Elysium

I love Elysium! Every time I visit, I feel very welcome. It's also a good creative space to just be yourself. I met new friends there, and I enjoyed looking at the art all around the venue. All the employees were nice to me and answered any questions. The big restroom there is so cool with the art in there. I also enjoy seeing shows there, since you can be nice and close to the stage. DJs there have all been awesome from my experiences. I would recommend going to Elysium if you want a fun and welcoming scene. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. 😎🖤🦇✨️

Such a great bar! Though my attire made me stick out from the crowd, I felt welcome and cozy there. Everyone I met was nice, and our bartender went above and beyond. The atmosphere is really cool - good music, good drinks, loved the altar next to the dance floor. Hope to return to visit this place again, soon.

Elysium is kinda like the “Cheers” of Austin. Still standing after about 25 years. Still doesn’t overcharge. Nicest DJs and bartenders ever. Long time safe space for all the freaks, weirdos, and queers that make Austin the place it is. (So much love for our supportive straights and normies too.) The stage has been an host to everything from iconic musicians to local community acts. All treated with the same respect and importance. Lastly, you can always find John hanging outside, closing the bar out, happy to talk to anyone. It’s simultaneously a misty hole in the wall and one of the beating hearts keeping downtown Austin alive. So many amazing memories. All my love. ❤️

Went for 90s night because I thought it'd be fun, but the club was mostly empty, especially on the dance floor, plus a big portion of the music they played sucked. The pinball machine in the back is not free, even though I think it'd contribute a lot to my boredom if it was. Needless to say, this club was not bumping. I appreciate the lights and fog machine, but it just hides how worn down the place is. Bartenders and other staff are very nice though. Just not worth going to, especially if you're under 21.

A fun place to let loose. Dance to 80’s, New Wave, Goth Industrial etc depending on which night you choose. Or catch a live show! Drinks are great. Visit more than once and you’ll start to feel like family. Cannot say enough about the hard working staff (Jade!) along with the owner who literally cares & looks out for the community and all his guests. A MUST if you’re visiting Austin!

Elysium is great; it continues to be one of the most original and fun clubs in Austin that offers a wide variety of musical talent that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the city. The staff here are some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet and honestly just one of the best spots in town.

This is one of my go to’s for 80’s dancing on Sunday night! Lots of fun and great music! Sara & John are awesome!!

Best 80's night in town. Music is awesome! Patrons and bartenders are super friendly. Love this plsce!

Came here for an event hosted by Queerbomb for Valentine's Day; we'd never been before. It was a relaxed vibe. My husband and I were very comfortable being there, and lots of like-minded folk around us were having a blast. The venue space is pretty solid, imo, lots of couches for lounging (some are in better repair than others), a nice big dance floor and DJ booth for pumpin' tunes, and a sizeable stage that's raised for easy viewing. There's an outdoor patio for if you need to get some air, billiard tables for gaming, and a bar to get drinks. The bathrooms are... unfortunately, atrocious. Just really, really gross. I barely fit in the stall in the men's room and I'm a 5'3" 120lbs guy... couldn't use the piss trough cuz I'm a trans guy. So yeah... bit awkward there. Other downside was the parking situation, we had to park several blocks away and walk past a lot of homeless people sleeping behind the church. My complaints aren't things Elysium has much control over though, so I get it; you're stuck with being in downtown Austin. We do plan to return sometime, either for another Queerbomb event or maybe their reoccurring 80's dance night on Sundays!

I've been going for 25 years and this club is near and dear to my heart. It is diverse, inclusive, and goth friendly.

First off Elysium should be a landmark as far as I'm concerned it's been around since 2001 which is coincidently when I move to Austin at the age of 20. I remember coming here in my 20's with friends to hang out, I was here on Halloween and even rang in new years here once. Now in my 40's I can say it hasn't changed and that's a great thing. The atmosphere is still that of a dark goth club which gives off the vibe of old goth movies like The Hunger, the music is loud, they do have theme music nights and the bar and bartenders are great. If I had to pick one word to describe this place it would be Classic. Some nights are busy some are quiet. I was here recently on a Tuesday after going to another show down the street so it was about 11 pm and was a quiet night, I mean it was a Tuesday after all, but the music was still great as were the drinks and company. I'd recommend this place to anyone as a must go to while in Austin. It's not chic, it's not hipster, it something authentic to Austin and Red River.

