Post by erics on Jul 16, 2007 15:58:57 GMT -5
This is inspired by the Minneapolis virtual tour that can be found here: www2.bitstream.net/~bradyh/mats/matstour.html
But Madison has a place of its own in Replacements and post-'Mats history. They played Madison a lot (See 'Treatment Bound') and there are many bootlegs of these shows in Madison's dive rock clubs. Sadly, some of the clubs have been lost to fires and bulldozers and replaced with condos and gas stations but that's just more of a reason to catalog the history.
Here's a map to help you locate the places: farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/838587369_a883acbc20.jpg?v=0
Here we go...
Merlyn's - 311 State St.
From Sept. 1979 to Feb.1983, this was THE hippest club in Madison. The Village Voice mentioned Merlyn's because the owner, Serge Ledwith, got Johnny Thunders to do an encore. Apparently, Johnny didn't do that very much.
The Replacements played many early shows here including the 'Night of Horrors' bootleg show from Halloween 1982.
A cool footnote of Madison music history: On Feb. 22, 1982, while the 'Mats were playing Merlyn's (with Husker Du), a few blocks away at Headliners, a little Irish band named U2 were playing their set.
See pics of the Feb. 22 show here: [url www.mediaspin.com/replacements.html[/url]
There are photos of the U2 show here as well. More on Headliners later.
The club itself was on the 2nd story of the building. Today, the space is filled with apartments. Here's a picture of what it looks like today with a pizza joint on the first floor. The entrance into Merlyn's is under the Skylight Apartments sign on the left side of the picture. [url farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/838618422_6063f2e9a7.jpg?v=0[/url]
For a look on the inside, here's a You Tube video of a sound check at Merlyn's. At the end of the video, the camera looks out the windows and down onto State Street.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fSW854nTwE
Club de Wash - 636 West Washington Avenue
Another great small rock club. The Club de Wash was part of the Hotel Washington which also housed two gay bars, a micro beer bar, the Barber's Closet (a former speakeasy with a secret entrance and gigantic drinks), a hair salon and the Cafe Palms, a restaurant and espresso bar. A local newspaper writer called the place a 'Disney World for drinkers, dancers and diners.'
When the Hotel Washington burned down on Feb. 18, 1996, a whole scene was displaced.
The Replacements played there June 8, 1983 and there are bootlegs of this show called 'Ya Want the P*ssy Volume' and 'Gallons of Style.' There was a $2.00 cover.
Here's a pic of the front of the Hotel Washington. www.merlin-net.com/commerce/edit_item.asp?SKU=34237&RecNo=11
As you're looking at the front of the hotel, you'd walk left to get the Club de Wash. Here's what it looked like: farm2.static.flickr.com/1063/837698355_8c5a16c7d7.jpg?v=0
Today, the spot houses a gas station/convenience store.
O'Cayz Corral - 504 East Wilson St.
Another small club lost to fire on New Year's Day 2001. This place was a dive/hole but they booked great shows. Nirvana opened for Tragically Hip in July 1986 and the White Stripes played there in 2000. It held about 200 people.
I saw Bash and Pop there in 1993 and it wasn't sold out. As Tommy was leaving the stage (walking behind the bar), someone yelled 'Johnny's Gonna Die!' Tommy yelled 'Johnny's dead!' and kept walking.
Here's the club in its heyday: www.flickr.com/photos/ereiam_j_h/107666092/
Here's the club post-fire. www.merlin-net.com/commerce/edit_item.asp?SKU=48214&RecNo=3#purchase
You can see the bar next door was completely destroyed. There was hope that the building could be saved but it could not.
Today, there's grass on the empty lots. In happier news, the owner of the O'Cayz (Cathy Dethmers) opened the High Noon Saloon in 2004 and they are still booking bands and seem to be thriving. Go to a show: www.high-noon.com/
Smart Studios - 1254 East Washington Ave.
This is a detour from the Replacements tour but Madison is home to Butch Vig's (and Steve Marker) Smart Studios. In this unassuming little building on the Corner of East Wash. and Baldwin, Nirvana recorded demos for Nevermind in April 1990. The recording of 'Polly' was actually used on the album. Many other bands have recorded here but one of my favorites, Smashing Pumpkins 'Gish', was recorded here in 1990 and 1991.
Here's a video tour of Smart Studios: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GXv8To_F2I
Also, You Tube has several videos of the making of Nevermind with Butch taking you track by track through the songs. Really interesting. There's also interviews with Dave and Krist. I think this has been played on VH1.
Here's a pic of Smart Studios from the road: www.axisallareas.com/smart/smartstudios.html
Headliners - 624 University Avenue
Headliners had nice run through the '80s and the building didn't burn down. Metallica opened for WASP on Feb. 5, 1985, and The Police played there on one of their first tours.
It's not a live music club anymore but it's still a night club with DJs and karaoke and dancing and lots of bomb shots.
The Replacements opened for X here on Oct. 14, 1984. There are also recorded shows from April 12, 1986, and May 12, 1987. For the latter show, the reviewer for the Capital Times (John Kovalic) wrote that there were 750 people there who paid $12. He also made two big typos. First he wrote about 'vocalist TIM Westerberg's primal scream' and Bob Stinson's replacement 'Bob DUNLAR.' Oh well. At least they got a review.
Here's Headliners back in the 80s: farm2.static.flickr.com/1295/837698347_abf701b7bd.jpg?v=0
Not a bad line-up on the marquee.
G.S. Vigs - 1313 University Avenue
This was a really short lived club that popped up after Merlyn's went under. It may or not have been run by Butch Vig. I've seen it written that it was owned by him but I've also read that it was his brother. Honestly, I have no idea who owned it but I kind of like it as mystery. It's now owned by UW-Madison and is used to store scaffolding.
Here's what the building looks like today:farm2.static.flickr.com/1381/837698373_8c220a6013.jpg?v=0
Los Lobos, 10,000 Maniacs, and Husker Du played there. The 'Mats played there on January 18, 1984, and one bootleg is called 'In Heaven There Is No Beer."
Here's three pics of Husker Du playing G.S. Vigs on Oct. 13, 1984: www.tcpunk.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000109.html
You will notice that there are also pictures of the other lads from Minneapolis on that page. Those shots are from the next night at Headliners when the band opened for X.
R&R Station - 103 North Park St.
I saw my first Paul show here in 1993 and that show rocked. I was still fairly new to the Replacements and I had just bought 14 Songs. Nice mosh pit and Paul came out wearing a huge bow tie. He played 'Skyway' (he patted himself on the back), 'Here Comes A Regular' and a wicked version of 'I'm Turning Japanese.' He said something about playing a lot of 'dives' in Madison. Yes indeed.
I couldn't find a pic of the old club. Unfortunately, it was torn down a few years ago to put up apartments or condos. I'm not sure if they're using the old address for one of the newer buildings.
Sidebar: The first band that played the R&R Station was Foghat back on January 15, 1991.
Barrymore Theater - 2090 Atwood Avenue
I'm happy to report that this club is doing well and celebrating its 20th anniversary! www.barrymorelive.com/
All of Paul's Madison shows have been here since 1996.
Here's what it looks like today with owner Steve Sperling: www.merlin-net.com/commerce/edit_item.asp?SKU=208302&RecNo=2
But Madison has a place of its own in Replacements and post-'Mats history. They played Madison a lot (See 'Treatment Bound') and there are many bootlegs of these shows in Madison's dive rock clubs. Sadly, some of the clubs have been lost to fires and bulldozers and replaced with condos and gas stations but that's just more of a reason to catalog the history.
Here's a map to help you locate the places: farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/838587369_a883acbc20.jpg?v=0
Here we go...
Merlyn's - 311 State St.
From Sept. 1979 to Feb.1983, this was THE hippest club in Madison. The Village Voice mentioned Merlyn's because the owner, Serge Ledwith, got Johnny Thunders to do an encore. Apparently, Johnny didn't do that very much.
The Replacements played many early shows here including the 'Night of Horrors' bootleg show from Halloween 1982.
A cool footnote of Madison music history: On Feb. 22, 1982, while the 'Mats were playing Merlyn's (with Husker Du), a few blocks away at Headliners, a little Irish band named U2 were playing their set.
See pics of the Feb. 22 show here: [url www.mediaspin.com/replacements.html[/url]
There are photos of the U2 show here as well. More on Headliners later.
The club itself was on the 2nd story of the building. Today, the space is filled with apartments. Here's a picture of what it looks like today with a pizza joint on the first floor. The entrance into Merlyn's is under the Skylight Apartments sign on the left side of the picture. [url farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/838618422_6063f2e9a7.jpg?v=0[/url]
For a look on the inside, here's a You Tube video of a sound check at Merlyn's. At the end of the video, the camera looks out the windows and down onto State Street.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fSW854nTwE
Club de Wash - 636 West Washington Avenue
Another great small rock club. The Club de Wash was part of the Hotel Washington which also housed two gay bars, a micro beer bar, the Barber's Closet (a former speakeasy with a secret entrance and gigantic drinks), a hair salon and the Cafe Palms, a restaurant and espresso bar. A local newspaper writer called the place a 'Disney World for drinkers, dancers and diners.'
When the Hotel Washington burned down on Feb. 18, 1996, a whole scene was displaced.
The Replacements played there June 8, 1983 and there are bootlegs of this show called 'Ya Want the P*ssy Volume' and 'Gallons of Style.' There was a $2.00 cover.
