Live Bar is dead

Well, at least the Live Bar we have known since Austinite Brad Ferguson took over the place, gave it a fresh coat of paint, new sound equipment, regular gigs and decent beer last October. We received these text message from Brad while at the Ziggy Marley show last night:

I'm giving Live Bar back to the original owner next month ... can't afford his extortion anymore.

No final party ... future plans uncertain but will be underground music related.

As of today it's his. It will continue to be open in the same format but sound equipment and drink prices will likely change.

Later, on the phone, Brad said the owner attended the Rock for Roots & Shoots charity concert on March 17, saw the 400 people in attendance and wanted the bar back. A familiar song — too bad for him highly publicized charity concerts don't happen every weekend.

Even before all of this, Brad was contemplating his future at Live Bar. The high fee the owner was asking for the rights to the space were out of whack with what the bar was actually bringing in. But the owners sudden decision creates another problem: Brad lives at the bar. So he has two weeks to find a new place (not to mention some kind of income).

We suggest some local live music venue holds a charity concert for Brad.