The Boat

David Cotten

Few actually know his name, but the man at Steamboat's door for the past 18 years is a survivor of three owners and five sets of managers. From behind the bar and in front of the club, David Cotten has perhaps seen more of Sixth Street than anybody in town. "This hasn't been a job for me," he explains. "It's been a lifestyle." Cotten has not only promoted shows and played drums at Steamboat, he's also worked just about every other job at the club, finally settling at the door when Crooks took over management in 1989. "I like watching people go by and I like talking to people," says Cotten. "I'm chatty like that. And I like turning people on to new music." While Cotten says he fears what Steamboat's closing will mean to Sixth Street, he vows not to stick around to find out. "Short of Esther's Follies, I may never step foot on Sixth Street again," states Cotten. "I was born and raised in Austin and have spent virtually every night of my life in Austin clubs, but there's nothing down there for me anymore. I had the birds-eye view on Sixth up-front and now it's gone. It's too bad."