80s night on Sunday- sign me up!!! It's been years since I have been here and done 80s night. And like a responsible 40 something year old, I took Monday off. LOL. The ambiance was exactly what I wanted. A little dingy, fog machine, hot dance floor, happy people dancing (plenty who seemed to be on drugs and others just high on life) but not too crowded! If you're looking for pristine fancy place with impeccable bathrooms, keep scrolling for another place. We went exactly at 9:30 to make sure we could get out dancing in early before we became pumpkins! What I especially liked was they had plenty of sans alcohol drinks to pick from. The bartender was so extremely lovely and very attentive. Fun place with fun people

i am a rather unfortunate looking man but i am flooded with compliments when i step into this establishment! my wife is pleased with my self esteem boost but sour at the thought of my ego growing too big. what an interesting delight. my wife wishes they would play a more interesting goth song that the ones they play while we are shopping at randall's supermarket. cheers!

Elysium has the best decor if you are goth. It's perfection. Hipsters that are over everything and black. The people that work there are classy in that they are careful and thoughtful and kind. The best place to dance too, especially 80's knight!!

Elysium is a place of mixed tastes. The drinks are overpriced and the DJs are somewhat rude. If your going there to pick up women. It's become more of a gay bar now then it's past glory. I wouldn't waste my money on this establishment unless your going to a show.

Sadie is AMAZING! She helped my friend after he lost his phone and got hit by a car (no I am not joking unfortunately). She definitely deserves a raise!!!

Visiting from Phoenix and stumbled upon this gem. I'm a huge 80s fan, was listening to send me angel on phone 30 min prior I walk in and they were playing that song. OMG!! So cool!! Had a great night, danced all night. Cool people and staff were so nice. Thank You!!

Do you want to feel your inner goth??? Come here. The bathrooms aren't too clean, but the ambiance is awesome!! It's in a historic building (check out the art on the side of the wall) and the music slaps. I didn't get to check out the bar area, but Ian and I had a wonderful time here. There is a $3 cover to get in and it is cash only for the cover unless you have a password (which we found on their Twitter to avoid atm fees).

This place is so wonderful. I had no idea places like this existed in Austin before moving here a couple months ago from nyc. It reminds me of home. The people who work here are wonderful as is the clientele. Sunday 80s nights are special. All types of people and all ages with the best music. Extra special thank you to Amanda who was working entrance last night and helped me when I fainted from heat stroke after ACL. And the kind bartender who also rushed to get me water.

I love this place and the people that come here are pretty friendly. The dance floor is amazing and this is THE place for goth music. If you love goth music and goth people then I'd say come here. Just don't forget to get a drink from the bartender Sadie; one of the best bartenders Ive seen in Austin! She is super friendly, knows what you like before you know it and just an outstanding individual of a person! Word's cant describe it, you just gotta head down and see for yourself!

Do you want to get your club dance on? Then you might like this place. Just make sure you've extinguish your bowels beforehand, as you likely won't be pleased with your options should you find yourself needing to take a shit here.

The most fun place in Austin. Great for dancing on Saturday and Sunday nights it is an Austin icon.

After the last time I'm done with this place once and for all. I'm making a clean break! I have tried to like this place for years but there comes a point when I need to just let go. Sure this is one of only few places to go for dark, "goth", 80's new wave but that doesn't mean it's worth it to be stuck in a hot dank basement all night. Take for instance, my last experience. A few weeks ago, the website (at first) said "8:00pm" which sounded early but I was all for it given it was a mid-week show and I actually have a job. A few hours before 8:00 though, all of a sudden the site changed to "10:00pm" I thought that was odd but still assumed "Show at 10:00". No. What that actually meant was, "Doors at 10:00pm, show at Midnight". Really!?!? A mid-week show with a $10 cover starting at midnight? I only found this out by asking the door guy who looked drugged up why the show hadn't started and it was after 11:00pm. Aside from the dozen or so "teens" (one of which was in front of me in the line and actually forgot her ID! If that's not a sign she was under age then I don't know what is...) the show probably had like 10 other people there. Yeah, the club was dead, dank and depressing. A few other things to note about this place: It's disgustingly stuffy and hot due to no central A/C; the crowd is overrun by 18 year old children; the sound system is abhorrent; the rickety fog machine is just offensive and the seemingly underage female dancers are reminiscent of early 2000's mainstream goth/rave culture. :-( Oh, and did I mention that their liquor legitimately tastes watered down and the bartenders are rude and surly? Seriously, there's got to be a way to prove that they're watering down their liquor. Honestly, if you want a great 80's new wave night, go to San Antonio.

NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AT ELYSIUM! Always a VERY diverse crowd, good dance music, large space. Often have bands, acts, or "theme" nights. Vamp, 80s, goth, glam..you name it! Always a good time, More than just a bar; it's an "experience." Have never been disappointed!!...until... During my most recent visit, their was an "aerial" act ($6 cover). Was told it would begin in about 10 minutes. Over an hour later the "act" began. It was one of the most ridiculous, embarrassing things I've ever seen. No Cirque du Soleil here! Two women all twisted up and hanging onto the aerial ribbons for dear life! hahahahaha They had NO IDEA what they were doing! Bless their hearts. :) It was "entertaining" though - just not how I think they intended it to be. Every bit worth the 6 bucks spent because I laughed so hard I inadvertently got an awesome ab workout! I'll be back!

Drinks a little on the pricy side and the bartender was far from friendly. Great music though

Not as good a the the church or Panoptikon in Dallas but what it makes up for is the closeness to where I live and that they are open more then one day a week. I wish that there were more goths there and that it was more busy especially since Austin got naked vampire capital of the USA

This place is quite wonderful! Came on Sunday night for their 80s night. Pure fun with lots of room for dancing or just hanging out. They also have a stage you can dance on. Friendly crowd. Gets pretty packed but not too bad. If I remember correctly, drinks weren't cheap. Other than that, can't wait to dance the night away again!

I like the layout of Elysium. One big stage with a dance floor in one room and the other room with a bar, pool table, pinball machines and places to sit. There's also a patio. I went here for KPOP night. The atmosphere was awesome. I would love to come back here not just for KPOP night but for other nights too.

I haven't been to Elysium for way too long, but this was my go to place to dance and see bands when I moved Austin in 2001. Last week, my husband surprised me with tickets to a show. Some things seem to get better with time and this place feels like coming home. The goth/industrial scene is alive and well. Best night I have had out in years. Thank you for keeping music breathing and alive on Red River! See you again soon.

You have to hand it to Elysium. They've kept things going strong for 25 years. They are fiercely clinging to that corner of red river. I think they'll outlast all of us. I dropped in here Wednesday night at the behest of a friend who digs the "goth" night. I had no idea what I was getting into. Would there be hundreds of people who looked really depressed milling about? Actually, it was pretty empty. Good drink specials, great Cult, Clash, Cure music vids playing and just a couple of people on the dance floor until we left (about 12a.) I dug it. I'd go again. Good music, lots of elbow room and a $10 bar tab is a decent option on Wednesday nights.

I've been going here off and on since 2012. Its still just as fun as ever and it's the only place I ever plan a night out of dancing at. The music is always on point, the drinks are strong, the crowd is a bunch of super fun, easy going people and each sunday night is 100% a new, memorable experience every time. If you love the 80s and want to dance off the stress of the world, this is the place to do it!

Came here on Sunday night for 80's night. There was a great crowd and everyone was really getting into the music. The playlist was not the kind of 80's music I most know and love but I think it was just the specific DJ that was playing that night.

Best night of my life. I met a man who took my breath away. Walked in, was wearing my favorite top and had glossed up my lops with my favorite gloss, and thought to myself that this place was relentlessly flawless. When I ordered a hairy dog, my favorite cocktail, I was certainly not upset with the results. The man I spoke of earlier whom you are probably dying to meet, was in fact, a dog. He was so handsome that he, like I said, truly took my breath away. Please visit this place. You will meet the love of your life because they let dogs in and you will not be disappointed.

This place is just great. The decor reminds me of something out of a vampy boudoir lounge and the music was killer. The bartender was friendly and chatted me up as well as being very generous with libations. I really enjoyed the vibe here and cant wait to visit again!

This is a Goth bar, and by golly I had the best time; I am far from goth (more like a unicorn threw up all the colors of the rainbow) but I do love me the goth crowd. Everyone is always so mindful of others, friendly, and welcoming. I would definitely come back to this venue, the have two full service bars, a stage, tables and two videos games close to the patio. I attended an S & M burlesque show and it was absolutely delightful, one girl had an actual grinder (power tool) and used it to impress the crowd... (use your imagination) :) check it out even if you don't feel like it's your jam

This club would've been cool. Except for all the absolutely down right rude bartenders. Don't come here unless you want to pay for a drink that's half full and be charged more than the bartender told you afterwards. I'm from out of town and was hoping to have a fun Saturday experience - nothing spectacular but was met with bad manners. Look for the big burly guy with a beard and the small man with a pony tail. Yes I am talking to you!

Have a great time every weekend. The downstairs bartender is awesome and makes some interesting and unique tasting things.

