The Lone Star Cafe

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The Lone Star Cafe

Three blocks from where I live, at 13th Street and 5th Avenue, is the former home of the Lone Star Cafe.

Today its a 24 hour convenience store, called 61 Convenience. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

In its prime, it was a great place to see a live show. And we saw a few amazing ones.

The one that I still remember was rockabilly great Robert Gordon. What an amazing show that was.

I am in purgatory walking by that place every day and looking at the late night deli and thinking about what was.

Bring back the Lone Star!

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» Springsteen's Fathers from Tom Watson
My father's house shines hard and brightIt stands like a beacon, calling me in the nightCalling and calling, so cold and aloneShining cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned Link Wray is dead, or so they claim. Hard [Read More]

Tracked on Nov 21, 2005 8:36:16 PM

Tracked on Nov 21, 2005 8:40:23 PM

Posted November 8, 2004 in My Music

Comments

Fred,
Lone Star was already gone when I came to the city in '89, but as a kid coming in I think I remember there being a big iguana on the roof, right?

Posted by: jeff lang | Nov 9, 2004 8:23:51 AM

Memories of the Lone Star, boy to I have plenty.....The Lone Star was the first club I lied my way into during the 1970s as an underage kid of 15 or 16 to sit almost literally at the feet of John Lee Hooker.

James Brown once played a week there with his full band of some 14 or so pieces and the horn players had to stand up along the stairs to stage left because there was no room on the stage.

One of the greatest shows I ever saw was Sly Stone at the Lone Star. It was during one of his brief moments of public performance as he emerged from his coke-haze briefly in the mid-1980s. He was gigging around the country, I think mostly with pick up bands in tiny seaside clubs and the like. And he did one night only, if I remember correctly, at the Lone Star. I remember well the band striking up the "Thankyoufalletinmebemiceelf" riff, and then here comes Sly descending slowly step by step from upstairs, like royalty from outer space. Yeah, baby. That was a great show. "Stand" was just too much music for the tiny room!

Posted by: Jason Chervokas | Nov 9, 2004 8:36:21 AM

Levon Helm used to appear pretty regularly, at least once that I recall with a couple of Bandmates (Robbie and Rick). It was definitely a good spot for music, as well as a place where Kinky Friedman's detective was known to hang.

Wonder how many of your readers remember (as I do) spending every single weekend at the Fillmore East. Every Friday night my friends and I headed to the East Village where Bill Graham's four-dollar triple bills earned their legendary status.

You mention Sly at Lone Star. Sly was one of Graham's favorite bands and in his inimitable way, he paired them with Jimi Hendrix and Paul Butterfield one week, and Buddy Guy and Jefferson Airplane the next.

Posted by: Bennett Zucker | Nov 9, 2004 2:13:42 PM

Many, many memories of the Lone Star and yeah when I pass that facade, I wonder where all the venues of that middle size have gone (the Bottom Line closing was a tough one, but a sign of the economics). One show stands out - a Robert Gordon/Link Wray bill, probably around 79-80. I loved the combination of Gordon's straight rockabilly homage and Wray's own post-rockabilly metal/blues riffs. Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt were around the bar. Rumble indeed.

Posted by: Tom Watson | Nov 12, 2004 9:31:23 AM

Back in the late 70's, my band, the DESPERATE MEN, were the "House Band" for the Lone Star Cafe. I must say, that of all the clubs and concert halls the DM played there was nothing like a night at the Lone Star. This was a kick-ass party place. Many fond memories of the roof parties with Hank Jr., Kinky, Jerry Jeff, Rick Danco, Levon Helm and the list goes on and on. Great people, great music, great Tex-Mex food and great memories. Thank you Mort Cooperman. Build it again and we'll all come back.

