New wave was, of course, the music du jour of the young in the late 1970s and early '80s, and by largely adopting the format, Madame Wong's became a success. (Wong later opened Madame Wong's West in Santa Monica, and it had a successful run before closing in 1991, six years after her Chinatown flagship expired.)
But for the young punks it was Hong Kong Café that was really on the cutting edge. In the wake of Madame Wong's success, the club opened in 1979 to a raucous show by seminal Chicano punk act the Plugz. The two venues quickly developed something of a rivalry, with Wong declaring that any band playing the Hong Kong would be banned from her club, though the venues' differing agendas largely made her threat moot.
949 Sun Mun Way
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Category: Bars/Clubs
Region: Chinatown/ Elysian Park
|
0 user reviews
|
Write A Review |
| Save to foursquare |
|
The Hong Kong closed in 1981, but during its short run it made a big impact, featuring important, ground-level punk acts, including the Alley Cats, the Weirdos, Catholic Disciples and the Bags. Filmmaker Penelope Spheeris gathered much of the live footage for her documentary The Decline of Western Civilization on its premises.
But while Madame Wong's remains the era's nostalgic favorite, the Hong Kong has largely faded from memory — except, of course, to those who attended the wild shows there.
"I loved the Hong Kong and thought Wong's was completely bogus," wrote first-wave punk fixture (and former L.A. Weekly jazz columnist) Brick Wahl in 2010.
That's not to say Wong doesn't deserve credit for fostering a raucous music scene in a neighborhood that previously lacked one. "She stuck her neck out," says Peter Case. "There was some real resistance from the neighborhood when she first started, but it didn't seem to bother her. At least she didn't let it show. She was fierce."
Wong also had the foresight to seize upon a mythic time in Los Angeles rock history, and her willingness to be open to fresh music that was far removed from her own life experiences helped transform L.A.'s musical landscape. And for that she should be remembered.
But the "Godmother of punk"? Not even close.
"As the club gained popularity, it was not uncommon to see celebrities like David Bowie stalking about."
Bowie also went to the Hong Kong. He was there to see Black Flag and The Flyboys in September 1979.
This article is truth. I was also around back then and went to the Hong Kong far more often than Madame Wong's. Esther? "Godmother of New Wave", maybe. Not Punk.
1 Like
Paul Greenstein is the guy originally responsible for booking bands in Chinatown in the late 70s. When he had a falling out with Esther Wong, he approached the Hong Kong, right across the courtyard in Chinatown. Esther was no friend of punk -- the bands that played there were strictly New Wave. The Hong Kong was the welcoming home to punks in Chinatown. I loved that place, it was right up there with Baces Hall and the Ukranian Cultural Center as a place we could book a gig. Nicole Panter, manager, The Germs.
Find everything you're looking for in your city
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
