The X-Ray Cafe (1 of 3)

In October of 1990 the small space at 214 W. Burnside was still known as the UFO Café, owned by a thickly-accented Greek named Alkis. Unorthodox and adventurous in his musical tastes, Alkis hoped to increase his pizza sales by allowing a local band named The Kurtz Project to perform regularly and book other bands. Unbeknownst to the musicians and patrons, however, Alkis had been equally adventurous in his financial strategies. Some months earlier, in an inspired effort to decrease his overhead, he had also hit on the idea of discontinuing his rent payments.

In the inevitable collapse that soon followed, Alkis vacated, and two members of the house band, Benjamin Arthur Ellis and Tres Shannon, somehow emerged from the wreckage holding the lease. With no experience running a club, the pair set about transforming a hole-in-the-wall pizzeria into Portland's primary all-ages hole-in-the-wall music venue.

What was quickly christened the X-Ray Café soon featured blocked windows with cheerful signage handpainted above them. Underneath the building's gutted upper stories and rusted fire escape, the street-level exterior was whitewashed, and a mural was painted low along the sidewalk. The interior was furnished through a constant influx of thrifting scores, dumpster dives, and personal belongings. The walls were eventually hung with dozens of frustratingly memorable velvet paintings.

In hindsight, the timing of the X-Ray's birth was perfect. While grunge and alternative music were exploding in Seattle and a low-fi revolution was mounting in Olympia, the X-Ray, and nearby Satyricon, provided much-needed stages for smaller acts, and were crucial in establishing Portland as an important regional destination for touring bands. Both clubs also formed cradles for emerging Portland musicians, but it was the X-Ray that was far more fluid, encouraging, and open to the bizarre. Local bands Crackerbash, Pond, Hazel, Smegma, Poison Idea, Dead Moon, Hitting Birth, New Bad Things, Last Pariahs, Motorgoat (which became Quasi), and the Spinanes alternated with visits from Beat Happening, Unwound, Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, Hole, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Green Day.

Although it hosted an average of three or four bands a night, less than half of the X-Ray's operating hours were actually devoted to live music. Necessity and boredom fueled an endless succession of theme nights and "educational" afternoons. Sleepovers, Spanish lessons, drum and sewing circles, science and electronics lessons, and Q&A sessions about nothing in particular were regularly offered. Ellis and Shannon were open to virtually any community-minded event as long they didn't have to organize it.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• X-Ray
• Cafe
• Punk
• Rock
• Anarchy
• Dada
• Club
• Riot
• Situationist
• Portland
• Oregon

[eigenstates]

The X-Ray and Trey are why I moved to the city in 91. We pulled in there with our band from Pittsburgh and Trey was playing that upright piano in a pain smeared smock. I knew it was the place I needed to have in my life. I am so happy this exists. Thank you.

[tomtraubert39]

Such an awesome place. I didn't go there often, but I loved it when I did. I remember going for the final show.

[evil706]

I Loved the times I spent there.With all kinds of friends I met and drove up with from salem, we would Hitch,and Hound it. just for the XRay and Burnside skatepark.. I love it.991'ish-close.. .My older brother was in the HellCows and He took me there the First time.. Take Care.

[anonimouse69]

I remember taking my newborn daughter to that club during the day several times.

[Fizzypups]

I wonder why this was recommended for me..? :P

[kellyo1234]

Wow 1994 pdx i had just moved here My first show was ROGER NUSIC in a gold lame outfit!

[shellybracken]

What a blast of nostaligia from my early 20's. There was never a weekend that didn't go by that my friends and I didn't stop at The X-ray Cafe to see what was happening. I saw every show that Big Daddy Meat Straw and Completely Grocery ever played there.

[abitar65]

Where are you roger?! Lovers loving lovers loving love!

[futuristfood]

DE WITT!!!!!

[inksac]

This reminds me of The Mad Hatter and Jabberjaw in Los Angeles during the exact same era. All these people who became well-known later came out of these places. Shit, some penniless, experimental losers at both locations are millionaires now. You could do anything at all.

Fuck, I'm better off now, but I miss 1990.