Like so many Austinites, old and new, I was sad to hear that the venerable Hole In The Wall was going to close. We were all elated to learn that the city stepped up to save it from becoming some dumb store or condominium.
The Hole In The Wall embodies the roots of the Austin music SCENE and the whole Keep Austin Weird ethos. You can read The Hole Story here.
I first moved to Austin in 1989 and lived on East Campus and the HITW was walking distance from my apartment, so I spent a lot of time there. I'd spend many an afternoon in the back drinking and playing pool. My sister eventually got a job as a cocktail waitress and I'd try to hit her up for free drinks.
I used to go see live music there all the time. I saw Alejandro, Fastball, Mojo Nixon, just to name a few. I saw an iteration of what would become the Ugly Americans there for the first time as well. Paul Minor would line up new bands on (maybe) Sunday nights and I kept bugging him to let me and Adam Temple, who I started The Scabs with, get up and do a couple of songs. Sometime in 1995 we got onstage and sang two Scabs songs, with him playing guitar and me just singing.
I think the two songs were, well, let’s just say they had colorful titles. As acoustic songs, they left a little to be desired and we didn't get much of a reception, but within a year and half we had a full line up, including a horn section, and we became the hottest band in Austin in the late 90's.
Anyway, I’m happy to announce we’re doing a show there in a couple of weeks, celebrating the independent sprit of the place and the Austin music scene. The show will be on, naturally, Texas Independence Day. Get tickets here.
We also made a cool T-shirt commemorating the night. Check that out here.
