TCB

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Dive Bombing

Trophy's, the South Congress bar and venue that causes some people to recall their favorite Bukowski novel and others to shower immediately upon returning home, is cleaning up. Sort of. Manager Matt Drenik hesitates to call it a full-scale remodeling, but it's getting a new paint job, outdoor patio, more lighting, better ventilation, a new sound system, and even a full-time soundman. "Isn't that crazy?" he exclaims. He's hired new bartenders and talked to members of the Black Angels, Amplified Heat, and Ghostland Observatory about picking up door shifts when they're in town. "They need the dough, man," Drenik says. Though the 250-capacity club has slowly raised its standing in Austin's live-music ranks, Drenik says business peaked after last year's Spoon and Bad Wizard shows, and he wanted to pursue bands who wanted to play there for reasons other than fulfilling some romantic dive-bar notion. "I want to make this place a hot spot on South Congress instead of a place people want to play because it's kind of rough," Drenik says. He convinced the owner to shell out for the improvements, and so far it seems to be working: Ghostland, Amplified Heat, Tia Carrera, Grand Champeen, Moonlight Towers, My Education, the Ugly Beats, and Drenik's own Lions are on Trophy's upcoming docket. "It's not going to change that much," Drenik insists. "We're not going to take the aesthetic appeal out of being a dive bar." Just a more comfortable dive bar is all.