Gayla Klemett Collection, 1985-1993

In 1972, when Lubbock "voted wet" to allow liquor by the drink in bars and restaurants, a trio of Texas Tech law students, including eventual university chancellor Kent Hance, opened a juke joint called Fat Dawgs near the campus. That success enticed the fraternity brothers John Kenyon and Bruce Jaggers in 1973 to open the nearby Main Street Saloon, which they positioned for live music as well as alcohol. Their monthly rent was $175. In 1978, as Hance entered the race for the Congressional district seat and handed George W. Bush his only electoral loss, the two bought Fat Dawgs as well. They sold both ventures within the year. Gayla Klemett later managed Main Street Saloon as it became one of the primary West Texas venues for contemporary popular music, particularly in the metal, hair, rock, and punk genres but also acoustic folk and blues. Both national acts and locals like Joe Ely, Jesse Taylor, John Sprott, Eddie Beethoven, Cary Swinney, Human, Squarehead, The Nelsons and Ponty Bone played there. D. G. Flewellyn and the drummer Johnny Ray hosted open mic events. Ken "Keno" Ramage eventually purchased the bar and operated it through 1998. He settled a court case for keeping false records by surrendering the liquor license and paying back taxes for 1990 and 1991. The Main Street Saloon space eventually was subsumed into the back room at Bash Riprocks, where it remains a showcase for musical talent, though without its notorious topless mural.