Posted by: Bill Nesmith | Feb 4, 2005 9:38:21 AM

looking for the lone star giant iguana, any info would help

Posted by: dennis boitnott | Feb 10, 2005 7:24:33 PM

Remeber Live Aid. The thursday before Live Aid I was there with my freinds from England who had never been to the USA before. Dinner at the hard rock and then down to the Lone Star.
That night a blues guy called " Lonnie Mac" from chicago was playing.
We went upstars and saw that the tables had reserved signs on them. First came Paul Simon to sit down with Penny Marshall.
Then Mike Jagger comes in behind us with Keith Richard. My freind turned to go to the bar and banged into Bob Dylan. I told the guys no work tomorrow, we are staying here and a 3 in the morning Dylan and Jagger got up on stage to Jam. A night never to forget.

Posted by: David Clive | Oct 1, 2005 3:55:58 PM

I came to this blog via the Tom Watson piece on Link Wray. I have a couple of recollections about The Lone Star. I drove a cab in NY for a couple of years in the early 80's. When things got slow after 12 on a weeknight and I was in the vicinity I would try to swing by and park out front. I could hang out in case somebody came stumbling out and needed a cab and in the meantime I could take a peek at what was going on through the front windows...just like the folks in the photo you posted are. I also remember going to see NRBQ there once. After the first set I went out with a friend of mine to hang out for a while–intending to go back and see 2nd set. We walked a couple of blocks away and sat on a stoop to bs for awhile. About twenty minutes later we saw half of the members of NRBQ wandering around carrying a couple of pizza boxes. They had gone out to buy pizza and gotten lost. We had to give them directions to get back to the Lone Star.

Posted by: curly lasagna | Nov 21, 2005 11:24:29 PM

I saw Humble Pie, Kinky Friedman, and of course,Commander Cody there

Great times

What happened to it since it moved?

Posted by: jim bognatz | Sep 12, 2006 1:56:04 PM

I played the lone star with the Sun Rytham Section In the eary 80's Great place some of the E Stree Band stoped by.

Posted by: j.m. van eaton | Sep 14, 2006 12:36:06 PM

anyone remember a band called, I *think*, Blackwater? I was told they played there as a house band at one time. The lead singer was a semi-regular on CBS oldies show (radio)?

Just curious.

Posted by: DL | Dec 25, 2006 7:53:21 PM

Summer 88 - three following eve´s - I saw Mungo Jerry , Willi de Ville , Robert Gordon and Asleep as the Wheel. And I met a friend for live during these days. We lost contact a half year later but i found her again by the www (2002).

i loved the LSC because of two things !

first - the iguana ( to that time i had one at home and while passing the street by bus, i saw the big iguana on the roof . so i left the bus and went to the bar.

second - one regular at the bar told me about the long long history of the bar. especially i was interested at his stories about the gigs of the BLUES BROTHERS BAND in the 70 ´s . JAKE and ELWOOD tried out their show in the LONE STAR. To that time the project was´nt well known. later the band performed in big halls and off course in the Saturday Night Live Show.

I still have the stolen bar list and an iguana shirt of the Gift Shop.

Bluesy greetings to all LSC visitors.
Dirk from Germany

Posted by: bluesfactory | Jan 11, 2007 1:17:56 PM

It was Jan. 1982. My first time to NYC (business trip). Met some new friends who said I "just had to see Robert Gordon" at some place called the Lone Star Cafe. All I can say is WOW. Man what a night, we went for one show and ended up staying for all his gigs that night, outside of seeing Be Bop DeLuxe and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 77 in L.A. this was the best show i've ever seen!. Left like at 3 in the morning. I can remember looking down at the stage from like the the 2nd or 3rd floor around 1 in the morning when in walked Billy Idol with some entourage. Sorry to see this place is gone.

