After nearly two decades as the definitive venue in a city that is known as the live music capital of the world, Emo’s closed its doors last Friday, Dec. 30th. Though Emo’s outside hadn’t housed an act since DFA graffitied the walls during ACL weekend, Emo’s Jr. remained open until just before the new year with a series of concerts featuring the most coveted Austin bands from past and present. Noise-rock pioneers Killdozer played before a packed house for nearly two hours, ringing in a stellar performance that paid just tribute to the Emo’s legacy. Check out photos from the show below and keep watch for a slew of shows coming to Emo’s East in early 2012.

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9 PM | $5 | Emo’s Inside | with The Young, Gospel Truth, The Creationists, Crooked Bangs

For the founding members of Dikes of Holland creating with one another has never come difficultly. In and out of bands for years things always sort of clicked, just like their band name that was actually never supposed to stick in the first place. But it did, and so did their psyched-out, up-tempo approach to songwriting that finally got Dikes of Holland to where they wanted to be. Fresh off a west coast tour with Black Joe Lewis expect them to be well prepared to give you a proper homecoming.  

Formed in 2005 by vocalist/guitarist Hans Zimmerman with the rest of the lineup in place by ’07, The Young’s early singles were followed by an appearance on Matador’s Casual Victime Pile compilation. Their subsequent full-length album Voyagers Of Legend was nothing less than the underground rock revelation of 2010, hailed as “an implacable psychedelic rock journey.. almost cruelly evocative.” They leave for a short west coast tour of their own the beginning of the new year, don’t miss one of the final nights of the Emo’s Apocalypse that is stacked with Austin talent. 

9 PM | $15 | Emo’s Inside | with Flash Boys, Blunt Force Trauma

Agony Column’s self-proclaimed “Hellbilly Deathmetal Onslaught” began in 1987 at the stylistic crossroads of metal, punk, and double-barreled Southern rock. They were one of the few local Austin acts that fit in seamlessly alongside both Back Room headbangers and co-op party art punks. Although vocalist Richie Turner, guitarist Stuart Lawrence, bassist Pawl “Crow” Willis and drummer Charlie Brownell were an anomaly for their time, it’s easy to imagine them sharing bills with rebel raunch purveyors like Nashville Pussy had they formed a decade later. Riding in on the coattails of thrash and speed metal in the late 80s Agony Column played a bit slower than some of their thrash metal counterparts, sticking to more chugging riffs and focusing on groove rather than speed. Not partial to reunions, don’t miss your chance to see Agony Column play Emo’s one last time.

9 PM | $20 | Emo’s Inside | with Fuckemos, Thighmaster, Cunto

From other worldy jazz guru Sun Ra to German Rocket Scientist Wernher von Braun, Alabama has always had more than an ample share of connections to outer space. Such is the case with Man or Astro-man?, whose obsession with science fiction and groundbreaking technology (which at the time was an Apple Imagewriter II) propelled them into otherworldly status. Fusing 60s-era surf rock with new wave from the late 70s/early 80s Man or Astro-man? exploded in the mid 90s, having toured with everyone from Guided By Voices to Rockey from the Crypt and even making a fan out of fitness legend/Three’s Company star Susanne Sommers. With an outlandish live show that features space suits and extraterrestrial growths from all over the stage (maybe a tesla coil if we’re lucky?) they are sure to make the most of their last performance at Emo’s. Legendary Austin obscurants Fuckemos bring the irony and the absurdity so make sure to eat a heavy dinner, it’s gonna be long night.

9 PM | $5 | Emo’s Inside | with Whiskey Dick, El Pathos

The Emo’s Apocalypse continues tonight at Emo’s downtown with one of the rowdiest and rip-roarinest bands to ever call the Texas capital their home: Honky. While J. D. Pinkus is better known as the bassist for Butthole Surfers his self-proclaimed “superboogie” trio are unabashedly rock in the Austin spirit. Having toured with the likes of Fu Manchu and the Reverend Horton Heat Pinkus admits “we’re not trying to be groundbreaking; this is the most timeless music there is.” Expect a raucous performance from one of Austin’s down-and-dirtiest as they play Emo’s, a venue that has been a part of both Honky and Butthole Surfers’ tenure for over two decades, one last time. And make sure to look for Lindsey Kuhn’s limited edition silk-screened poster for tonight’s show, part of a special project he put together to commemorate the final days of Emo’s.

8 PM | $16/18 | Emo’s Inside | with Arkona, Polkadot Cadaver, Forged In Flame

For almost twenty years the members of Korpiklaani have taken the ancient folk music of their Samic culture and turned it into what lead singer Jonne Järvelä calls “old people’s music with heavy metal guitars.” Using real traditional folk instruments in conjunction with their onslaught of aggressive European metal Korpiklaani quickly took over their Nordic homeland in the late 90s/early 2000s. Having released their tenth studio album Ukon Wacka earlier this year Korpiklaani continue to dominate the folk metal scene, no one being able to come close to their spirited live shows and revelrous message. Check out their video for “Vodka” below and get ready to party Nordic style.

9 PM | $10 | Emo’s Inside | with Ovenbirds, The Nouns

Band meets in Austin where lead singer/organist Justin had moved to be in a Brooks and Dunn cover band. He soon meets drummer Joe and guitarist Zach and realize they all like to sit around smoking pot, and all agree they hate Brooks and Dunn. Although they have yet to play a single note, Canoe is now officially a band. On strength of live shows, ex-Pavement Scott Kannberg travels to Texas to see band perform live. After likening them to “Guided By Voices and Pavements Three Headed Baby” and being blown away by their incendiary live show, Canoe are quickly signed to his Amazing Grease label. Years later, Canoe are still as riled up as ever and ready to play Emo’s one last time as two of Austin’s newest upstarts, Ovenbirds and The Nouns, open a show that brings past and present together in a way only Emo’s could deliver.

9 PM | $8 | Emo’s inside | with The Baker Family

Inspired by a taste for the surreal, Cleveland’s Mr. Gnome has been creating a singular amalgam of gritty, space-psychedelia since 2005, gaining them an ever-growing cult following across North America and Europe. Singer/guitarist Nicole Barille and drummer/pianist Sam Meister bring an unfiltered approach to their craft, their off-kilter album artwork and music videos (that Barille and Meister created themselves) indicative of their sporadic change in mood. Their latest LP Madness in Miniature, released this past October via El Marko Records, crams in everything from nostalgic 90’s psych rock to stripped down, in-your-face blues jams as unabashedly as you would expect from someone like Jack White. Check out the album’s opening track “Ate the Sun” below and try to remember that what you’re hearing is coming from a two-piece. Yea, prepare to be floored.   

Ate the Sun by mrgnome

For years Lindsey Kuhn designed and screened some of the most iconic concert posters for Emo’s, many of which you can still find hanging throughout the venue today. Now he has put together a project to commemorate its closing - nine individual posters that when assembled correctly create an impressive master image. Each will be for sale throughout the rest of the month during the “Emo’s Apocalypse,” a farewell concert series at the original downtown venue featuring some of the most celebrated local bands from past and present. Collect all nine and maybe you can convince your hippie roommate to finally take down that tapestry he’s had since college.