The Rathskeller (known as The Rat for short) was a live music venue for more than two decades in Boston’s Kenmore Square. The Rat was Boston’s version of CBGBs - a dingy place best known for hosting up and coming punk and rock bands. During their years of operation bands like The Cars, Pixies, Police, Ramones, and Talking Heads played here.
However, both the music scene and Kenmore Square changed by the late 90s and so the Rat finally closed its doors for good in 1997 (the year I moved back to Boston).
Now occupying 528 Commonwealth Avenue is the Hotel Commonwealth's restaurant, Eastern Standard. According to wikipedia, in recognition of the Rat's place in Boston's punk rock history, the restaurant's bar offers a cocktail named after the concert venue, which consists of fernet branca and coke.
For those feeling nostalgic you can check out The Rat's myspace page at www.myspace.com/rathskeller
4 comments:
Great post, I remember it well. Now what was that restaurant up the street (same side of street but a block or so on the left) that everyone went to that was an institution. I am totally drawing a blank.
Did it begin with W??? Thinking out loud, lol.
deli haus - underground... I think it was open til the wee hours.. maybe 4am or something like that.
My favorite Rat story involves running into Joe Perry at the time of The Joe Perry Project.Without going into details--heroin-a blow job and a back seat were involved.
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