Went here for the first time with an old friend of mine and his girlfriend (who is also a performer) for the Vampire Court Ball. Goth clubs aren't really my thing, but I kinda liked this place. I just wore a black suit and black shirt, and I didn't feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb. Hell, there were even some older people in jeans and T-shirts. But most patrons were decked out in corsets, studded leather jackets, leather pants, contacts, etc. And cleavage. Sooooo much cleavage. Both the bars (the main one up top and the VIP one on the lower area) are pretty nice. Beers and ciders are $4.25, mixed drinks like a Vegas Bomb are $5.50, and then their signature Blood Shots are about $5, I believe. There's a good sized dance floor, with silks hanging overhead for aerialists, a stage, a raised DJ booth, a curtained-off VIP room with sofas in the lower area, a large smoking patio out front, and of course the two bars. That night there were also several stalls selling corsets, flogs, masks, little coffins with chicken feet in them, etc. The DJ music is a lot of what you'd expect. System of a Down, In The Moment, etc. I kept waiting for some Rage Against the Machine, but sadly it's not that kind of a place. There was also a live band that did everything from Marilyn Manson to opera. Surprisingly really good opera. Then there were the performers, who did everything from aerial acts to burlesque routines. I wouldn't call it stripping per se, because they did not bare everything (the most was one woman who had red sparkly pasties), but they are incredibly sensual. And hot. Most of the people there did not have that super pretentious, holier than thou, make-hipsters-seem-down-to-earth air about them that I've noticed with other similar groups. These folks were there to get dressed up, escape from the daily routine for a few hours, and have a great time. One dude out on the patio even made my e-cig disappear and reappear, which blew my drunken mind. Not some place I personally would frequent, but that night I had a blast! Even met some people I haven't seen since high school. I'll definitely be coming back in November, when my buddy and his awesome girlfriend will be in a production of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

This place is like family and church for me, specifically on Sundays. Great staff and the owners are amazing and super welcoming. The DJs play the best music and this club showcases some kick ass shows. Best Austin club ever. I have the best nights ever here and I dance my ass off every time.

An excerpt from "A Complete Guide To Identifying and Cataloging Goths", some of the most common specimens you will see here on a Saturday night: Wears fishnets, leather jackets, and vintage band shirts that have been cut-up or otherwise modified. May have teased and dyed hair. Listens to Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Smokes clove cigarettes, drinks rum and coke. Classification: Old School Goth. Wears PVC, towering platform boots, and fuzzy leg warmers. Has dreadlocks, plastic bits, or tubular crin instead of hair. Probably has goggles strapped to their head, and may be carrying glowsticks. Listens to EMB and Synthpop. Drinks something called a Jaded Dragon, which looks a lot like antifreeze. Classification: Cybergoth. Wears combat boots, military jackets, and tank tops. Has a shaved head or a mohawk. Accessorizes with spiked bracelets and collars. Listens to music with angry German lyrics and stuff that uses saws as instruments. Smokes like a chimney, drinks beer or whiskey, and will kick your face in if you bother them. Classification: Rivethead, aka Industrial Goth. Wears Victorian-styled clothing and corsets. Does hair in a fancy updo, perhaps with a top hat. Listens to Voltaire while drinking a glass of red wine. Classification: Romantic Goth. (If majority wardrobe color is brown instead of black and they have more than one gear or watch part on their person, use Sub-classification: Steampunk instead.) Wears t-shirt, jeans, and sensible shoes. May wear a baseball hat. Drinks PBR. Stares at everyone and looks really confused. Classification: Someone who thought it was Sunday 80's night.

Tale of an old school goth girl. There was once this art school girl who wore a lot of black and john fluevog shoes. She was a sad girl who'd already had her share of heartbreak for such a tender age; visiting goth clubs all over the southeast looking for that special angsty pre-emo love. She'd dance self-consciously to My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Ministry, The Smiths, and Siouxie. Eventually she moved away to a place where there were no goth clubs. Twenty years later the goth girl is now a happy suburban housewife. The few black dresses from her old days are in the back of the closet. Last year she was talked into going to a goth club for the first time in years and years. Reluctantly she went. She dug out some black clothes and her awesome knee high boots. She realized that her self-consciousness was gone! She didn't feel uncool or judged. She was fulfilled in her personal life and she was free to dance and dance without fear of judgement. In fact, she received compliments. "Perhaps," she thought, "the new goth kids aren't as negative or judgy as the old school goths." Or maybe it was the club. The bouncer is nice. The bartenders are pleasant, if overwhelmed, when it gets crowded. The deejay spins fun songs, some even familiar to the girl's prime. The fellow patrons are pleasant, not too cool to not talk to. They....smile. Unheard of in the early nineties goth clubs. Or maybe the girl was too self-conscious to notice that they did this all along. She prefers going on Saturday nights and after midnight on weeknights. