The famous rock stars who have joined some of the 19th Hole rock stars on our cover not only have something in common with each other, but with all bands everywhere. They all started somewhere. Celebrating 20 years of bringing literally hundreds of original rock bands to north side audiences, the 19th Hole has taken on a superman persona. Mild mannered sports bar by day; rip-roarin’ rock club at night. The club features a well over a decade-old Thursday Blues Jam that segues into Friday and Saturday night concerts that often feature three or four bands a night. The 19th Hole has become a landmark in live music for the north side area. A visit with Mike Pruneda, who has booked the bands through the years and Spence Gilmore, who has joined Mike in recent times allows us to look back at two decades of rock.

      “I was playing in a band at the time and the club ownership approached me about bringing in some live music into the 19th Hole,” Mike says. “They wanted to pick up the night business and bring in some new people. As they say, the rest is history. Early bands that did well included No Remorse and the early version of Kat James’ Troublemaker that featured Charlie Parker on guitar. I would watch Charlie at performances and practice and he became a big influence on me.”

    The late nineties featured the next big event in the evolution of live music at the 19th Hole, Mike says. “The ownership was able to obtain the space next door and we were able to turn this room into a concert room. This allowed those who wanted to hear the music without distraction from the sports bar to have a true music club experience. Conversely, people who wanted to stay in the sports bar could watch the games and shoot pool.”

     The new room also made it possible to bring regional, and even national, touring acts, Mike says. “Mitch Witner, who has played with me in Hollister Fracus had great experience with doing sound for bigger acts and knew the booking agents that represented some of the touring acts. This led to bands like Savitage, Faith’s Warning, Ratt, Bullet Boys, L.A. Guns, Dangerous Toys and even Flock of Seagulls playing The Hole. Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Osborne’s guitarist has played multiple times and we had The Doors guitarist, Robby Krieger. Texas stars Gary P. Nunn and Honeybrowne have appeared. Top regional acts based in Houston like Hadden Sayers, Paris Green, Lone Star Porn Star, The Hunger and Chrome 44 have played many times.” Mike failed to mention his own band, Hollister Fracus, that has always drawn big crowds to the venue.

     It was Spence Gilmore’s desire to organize a fundraiser to benefit research into Lou Gehrig’s disease that led him to his active involvement in the 19th Hole. Besides working with Mike on keeping the busy band line-up full, he handles many promotions at the club as well. “When I started the Spencefest benefit, I needed a lot of bands and Mike helped me do this. We had Spencefest several times, including a couple of times here at the 19th Hole. Each time we did one, I became more involved in the music business. I love the fact that the 19th Hole has obtained a reputation that has encouraged bands from Austin and Dallas to call us about playing this venue.”

     Spence says they will celebrate the 19th Hole’s twenty years of music all of the month of August. “Besides the usual weekend shows, we will have four Anniversary Parties. Number 1 will be Saturday, August 7 and will feature Holy Hell Rod, Snake Skin Prison, Mad Mexicans, Flick and A Bitter Season. Early Hole pioneers No Remorse and Troublemaker play with Carranza on Friday, August 20. The ‘Real Deal Anniversary Party’ is Saturday, August 21 and stars Hollister Fracus, Leroy the Prophet and Five Eyes Wide. Paris Green plays the final Anniversary Party on Friday, August 27.”