Here's a pic of the front of the Hotel Washington. www.merlin-net.com/commerce/edit_item.asp?SKU=34237&RecNo=11
As you're looking at the front of the hotel, you'd walk left to get the Club de Wash. Here's what it looked like: farm2.static.flickr.com/1063/837698355_8c5a16c7d7.jpg?v=0
Today, the spot houses a gas station/convenience store.
O'Cayz Corral - 504 East Wilson St.
Another small club lost to fire on New Year's Day 2001. This place was a dive/hole but they booked great shows. Nirvana opened for Tragically Hip in July 1986 and the White Stripes played there in 2000. It held about 200 people.
I saw Bash and Pop there in 1993 and it wasn't sold out. As Tommy was leaving the stage (walking behind the bar), someone yelled 'Johnny's Gonna Die!' Tommy yelled 'Johnny's dead!' and kept walking.
Here's the club in its heyday: www.flickr.com/photos/ereiam_j_h/107666092/
Here's the club post-fire. www.merlin-net.com/commerce/edit_item.asp?SKU=48214&RecNo=3#purchase
You can see the bar next door was completely destroyed. There was hope that the building could be saved but it could not.
Today, there's grass on the empty lots. In happier news, the owner of the O'Cayz (Cathy Dethmers) opened the High Noon Saloon in 2004 and they are still booking bands and seem to be thriving. Go to a show: www.high-noon.com/
Smart Studios - 1254 East Washington Ave.
This is a detour from the Replacements tour but Madison is home to Butch Vig's (and Steve Marker) Smart Studios. In this unassuming little building on the Corner of East Wash. and Baldwin, Nirvana recorded demos for Nevermind in April 1990. The recording of 'Polly' was actually used on the album. Many other bands have recorded here but one of my favorites, Smashing Pumpkins 'Gish', was recorded here in 1990 and 1991.
Here's a video tour of Smart Studios: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GXv8To_F2I
Also, You Tube has several videos of the making of Nevermind with Butch taking you track by track through the songs. Really interesting. There's also interviews with Dave and Krist. I think this has been played on VH1.
Here's a pic of Smart Studios from the road: www.axisallareas.com/smart/smartstudios.html
Headliners - 624 University Avenue
Headliners had nice run through the '80s and the building didn't burn down. Metallica opened for WASP on Feb. 5, 1985, and The Police played there on one of their first tours.
It's not a live music club anymore but it's still a night club with DJs and karaoke and dancing and lots of bomb shots.
The Replacements opened for X here on Oct. 14, 1984. There are also recorded shows from April 12, 1986, and May 12, 1987. For the latter show, the reviewer for the Capital Times (John Kovalic) wrote that there were 750 people there who paid $12. He also made two big typos. First he wrote about 'vocalist TIM Westerberg's primal scream' and Bob Stinson's replacement 'Bob DUNLAR.' Oh well. At least they got a review.
Here's Headliners back in the 80s: farm2.static.flickr.com/1295/837698347_abf701b7bd.jpg?v=0
Not a bad line-up on the marquee.
G.S. Vigs - 1313 University Avenue
This was a really short lived club that popped up after Merlyn's went under. It may or not have been run by Butch Vig. I've seen it written that it was owned by him but I've also read that it was his brother. Honestly, I have no idea who owned it but I kind of like it as mystery. It's now owned by UW-Madison and is used to store scaffolding.
Here's what the building looks like today:farm2.static.flickr.com/1381/837698373_8c220a6013.jpg?v=0
Los Lobos, 10,000 Maniacs, and Husker Du played there. The 'Mats played there on January 18, 1984, and one bootleg is called 'In Heaven There Is No Beer."
Here's three pics of Husker Du playing G.S. Vigs on Oct. 13, 1984: www.tcpunk.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000109.html
You will notice that there are also pictures of the other lads from Minneapolis on that page. Those shots are from the next night at Headliners when the band opened for X.
R&R Station - 103 North Park St.
I saw my first Paul show here in 1993 and that show rocked. I was still fairly new to the Replacements and I had just bought 14 Songs. Nice mosh pit and Paul came out wearing a huge bow tie. He played 'Skyway' (he patted himself on the back), 'Here Comes A Regular' and a wicked version of 'I'm Turning Japanese.' He said something about playing a lot of 'dives' in Madison. Yes indeed.
I couldn't find a pic of the old club. Unfortunately, it was torn down a few years ago to put up apartments or condos. I'm not sure if they're using the old address for one of the newer buildings.
Sidebar: The first band that played the R&R Station was Foghat back on January 15, 1991.
Barrymore Theater - 2090 Atwood Avenue
I'm happy to report that this club is doing well and celebrating its 20th anniversary! www.barrymorelive.com/
All of Paul's Madison shows have been here since 1996.
Here's what it looks like today with owner Steve Sperling: www.merlin-net.com/commerce/edit_item.asp?SKU=208302&RecNo=2