Houston Live Music About To Take A Hit

We first heard about the plans of the owners of Star Pizza to shut down the Fabulous Satellite Lounge ages ago, from a weird girl we were talking to at a show at the Continental Club (a Slobberbone show, if I recall correctly). But after a while, nothing seemed to be happening and the Satellite seemed to be doing just fine. So I sort of dismissed the weird girl's information.

But now, John Nova Lomax writes that it's true. The a-holes at Star Pizza are forcing a Houston live music institution (or at least as much of an institution as exists in Houston) to close its doors, because they claim to be concerned about parking for the pizza shop they are relocating to the area. It's a pretty bogus claim, because parking at the Satellite rarely gets tight until the bands start playing at 11, when Star Pizza closes.

I have to admit that I'm going to miss the Satellite. It could turn into a hellish experience when a popular band packed the place with raucous college kiddies (like a typical Reckless Kelly show), but it was a reliable room that had reasonably priced booze and quality sound, and they seemed to try and treat artists right. I suppose the Continental Club will probably take over most of its acts, and I like that room better, but still -- this is another hit for Houston's live music scene.

Thank you, Star Pizza.

[Posted at 18:55 CST on 10/23/02] [Link]