Posted by: Greg Hargis | Jan 31, 2007 2:01:35 PM

In 85-86 I was holding down the bass for the Carter Brothers Band (http://www.thecarterbrothersband.com) and we played about 4 or so shows at LSC. We opened up for Bo Diddley on New Year's Eve 1985 when Rick Nelson's plane went down, and Bo turned the evening into a Rick tribute. We also played shows with Dr. John. I remember Garry Tallent filling the bass slot for one of Dr. John's shows...that was cool...meeting him, talking a little shop, and playing through his rig. Also, and I don't recal which one of the two (Bo Diddley and Dr. John are the only two I ever worked with) we were opening for, but SRV came in and played a couple of nasty leads a foot from me. I was blown away. What a blues guitarist! The iguana on the roof (you could actually go on the roof and see it up close from the upstairs dressing rooms), the great music atmosphere, and just some great musicians...and NEW YORK! What can I say! There's only one NYC! "Blue Lou" Marini (http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/band.php?musician_id=18) was also blowing his tenor sax with Dr. John on one of the shows. I first met (heard) him warming up in the back stair well. Yeah, he filled it up with sultry saxuality. I also caught Jerry Jeff Walker there in the early 80s. Hate that it's gone! Loved the comment about Sly Stone slowly descending the steps...I can see that...it just had to be that way, eh! Despite it's demise, LONG LIVE the LONE STAR CAFE!!!
-Chuck

Posted by: Chuck Hall | Feb 22, 2007 5:00:44 PM

Anyone attend this show and confirm that Garcia was there? The Grateful Dead played the Meadowlands earlier that night.

CALIFORNIA BOYS, THE
4-6-87 Lone Star Cafe, New York, NY w/Jerry Garcia + Sean Grissom 28 B AUD/2

I'd love to find a copy of this.

Posted by: Harry | Mar 18, 2007 1:42:38 PM

December 28th, 1986--marking my honorable exit from the military, me and some friends went to see Mick Taylor. We got an extra bonus--meeting Keith Richards & Patti, then watching a reunion of Mick T & Keith play "Key to the Highway" and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?". I still have a mug that I bought, just to convince myself that I wasn't dreaming.
I also remember The Lone Star moving uptown for a few years before they closed. I think it was called the Roadhouse, located near Roseland Ballroom in Midtown.

Posted by: Rocco | Aug 1, 2007 5:58:08 PM

Buddy Guy w/Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper - 8/87

Great place. Turned me into a Buddy Guy fan for life.

Posted by: Kevin S | Aug 14, 2007 4:33:34 PM

Someone remembered the iguana. I remember the giant spider in boots and mostly Rick Danko (1984?)!!!

Greetings from Rio!

Posted by: Luiz | Jan 18, 2008 8:27:42 AM

The only place in the New York area where you could see "Chinga Chavin's Country Porn" tour.

Posted by: diskullman | Feb 9, 2009 9:25:25 AM

I worked the summer of 1980 at the Lone Star as a waitress. The memories are fading of those days. Saw Roy Orbison there. It was way to much fun working there.

Posted by: secondlifeart | Feb 10, 2009 2:40:16 PM

I was in a band which opened a number of times for Robert Gordon at the Lone Star - also, Blackwater was one of a number of "house bands" - we used to double-bill on weekends and open for touring artists weeknights. Rick Palley was the best bass player I've ever known - he was bassist for Blackwater. Wasn't Desperate Man the band with Buddy Miller?

Posted by: Kenny Davis | Jun 26, 2009 8:21:48 PM

I was in NY on business in, I think, the late 70's and we stopped in for luncj and left about 2 in the morning. At the bar, we met a black diplomat from Kenya in a 3 piece suit and a British accent and a basketball coach from West Texas State (Tex as he was called). Then my buddy WAC, who lived in NY until he died of AIDS all spent the day drinking and laughing. Then in the evening, a band started playing and it was the Flying Burrito Brothers. What a night!!! Great memories

Posted by: patmcurran | Nov 9, 2009 9:01:33 AM

I still remember the unbelievable Doug Sahm shows of the early '80's. He had his usual crew of Rocky Morales & Charlie McBirney with some help from Larry Campbell & Floyd Domino on one particular evening. I had seen the early show & got home in time to record (from WHN) the late show. I converted this tape to a cd and still listen to it often. I'd give my right arm to get copies of some of those fabulous shows. Long live the Lone Star Cafe!

Posted by: paul | Dec 1, 2009 2:13:09 PM

A VC

Musings of a VC in NYC