Atlanta Live Music Scene in the '80s ???

[mhochuli]

Was anyone else prowling the live music scene in Atlanta, GA, during the '80s??? The clubs I remember best are of course 688, the Bistro, Agora Ballroom, Metroplex, etc... I saw so much amazing live music during those years I'm sure to go deaf soon I remember being just out of high school and making a short road trip to Athens to see REM play on the UGA football field for $1 ... then seeing the B-52's up close and personal at a little club. So many bands I saw then went on to be really big! I'd love to share Atlanta experiences with anyone else who was around then ...

[WoodlandParkPunk]

I was attending the Art Institute of Atlanta during the mid 80's. I had a great apartment in Buckhead and lived at the Metro-Plex. I also liked Masqaurades. (sic).

Atlanta in the 80's was AWESOME. Little 5 Points, the Varsity , Metro-Plex etc.........

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

[mhochuli]

Hey WoodlandParkPunk! Thanks for your response! What were you doing at the Art Institute? Did you graduate? I knew some people who went there. I am an Atlanta native, although I now live in the midwest. I grew up in the suburbs then went to Georgia Tech for my college years. I lived in Midtown Atlanta in an apartment on Argonne Ave. near 10th and Piedmont ... then later I lived on 9th St. near Piedmont Park. While at Tech we used to walk through this tunnel from campus underneath I75/85 over to Spring St. to go to 688. The club scene on Peachtree in Midtown was awesome. Did you ever go to Weekends? I remember the Masquerade but am having trouble remembering where it was ... I'm confusing Metroplex and Masquerade ... must be old age and fewer brain cells ) One was "downtown" and one I remember was an old mill or something on North Ave. Am I right??? Also, I have a question for you. I saw OMD live in a "theater-like" club that I think was on West Peachtree in Midtown. It was after 688 closed on Spring St. Do you remember the name of that place? It was probably the 'something' Theater for all I know. It was more like a small theater with a stage ... can't remember the name and it's driving me nuts! What are some of your favorite memories and bands you saw???

[WoodlandParkPunk]

Hey, it is very cool to meet another Atlanta nw'er. I actually attended the Music Business Institute which was a program offered at the Art Institute. I was there from 1985 - 1987. I lived off of Akers Mill Rd behind the Galleria Mall and then moved to a great apartment on the corner of West Paces Ferry and Peachtree next to a porn movie theater. AWESOME location in Buckhead. Close to school as well. The Metro-Plex was on Spring St. It was an old mill that was converted into concert hall. It had a tiny stage, kitchen area and a balcony. Most Punk/Thrash shows played there. It was great to see GBH, Black Flag, Suicidal, COC, DRI and many more there. The Variety Playhouse in Little 5 Points had some great shows. Saw Fred Schneider there do an acoustic B-52's set. The club in Buckhead you may be thinking of may have been the old Cotton Club. It is now the Roxy. Saw the Ramones there in 87'. The Masquerade is on North Ave. It is 3 levels of clubs. Loved the bottem level "Hell". I remember seeing the Swinging Richards in a dive bar before they changed their name and made it big as the Black Crowes. A good friend of mine was in Arrested Development for a while, and the Georgia Satellites were a great bar band. I also remember there were tons of great new wave shows at Six Flags. My wife and I would love to go back to Atlanta but have great jobs here in Phoenix.

what ever happend to Freaknic"?????

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

[mhochuli]

OK, now I remember which is which between the Metroplex and Masquerade. Thanks for clearing that up I went to both of them fairly frequently after 688 closed. I remember the Cotton Club/Roxy and that's not the place I'm thinking of. It was in Midtown and had Theater in its name I'm pretty sure. I can find out and I'll post it here when I do. 688 was my club of choice and it closed in 1986 I believe. Saw the Go-Go's there before anyone knew anything about them. Two memorable "big" concerts were New Order and Echo and the Bunnymen at the Fox Theater on Peachtree. I'm older than you are, probably ... I even saw Devo at the Fox Theater in around 1980 I think. I was right out of high school. I, too, loved L5P. I hung out at Wax N Facts records frequently ... that pizza place that was so popular ... and the L5P pub. My boyfriend's fraternity often had the Georgia Satellites play at big parties on campus. Alot of us would go to Hedgens - a Buckhead bar - to see the Satellites play on weeknights and drink beer! There was so much great music then. I lived there until 1991 when I moved to the midwest outside of Kansas City. Funny, my husband doesn't really share my taste in music but he is supportive I've turned my kids onto all my '80s stuff on my IPOD! My husband plays banjo with a bluegrass band now and then. Definitely not my taste! I teach high school students and love to play "music" games with them since they think their music is all it is, you know! Oh and by the way, I think Freaknik died a slow death much to the joy of Atlanta residents everywhere. I sometimes get on the Creative Loafing web site and read things. I believe I read it there. I hear things since my family all still lives in Atlanta.

