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Continental Club
1315 S. Congress, 441-2444
Up until the late Seventies, the
Continental Club was something of a
Sixties artifact. It had opened in 1957 as
an uptown cocktail joint for the
working-class South Austin crowd, but
was reborn during the heyday of punk
rock as a live music venue where country,
blues, rockabilly, and New Wave met and
rubbed shoulders. The rebirth not only
gave the Continental a rock & roll heart
and saw the delightfully tacky original wall
murals restored, the South Congress
club then became home to roots-rock
bands much as Antone's nurtures blues
or Emo's does punk. The Continental
Club is also uniquely Austin, as swing,
R&B, roots-rock, and singer-songwriters
still dominate the venue's eclectic
calendar.
Like most of Austin's favorite live music
nightspots, the Continental's owner is
more often than not in attendance,
meaning great pride is always taken in
the club's image and development. Steve
Wertheimer is the dapper gentleman with
Buddy Holly glasses and silver hair,
always looking for an excuse for a
Continental occasion. That may be why
both Elvis Presley's birth and death are
celebrated with big blow-outs, as is Buck
Owens' birthday, which, unlike the Elvis
bashes, actually attracted the birthday boy
one year. The Continental is also a big
fave of celebs from Chris Isaak to Quentin
Tarantino to Sandra Bullock, while
Austinites like Jimmie Dale Gilmore,
Charlie Sexton, and Ian McLagan make
stargazing especially fun, since the club
has no real VIP area.
What sets the Continental Club apart
from other live music venues in town is its
incredible happy hours, especially the
near-legendary SRO Tuesday shows with
Toni Price and her stellar cast of
sidemen. Price, a genuine down-home
diva, holds court with her ever-funky
musical repertoire as vintage cars line
the street out front and folks dressed to
the nines crowd the dance floor. In the
evenings, local favorites such as Jon Dee
Graham, Alejandro Escovedo, Dale
Watson, Charlie Robison, Cornell Hurd,
Monte Warden, the Damnations, Kelly
Willis, Bruce Robison, Junior Brown, and
81/2 Souvenirs keep things singing and
swinging.
In the years since the Continental Club
opened its doors, many businesses
around it have adopted its unpretentious
retro-cool look. In fact, South Congress
has one of the fastest growing trendy
shopping areas in the city, just steps from
the club's doorway, where vintage
clothing stores specialize in that
Continental look. Good thing, too. At the
Continental, style just comes naturally. – Margaret Moser
UPCOMING LISTINGS AT CONTINENTAL CLUB
Gallery: Denny Freeman w/ Jimmie Vaughan (10:00); In the Club: Continental Graffiti
Saturdays, 3 p.m.
Miss Lauren Marie, the Derailers
Sat., July 4, 10 p.m.
Gallery: Mike Flanigin (10:00); In the Club: Heybale! (10:00)
Sundays, 3 p.m.
Gallery: Crybear (10:00); In the Club: Continental Graffiti (6:30), Dale Watson & His Lone Stars
Mondays, 10 p.m.
Gallery: Ephraim Owens Experience (10:00), In the Club: Toni Price
Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.
La Tampiquena
Tue., July 7, 10 p.m.
Gallery: Trube, Farrell & Sniz (10:00); In the Club: Kevin Welch
Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
Jon Dee Graham
Wednesdays, 10 p.m.
Gallery: Oliver Giraud (10:00); In the Club: Shotgun Party (6:30), Star Star
Thu., July 9, 10 p.m.
Gallery: Mike Flanigin (10:00); In the Club: The Blues Specialists
Fridays, 6:30 p.m.
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