The Bit Saloon, already heading in a more music-oriented direction, will resurrect the Up the Punks night from the now-defunct King Cobra starting March 30. Click image for more photos.
One month after the last note was played at Capitol Hill's now-defunct King Cobra, a part of that bar will live on at Ballard's Bit Saloon.
Up the Punks, a free, weekly punk night, lost its home when King Cobra went out of business Feb. 27. But, the Bit Saloon is resurrecting it March 30 with help from bands the Americommies and A Global Killer.
Bit owner Ed Konek said Up the Punks will take place every-other Monday and will still be free as long as there is an interest and Pabst Blue Ribbon, which sponsors the event, will keep paying for it.
Drew Smith, drummer for the Americommies, played Up the Punks when it was still at King Cobra and said that night always had a good vibe.
Smith has never played at the Bit, but his friends tell him its a great venue and he's excited to break-in Up the Punks there, he said.
The regular punk night isn't the only thing the Bit Saloon inherited from King Cobra. Konek said ex-King Cobra booker Justin Wojslaw and a few bartenders have made the switch as well.
Smith said Wojslaw has a reputation for taking care of bands, offering them money for gas and drinks.
The addition of Up the Punks is all part of a new direction for the Bit, Konek said.
“We want to turn it from a real dive bar into a dive bar with a legitimate live music venue," he said.
