Raleigh’s vibrant nightlife has always been punctuated by its dynamic music scene. While the city boasts numerous venues today, many iconic spots have faded into memory, their dance floors now silent. Among these vanished locales, The Brewery stands out as a particularly poignant loss for many Raleigh music enthusiasts. Its demolition in 2011 to make way for student housing marked the end of an era, prompting reflection on the many Raleigh clubs that have closed their doors over the years.
This exploration delves into the Raleigh music venues of the past, recalling the spaces that shaped the city’s nightlife and provided stages for countless artists and nights of dancing. Inspired by the spirit of The Brewery and other vanished joints, we look back at the places that defined Raleigh’s music scene for generations.
David Menconi at 7 Stories Raleigh
Remembering Raleigh’s Definitive Music Clubs
For many, The Brewery wasn’t just another club; it was the Raleigh music club. This sentiment, while partly influenced by nostalgia, reflects the venue’s significant role in the city’s music history. Even with the emergence of excellent new venues in the years since its closing, The Brewery remains an unparalleled icon in the memories of Raleigh’s music lovers.
The narrative of Raleigh’s music venues is one of constant change. Just as the city itself evolves, so too does its nightlife. Thinking about The Brewery leads to a broader contemplation of other music spaces that have disappeared amidst Raleigh’s relentless progress and transformation.
Kings, a current staple of the Raleigh scene, also has roots in a different location. From 1999 to 2007, the original Kings was situated down the block from the News & Observer building. That initial iteration of Kings held a unique charm and played a crucial role in showcasing emerging talent, hosting early performances by now-renowned acts. While the current Kings venue, established in 2010, is undeniably superior in many aspects, the original location retains a special place in the hearts of those who frequented it.
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Reflecting on the former site of Kings, now a grassy area beside Poole’s Diner, brings to mind other Raleigh music landmarks that have vanished. The rapid evolution of Raleigh into a modern city has inevitably led to the closure of numerous beloved music venues, each leaving behind a unique legacy.
Hillsborough Street and Beyond: Lost Nightlife Landmarks
Arriving in Raleigh in 1991, the Cameron Village Underground and The Pier nightclubs were already relics of the past, having closed in the mid-1980s. However, Cameron Village still housed the Record Bar, a reminder of a time when record stores were central to music discovery. While not the author’s primary record store, its presence symbolized the era’s music culture.
The Record Hole, located on Hillsborough Street near the NC State campus, became a crucial spot for music enthusiasts. Owned by the eccentric John Swain, The Record Hole was known for its unpredictable hours and Swain’s discerning taste. Building a rapport with Swain unlocked access to his curated selections, a treasure trove for dedicated music fans. His untimely death in 1991 led to the closure of The Record Hole, a significant loss to Raleigh’s music community. The location is now occupied by Curious Goods, marking a distinct shift in the landscape of Hillsborough Street.
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Downtown Raleigh also had its share of underground music scenes. The Fallout Shelter, situated on West Street across from Roast Grill, was a subterranean venue known for hosting diverse acts. It notably hosted a showcase for the band Motorola in 1993, attracting significant industry attention. Despite the hype, the band’s subsequent career as Motocaster did not achieve the anticipated success, and The Fallout Shelter itself closed a few years later, mirroring the band’s trajectory.
In the mid-1990s, the Lincoln Theatre, currently a prominent venue on Cabarrus Street, operated under the name Gillie’s. A distinctive feature of Gillie’s was its bar seating – swings suspended from the ceiling, adding a quirky and somewhat perilous element to the nightlife experience. The Pour House on Blount Street also existed in a different form during this period, then known as The Grove, further illustrating the evolving nature of Raleigh’s venue landscape.
Raleigh’s R&B club scene centered around The Vibe, located upstairs at 119 E. Hargett St. In the late 1990s, Terminator X of Public Enemy, then residing in Dunn, NC, would frequent The Vibe, DJing and connecting with owner Greg Dent. Dent’s earlier venture, The Zoo, was another significant Raleigh club where a young Christopher Wallace, later known as Notorious B.I.G., was a regular, highlighting Raleigh’s connections to even larger music narratives.
The Berkeley Cafe on Martin Street remains a fixture, although its original music hall is now Capitol Smokes. However, the Berkeley’s back patio continues to host bands, serving as a tribute to Sadlack’s Heroes, a beloved beer joint that anchored Hillsborough Street for three decades. Sadlack’s was a hub for musicians and music lovers, famously being the place where Ryan Adams formed Whiskeytown in 1994. The block once occupied by Sadlack’s is now home to a modern Aloft Hotel, a stark example of Hillsborough Street’s transformation.
Hillsborough Street has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis since the early 1990s. Landmarks like the Rathskeller, Western Lanes, Velvet Cloak, and IHOP are all gone or in the process of disappearing. Even Logan Court, known as “Faithless Street,” has been demolished. These changes evoke a sense of loss for those who remember the street’s earlier character.
The Brewery: A Raleigh Music Legacy
Yet, among all the vanished venues, The Brewery resonates most strongly. Located at the west end of Hillsborough Street, The Brewery closed in 2011, replaced by the Stanhope student housing complex. For many, it was their first Raleigh music experience. For the author, it was seeing Rev. Billy C. Wirtz in December 1990 during a job interview visit that marked his introduction to Raleigh’s music scene. Despite its lack of frills, The Brewery quickly became a regular haunt, especially during the years the author lived nearby.
The Brewery attracted a wide range of notable acts. In 1992, Blind Melon, seeking a change of environment, relocated to Durham and played a month-long residency at The Brewery. Despite initial underwhelming performances, the band later gifted The Brewery a platinum album as a testament to their time there. The Cranberries also played at The Brewery to a small audience shortly before their rise to international fame. Other notable acts included Paul Westerberg, Stereolab, Don Dixon, COC, and Flat Duo Jets, demonstrating the venue’s eclectic booking and influence. The Brewery even served as a location for the movie “Bandwagon,” further cementing its place in Raleigh’s cultural history.
The mid-to-late 1990s were particularly vibrant for The Brewery, as it became a hub for alternative country music. Bands like the Backsliders, Whiskeytown, 6 String Drag, Pine State, and $2 Pistols frequently graced its stage. The Backsliders even recorded a live album there, titled From Raleigh, North Carolina, underscoring The Brewery’s significance to the alt-country scene. Tres Chicas, another notable band, famously formed within the venue’s women’s restroom, adding to the lore of The Brewery as a place of musical creation and community.
A breezeway connecting The Brewery to the Comet Lounge next door provided a crucial social space for musicians and fans alike. SPITTLEFEST, an annual event celebrating twangy bands, further fostered this sense of community, with potluck gatherings in the breezeway creating lasting memories and a distinct atmosphere.
For those who experienced The Brewery, it remains more than just a lost venue; it’s a symbol of a specific era in Raleigh’s music history. The memories, the music, and the community forged within its walls continue to resonate, even as the physical space is gone. The legacy of The Brewery and other vanished clubs serves as a reminder of the ever-changing, yet enduring, spirit of Raleigh’s nightlife and music scene.
