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The Alamo Hotel and Lounge

Submitted by clex on Mon, 07/17/2006 - 2:24pm. Bars | Places | Politicos

Talk about spooky... The Alamo Hotel even looked like it was haunted... which it was. Haunted by the ghosts of old Texas politics, haunted by the residual effects of time and social stratification. However, the Alamo Lounge was one of those places where the counter culture seeped into, bit by bit, and took it over. Much like Spellman's, The Lounge was the venue for many a-starvin' Austin picker. Probably the most interesting product of the Lounge is Lyle Lovett. He seemed to be the leader/headliner for a weekly picker session.

In those days, it seemed like the Alamo stood alone at the corner of 6th and Guadalupe. Now, it's hard to imagine that spot could have been so isolated even though isoaltion was what many of it's denizens craved.

Update!
I just watched "Be There To Love Me", the Townes bio-pic, and was reminded that the video for Willie and Merle's "Pancho and Lefty" was shot at the Alamo Hotel during its final days. Watching that video, actually looking "through" the video to see a snapshot of old Austin is very rewarding. Here is an outstanding memoire on the Hotel and the shoot: Pancho and Lefty, Part 1 and Pancho and Lefty, Part 2

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Thanks for the memories

Submitted by Bren on Sat, 04/28/2007 - 2:13pm.

Thanks for the memories clex.

I lived in the Alamo for two months in 1978, while "backpacking" round the Western USA and working illegally for beer money, and frequented the bar there. Frequented? Practically lived there. It was nicer than my room.
Never been back. I wonder what happened to Swami Steve and the Nun, Catfish and others?

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alamo hotel and lounge

Submitted by st louis red on Wed, 03/14/2007 - 8:29pm.

I lived at the Alamo for a period in the 80s.....Interesting times to say the least...Spent many an afternoon at twilight shows at the loung...Butch Hancock...Jimmie Dale....Nanci Griffith.....Lucinda Williams...Robert Earl Keen....Lyle Lovett....Steve Earle....Rank and File....Townes van Zandt....Unbelievable really....Followed them all to Emmajos....i also remember living off the french fries at Mad Dog and beans....i think that was the name....well great Site here....great memories...You can also see the Alamo in the Clash video Rock the Casbah....and in a Peter Fonda movie shot in Austin called Outlaw Blues

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Alamo Hotel Lounge

Submitted by Chip Kidd on Sun, 11/04/2007 - 7:21am.

This place was really old by the time I ever went there in the late 70's. The lobby was dank and dusty, but the jackpot was finding the bar. It too seemed run down, old and steeped with history, but it was a great place to catch live music. Bill Neeley was a regular performer in this small venue. He was good friends with and had played with Kenneth Threadgill and had met and been inspired by the lengendary Jimmie Rodgers. He was old, but his sets were authentic and outstanding.

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