Raul's

Austin, Texas live music venue existing from December 1977 until April 1981. It hosted local Punk and New Wave bands, with as many as 6 shows a week. Raul's was not only the first venue in Austin to feature punk/new wave bands on a regular basis, but it became the nerve center for the punk/new wave scene. From this beginning, with the first gig by the Skunks and Violators, the Austin music scene itself began to shift. There was an incident where the singer of The Huns (2), Phil Tolstead, was arrested for obscenity, while on stage performing. It drew considerable attention after an article on was published in the University of Texas, student newspaper, The Daily Texan, and later in other publications such as Rolling Stone and the NME in the UK. A photograph had been taken at the moment where a bare-chested Tolstead, being handcuffed on stage, was reaching to one of the police officers for a kiss on the cheek. The establishment experienced a noticeable increase in clientele, fueled by curiosity, especially among young people, thanks to its proximity to the university.