Mississippi Nights
Originally built in the nineteenth century the building that became Mississippi Nights began life as a slaughter house for the James Reilley & Co. Beef and Pork Packers. 914 North 1st Street, eventually one of the greatest rock and roll clubs in the Midwest, also housed a rope factory, paper mill, syrup company, a mechanical bull, and for a single day in the early 1970s a club called The Rocks. In August of 1976 the brick building that backed up to the river that gave the club its name was christened Mississippi Nights and the bull was finally added. Rich and Mary Frame purchased the building in 1979 and for three decades ran the best known rock and roll club in St. Louis. The Frame's booked early concerts featuring The Police, AC DC, Dead Kennedys, Ramones, X, Fugazi, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, and Fishbone along with almost anyone else you can think of. In 2007 Mississippi Nights and much of the north end of Laclede's Landing was bulldozed to make way for a nineteen story hotel and casino. Although the building is gone fans of the club keep its legend alive on social media and at live reunions featuring bands that called Mississippi Nights home.Details courtesy of Garrett EnlowMississippi Nights Fan Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/943093849156694/Mississippi Nights Flyershttps://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=669046%40N23&view_all=1&text=mississippi%20nights
Kennedy's 2nd Street
The building that became Kennedy’s 2nd Street Company dates from the years before the American Civil War. In the 19th century it was purchased by Henry Shaw and became the Cutlery Factory Building. Shaw was also the founder of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, known as Shaw’s Garden. Kennedy’s 2nd Street Company opened as a tourist restaurant on Laclede's Landing in the mid 1970s. By the mid 1980s Kennedy’s was hosting local bands several nights a week. The Nukes, The Eyes, The Urge, Sinister Danes, and The Finns all played frequent shows at the 2nd street location. Kennedy’s closed its doors in 1998. In 2015 the upper floors of the building collapsed but is being restored. Jeff Richardson and Raymond DownarKennedy's Fan Page on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/60267596295/Kennedy's Flyers https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=669046%40N23&view_all=1&text=kennedy%27s
Bernard Pub
The Bernard Pub hosted more punk rock shows than any place in the St. Louis area. The building at 4063 Lafayette had been around for at least half a century when the Peppes family purchased it in 1952 when it housed a confectionery, a cleaner, a beauty parlor, and four upstairs apartments. In the 1970s Bill Peppes, known to a generation of punks as Bill Bernard, opened a bar and grill featuring blues/rock musicians such as local legend Rockin’ Robin, whose silhouette graced the side door for decades. On July 18, 1980, after searching for a place for local punk bands to play, Anti-mation and Surgery played the first punk show at The Bernard Pub. For the next decade Bernard’s hosted everyone from Agnostic Front, Henry Rollins, Fugazi, 7 Seconds, Social Distortion, SNFU, MDC, Warzone, and UK Subs. At some point John Green came on board and booked nearly every local punk band in St. Louis on famously packed bills. By the end of the decade the neighborhood was too dangerous to continuing booking shows. In 1990 Bill closed the club and John Green opened a new Bernard Pub at 214 Morgan on Laclede's Landing. The building on Lafayette stood empty until February 4, 1995 when a single engine plane crashed through the roof. Luckily no one in the plane or on the ground were injured. The damage was so severe that Bill had to have the building razed. An empty lot is all that is left of the club today.Detail provided by Tony Cornejo, Don Hollenbeck, Tim Jamison, and members of the Archive of St. Louis Punk Discussion Group.Bernard Pub Punk Rock Raid Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/621460647922917/Bernard Pub Flyershttps://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=669046%40N23&view_all=1&text=bernard
Cicero's Basement
Shawn Jacobs opened Cicero’s Basement at 6510 Delmar in the University City Loop, near the original Blueberry Hill in 1977. Originally known for pizza, the staff worked to convince Shawn to start booking music in the basement bar. In 1984 Cicero’s began a nearly twelve year run as one the best music venues in St. Louis with a show by the great Buddy Guy. Between 1984 and 1996 Cicero’s hosted national touring bands like the Buck Pets, Beck, Tenderloin, Man or Astroman, and the Cows as well as St. Louis legends Judge Nothing, Uncle Tupelo, Chicken Truck, Blank Space, The Nukes, and Dazzling Killmen. In 1997 Cicero’s continued to host bands at a new location down the street but the new place never captured the magic of the basement. The original Cicero’s basement now houses Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room. Details from Marla Hare GriffinCicero's Basement Flyershttps://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=669046%40N23&view_all=1&text=bernardCicero's Basement Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/322851301756608/
