain White Ts
- Peter Murphy
- This Onion story every concert goer in Austin loved.
For downtown Austin, this now leaves the pricey ACL Theater, Austin Music Hall, La Zona Rosa (rumored to be on the bubble), Mohawk, Antone’s and Stubb’s as the heavy hitters. I wouldn’t hold my breath for the local government to do diddly squat since they sneakily banished free parking after 6 PM and weekends. It’s sad to see the trend of Dallasification or Houstonization march on.
Again, I will remain upbeat with Emo’s moving. The city’s east side needs a boost and I did enjoy my two Aquabats’ shows at the Back Room.
In a side note, I feel like a complete tool. The Onion‘s Austin branch folded at the end of August. Of all cities for them to bail on, I wouldn’t have imagined us. The city is weathering the Great Recession better than others and O. Henry lived here, what better place for a wise-ass publication? They certainly served as a good counter to the aging Hippies at the AusChron.