Over the past couple decades, Emo’s has become a staple in the Austin music scene. Located on “Dirty Sixth” and known for its grungy charm, the most notorious bathroom in Austin and booking popular underground and punk rock bands, Emo’s has created its own legacy. Now Emo’s is looking to extend that legacy at a new venue: Emo’s East.

Emo’s East, located on East Riverside, opened Sept. 11 with Butthole Surfers, 400 Blows and Bodytronix. The show is one of many that has been moved from Emo’s outdoor stage to Emo’s East. Emo’s plans to close the outdoor stage by the end of the year with the indoor stage soon to follow.

The closing of the original Emo’s shouldn’t be mourned for long, though. Emo’s East is an impressive new venue that includes a large indoor stage – measuring 35 feet wide, 25 feet deep and 4 feet tall – viewable from anywhere in the audience, tackling an issue that has plagued Emo’s for years. The building holds up to 1,700 people but is able to close off a section of 1,000 with a retractable curtain, modeled after the 930 Club in Baltimore.

Emo’s East will continue the tradition of providing bands the best treatment. The new venue will better suit both audience and artists alike.

“It’s pretty easy on our end to see that we’re some of the best at production that there is,” Ross Bennett of Emo’s media relations said. “We take care of our bands better than anyone else. Now we’re just trying to up the visual aspect of