There probably isn’t any more to say about Lola’s, the new rock venue in the West Seventh-area building formerly occupied by the blues bar 6th Street Live, but – what the heck – here you go.
Along with being probably the only place near downtown to see some indie-rock by huge local and touring bands, Lola’s, owned by Brian Forella (formerly of the dearly departed Wreck Room), also seems to be a solid bona fide hangout, the kind of place to swing by during the week for Happy Hour, a first date, Last Call, high tea, high noon, or good ol’ fashioned weekend-afternoon day-drinking, which I don’t think could be said of most 817 rock clubs, past or present. Case in point: last Friday’s crowd.
Having the good/bad fortune/misfortune of getting off work at 7-ish, I popped in for Happy Hour and stayed, well, almost till close. In my five hours there, I kept an eye on the crowd. I watched it start out as just a collection of old Wreck-heads (self included) that slowly morphed into a mix of Wreck-heads and young, finely coiffed hipsters and, finally, into a thronging, slightly disorienting amalgamation of old Wreck-heads, finely coiffed hipsters (young and old), and a few well-dressed dudes whom I can describe only as frat-holes. (Though I never paid a single cent in dues, I was in a fraternity once, so I can sling around that epithet.)
Not to take anything away from the headliners, Black Tie Dynasty, the local mod-rock quartet that, as usual, was amazing and is a big draw at any venue, but I was more than a little surprised by the crowd. Not just the size – the place was packed – but, as I’ve alluded to, the composition. I saw folks I typically run into only at Fred’s Texas Café, J&J’s Hideaway, or some other grungy West-Seventh hangout. I saw people who normally never leave their local turf of Texas Christian University. Even the frat-holes, none of whom I’d ever seen before and who, I should say, were well behaved, made the scene.
About a year ago, when Forella first started working on Lola’s, he told me he wanted to recreate the Wreck’s bohemian vibe but steer it away from patently immature foolishness and toward respectability. By all accounts, he has. But I think he came close once before. His short-lived nightclub, The Torch, which was hopping every Wednesday through Saturday, also was a seven-day-a-week place where old-timers, indie-rockers, and trust-fund babies could mingle, though not always in harmony or with the best intentions. The Torch was the scene of a billion after-hours drinking sessions, fights, and other kinds of reckless behavior and debauchery.
Lola’s is inarguably a quantum step up, a happy culmination of Forella’s 10-plus years in the local bar biz. The club has the best of both worlds, the diversity of The Torch and the progressive artistic sensibilities of the Wreck. To be honest, I was a big fan of both places back in the day, and I don’t miss either.
I’d venture to say you should expect more of last Friday’s goodness this Friday, when local blues-pop singer-songwriter Josh Weathers celebrates the release of The New Serenade, his recently released follow-up to his 2006 debut, with locals The Campaign and Hurt Street. Visit www.joshweathersband.com or www.lolasfortworth.com. – Anthony Mariani
Seven Days for Bar 9
Speaking of seven-day-a-week hangouts, Bar 9 is getting in on the act. Like most upscale nightclubs, the beautiful downtown address was originally open only Wednesdays through Saturdays. But with the hiring a couple of weeks ago of two veteran barkeeps, Greg Hubert and past Best Of winner Matt Layton (best bartender) – two guys who can handle pretty much anything – Bar 9 will be lit up Sundays through Tuesdays. And if last Tuesday is any indication, the new hours may prove to be totally worthwhile. At one point, the entire bar counter (the length of about two shuffleboard tables) was filled, and the drinks, evidently, were flowing – though I heard the ka-blam!, I was too discreet to turn to shake my head in bemused disdain at the young woman who had collapsed on her fanny. Good music, great bartenders, and an obviously fun crowd – what’s more to say? – A.M.
Contact Last Call at lastcall@fwweekly.com.
Lola’s
2736 W 6th St, FW. 817-877-0666.
Bar 9 Ultra Lounge
900 Houston St, FW. 832-628-6767.
