Vulcan Gas Company

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The Vulcan Gas Company, (usually called simply The Vulcan) was the first successful psychedelic music venue in Austin, Texas. The Vulcan opened it's doors at 316 Congress Avenue in the fall 1967, and shut it's doors in the summer of 1970.^[1] Houston White, Gary Maxwell, Don Hyde, and Sandy Lockett started the Vulcan.^[2] By 1969, management was primarily by Houston and Sandy, along with Jim Franklin. There was a substantial sound system installed by Sandy Lockett. Charlie Sauer was the principal audio engineer for the last year of operation. Bobby Hedderman and Marty McDermott managed the club for the last few months.

A name plaque for the Vulcan is still on the front wall of the historic W.B. Smith building, named after the dry goods store which first occupied the building in 1884.^[3] Fittingly, Patagonia plans to open a store in the building in the fall of 2008. However, in 1967 this end of the street leading to the state capitol building was not particularly prosperous and rents were relatively low.

The Vulcan provided a concert stage for unconventional bands of various genres, initially most notably the 13th Floor Elevators and the Conqueroo. By 1969, Shiva's Head Band became the de facto "house band", and in the first half of 1970 the Hub City Movers played frequently at the Vulcan.

There was no seating -- the audience either sat on the floor or stood. Smoking marijuana inside the club was discouraged but prevalent. Alcohol was discouraged until the last few months, when beer was served. For some time, the Vulcan used space in the adjoining building to the north for serving sandwiches and as office space, but this auxiliary space was eventually abandoned to reduce rent.

Most of the income came from gate receipts, typically $1.50 per person. Johnny Winter, as a favor to Houston and Sandy, played a benefit concert, along with the Hub City Movers, March 10 & 11, 1970. Even that concert was not enough to offset ominous financial difficulties.

The elevated stage at the northwest end of the hall was rustic, but the psychedelic light show was expected to offset that appearance. There was a large horizontal drain pipe across the back of the stage -- that pipe is prominent in many photos of performances at the Vulcan.

For much of the history, concerts were advertised with both large posters and letter sized handbills, similar to those produced for concerts at The Avalon Ballroom and The Fillmore. Gradually, the larger posters were sacrificed to save cost, and eventually the handbills were abandoned for the same reason. A particularly comprehensive annotated collection is visible at |THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED LIST OF VULCAN GAS COMPANY POSTERS AND HANDBILLS.