1919 Hemphill

An awesome safe space for people of all tastes and backgrounds. It’s open minded and the volunteers are vigilant about keeping the space open and welcoming to everyone. I feel proud to have a progressive DIY space that’s been open for going on 13 years, here. Easily one of the biggest focal points for DIY music in Texas

I was in a pretty prominent ska band in the early 2000’s. I don’t want to big time anyone or anything, but we were on a tribute to Moon Ska Records compilation that was only available via LP. We were booked to play 1919 during our North Texas tour one Summer. Needless to say, we were disappointed when we arrived.
First off, the front of the venue was filled with loiterers. We’re not even sure if everybody paid cover. This was incredibly disappointing to us, because we then found out that our booking fee would not be paid even though it was properly invoiced TWICE. The 90’s are over too. No one is impressed with your ripped clothes, guys. Now, let’s go on to the actual venue.
Inside, the best I can describe it is if The Hurt Locker met Rock Star met, had a child, and then abandoned the child in Fort Worth. The green room was non existent. I don’t mean like «They don’t have bottled water.» I mean that it didn’t exist. No security at all. You might as well host a punk show in your Uncle’s basement. Couple that with the sound and lighting that resembles an inner city middle school talent show, and you have a failure of a venue. At the end of the day, we played to 20 – 30 kids who were all wearing Minor Threat shirts. We were not allowed to play our mandatory encore, the show wasn’t photographed or covered by local media, and we left without any money.
1919 Hemphill will never be a House of Blues, and they should just stop trying.

Same old 1919…
… Still hardcore clique-​y and standing for all of the opposite things of what it was originally intended to be. What’s even better is the reviewer on here named «Rikk V.» is one of the co-​owners/​founders. You can easily confirm this by checking out their website (and everyone who knows of this place knows Al and Rick started it)…
You know, I’ve been meaning to update this review for a while to say Thank You for proving my point, ‘Rikk,’ but it’s nauseated me to the point of putting it off this long lol. But now here I am: Here to tell you I appreciate you confirming your close minded, douchey attitude by writing a satirical/​mocking review of your own business instead of merely addressing my statements in a friendly/​fair way… Taking the advice constructively and offering thoughts on how the place could improve, etc…
It doesn’t surprise me at all that you try and be a dick by leaving a parody of my review. Again, Thank You for proving the whole point of what I was trying to say in my original review about 1919 Hemphill (and one of it’s creators).
So, what once may have had hope (hence the original 2 star rating I gave the place) I have now decided instead is a lost cause, so long as immature, clique-​loving pricks like Rick are running the place…
1 star is all this place deserves!

Love 1919. Wish I had more time to go shows there these days. Rick is an awesome dude.

FIRST, BEWARE OF FLEAS AND/​OR CHIGGERS.
I left there and was itching for the rest of the day (but I did wander into the back area which had high grass so that may have been where they came from)
I have to completely agree with KAI S. on this one.
(Without repeating what was said in that great review)
I was so excited to find a place in Fort Worth that shared similar ideas to things /​ideals that I’m into (Community, Punk Rock, etc.).
So I tried to get involved.
I attended a meeting, met the «leadership» and listened to what they had to say. (I even came back to help them with their fence)
To me, I felt like the passion that (I’m sure) they had a long time ago had fizzled out.
It seemed like some of the members were excited for trying to get stuff together (Conscientious Projector), but for the most part the attitude was just… whatever.
So in the end, it was like the «leadership» just wants to run a punk club without all the responsibilities of actually running one.
But they are helping little unknown bands to get some exposure (Matt & Kim called them out during their concert @ the House of Blues, Dallas) and I commend them for that. And for that reason alone, I would suggest going there (to see little to unknown bands).
I really hope that somehow that spark comes back to them (maybe they need a experienced volunteer event manager to help things out).
To see a similar type place that has had more success recently (as far as getting involved in the community aspect), then look at the Rose Marine Theater.