Cedar Springs isn’t quite the mecca for live music that Deep Ellum and Lower Greenville are, but J.R.’s Bar and Grill is making an attempt to change that just a bit. The strip of gay clubs will probably always be the go-to spot for dance music, drag shows and some pretty worthwhile karaoke but J.R.’s has decided to add some local bands into the mix.
Usually Mondays are the bar’s alternative music night, which tend to lean more to the KISS 106 version of alternative. But for now, one Monday a month, the bar has been bringing in bands for the last three months in hopes of making it a regular event. By the looks of last night’s fairly packed house for the odd lineup of Turtle Creek Chorale ensemble Encore! followed by She-Dick, the folks at J.R.'s may have a good thing on their hands.
It probably doesn’t hurt that sister bar Sue Ellen’s (get it? Sue Ellen. J.R.?) has been doing the live music thing for years on its end of the same block. In fact, it has been doing so well that there’s rumor abuzz the legendary lesbian bar will be moving. Well, not so much moving but trading spaces with its other brother, Throckmorton Mining Company (TMC), located just behind J.R.’s.
When I asked Caven Enterprises (owner of each club) PR guy Rick Espaillat about the rumors, he neither confirmed nor denied. He did say, “We have a near term goal to create a better facility for Sue Ellen’s.” In fact, he credits the management of Sue Ellen’s for its success as business is booming. If they do trade out spaces, Sue will be moving into a two-story venue with a patio overlooking Throckmorton while TMC will return to its original form per se as a bar instead of club.
In other gay bar news, Dallas’ newest gay and lesbian bar Crush has been open for the past couple of months in the lower Greenville area and according to co-owner Cris Wilkins, it is busting out on the weekends with DJs and live bands and a mixed crowd. Crush stepped out of the Oak Lawn box to open in the Lucky’s Roadhouse building (Did anybody ever know anything about that place?), and just took it over a couple of weeks ago. Lucky’s will be out, and soon it will be all about Crush. Personally, I’m digging the free valet service before 9 p.m. -- Rich Lopez