The Most Suck-Ass News I’ve Heard Lately: The Proletariat Goes Down

What, is there some sort of karmic balance in the Houston music scene that must be maintained, else the universe slips off its axis and we all suddenly never existed? That’s really the only explanation I can come up with for this — we get the word that Cactus is coming back, only it’s followed by the sad news (via the excellent Skyline Network, which you should read if you don’t already) that The Proletariat is due to be demolished.

Fuck. Seems the current plan to shove light rail down Richmond means that, among other businesses, the Prolo will be removed to make room for the trains. And hey, don’t get me wrong — I’m all for better mass transit in this sprawling mess of a city. But dammit, it still sucks. The Proletariat hasn’t always been its current self, of course — that’s the transitory nature of things in this city — having been a lesbian bar previously and the much-loved/loathed Blue Iguana before that (and probably things before that, as well). With each change, though, there was always the possibility that the building would once again vibrate to the sound of way-too-loud guitars and be a home for H-town scenesters. Now, though, it sounds like that’s not going to be the case.

Man, this hurts. Even as somebody who doesn’t get out nearly as much as they once did, the Proletariat’s been a great place to see bands, run into friends (I dunno how, but it always happens, even w/folks I haven’t seen in years), and just hang out. There are far, far too few places like this left; it’s a damn shame that yet another is headed towards the wrecking ball.

At any rate, there it is. Thanks, adr, for breaking the painful news. Anybody out there know a timeline for this? There’s no mention on their Myspace (linked above), and their “real” Website doesn’t look like it’s been updated in a very long time…