[mhochuli]

I remember the place I was talking about ....

The Center Stage Theater - 1374 West Peachtree in Midtown

Apparently it's still going strong!

[bowiestation]

I grew up in Atlanta and was present all through the 70's and early 80's during this whole music scene.Yes,I've seen many bands back then at 688 etc... anyone from Pylon,Kilkenny Cats,DK'S..You name it.I miss those days terribly.One thing I truly miss more than anything is WRAS 88.5 from 1979-1982.

[WoodlandParkPunk]

I miss Krystals the most. Especially at 3am on the way home from the pub.

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

[TheMunDial]

Alls I knows is, I saw Echo & The Bunnymen live in ATL last year.

'Course, ATL ain' fond of light posts, and I found meself driving around aimlessly until 3:00 AM.

Gave m'family in Stockbridge quite a start, I does.

---

It's THRILLING! It's GLORIFICENT! It's the best thing to happen to the Internet since the New Wave Outpost! Click away and taste unbridled euphoria!

http://blog.myspace.com/alfredeus

[mhochuli]

I miss WRAS 88.5 "album 88". I've never found another station like it. It was Georgia State's radio station. Georgia Tech had WREK but it was never as good as WRAS. WRAS has a web site now - you can google it and find out. They are much more diverse, it appears.

Krystal hamburgers ... ahhh something about grease and alcohol that just puts a smile on your face If it was Krystal it was the IHOP in Midtown that I visited many earling mornings around 2-3 am!

How was the recent Echo and the Bunnymen concert, anyway???

[WoodlandParkPunk]

The Huddle House n' Dine was another great late night/early morning eating establishment. For a short while I worked at Peaches Records and Tapes. Anybody remember them? There was also a decent nw dance club in Marietta called Charades. It was on the square.

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

[mhochuli]

I went to Peaches Records and Tapes. It was one of the first mega-stores for music. I also remember Charades - can't really remember if I ever went there but probably did. I mostly stayed in town. Did I mention that the Masquerade currently has '80s night on Thursdays? My nephew told me that he goes every now and then. He says it's the only night at the Masquerade that all ages/modes of dress/stages of life get out on that dance floor and sweat something fierce. Now that's what I call fun!

[WoodlandParkPunk]

Did you ever tube down the hooch'? Good times. Man, I miss Atlanta. Don't miss the traffic, but miss the city.

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

[mhochuli]

Oh yeah, I tubed the Hooch! Even had friends get ticketed for tubing under the influence Those were awesome times. I agree with you ... many times I miss living in the Atlanta, but not the traffic. Before I moved, I had a job with flex hours. I would go in at 10 am and come home at 7 pm just to avoid hours in traffic. The other thing about Atlanta right now is the air quality. Many days it's pretty bad. I hear stories about elementary kids not being able to go out to recess because of the air quality. Probably due to the traffic. Major bummer for a great city!

[grumpygirl]

I lived in Atlanta my entire life until 3 years ago. The early and mid 80's in that city were a magical time in my life! Oh the days of 688, the metroplex, the civic center, center stage, club rio, etc.... And the record stores! I remember even when the record bar in Lenox mall had an amazing selection. Wax and Facts always had the goods and Wuxtry wasn't half bad. Little 5 points for shopping and virgina highlands, L5P, Midtown, Buckhead(before it went to crap), for bar hopping. I wont even delve into the list of 100's of bands I saw during those years (just let it be known there was something worth doing every night. The Days wont ever be like that again. In the 90's things went downhill fast, the city got to big, traffic horrible, bands and clubs dried up aside from hiphop and the sort. Masqerade was ok for a while but not the same. In 2004 I finally had enough of Atlanta and headed south to Florida