When We Were Young and There Were Rats on the Wall: Punk in Austin, the Raul's Years

Abstract

The formative years of the Austin punk and new wave scene were creative and impactful times. From the beginning of 1978 through the spring of 1981, a small club called Raul's served as the cornerstone of this innovative movement. Raul's was situated along a section of Guadalupe Street known as "the Drag" on the western edge of the University of Texas. Its proximity to campus and the club's willingness to give any new band a stage on which to perform helped solidify the foundation of a unified, alternative network of fans and musicians.