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Get to Know Old Portland's Best Punk Venues

Posted on December 7, 2022   |   Updated on September 30, 2025

Rachel Monahan

Punk group F***ed Up played Satyricon in 2008. (Incase/Creative Commons)

Punk group F***ed Up played Satyricon in 2008. (Incase/Creative Commons)

Satyricon [at NW 6th and Davis] this place was the perfect punk dive bar (originally before the gentrification and addition of Fellini's). We played there with The Rats, Western Front, and Range Rats, as well as too many times to count with Dead Moon and later Pierced Arrows. Our home away from home with [Dead Moon guitarist] Fred and [Satyricon owner] George arguing about the PA costs again, [longtime doorman] Bruno at the door, the immortal jukebox blaring Ace of Spades one more time, familiar faces behind the bar (including [Dead Moon drummer] Andrew at one point) and the insane horse trough latrine in the men's head. Totally legendary and 18 years of amazing shows. Now gone but never forgotten. 

Long Goodbye at NW 10th and Everett was the 1st club to put on punk rock gigs on a regular basis after Fred and [King Bee bass player] Sten talked the manager Tony DeMicoli into giving it a try. Again, too many shows to count, mostly with The Rats on the bill with DOA, Black Flag, The Subhumans, crazy and wild gigs, both bands and audience losing control and having a blast. Later moved to the basement stage, early Dead Moon gigs with bands like Dharma Bums and others that became main acts later at Satyricon once it opened up. 

Pine Street Theater, also called La Luna later in SE off 7th and Burnside area. This was the big-time venue at the time, booked and operated by Monqui [Presents] out of Seattle. Touring out of town acts used Pine St. as their Portland pit stop before or after playing in Seattle. We shared the bill mostly as the opening band for DOA, The Cramps, Husker Du and Soul Asylum and others on their way up the musical ladder at the time. Great stage experience for me in those early Dead Moon gigs before we started touring on our own. That stage and room seemed so big at the time, another great Portland rock venue that faded away.

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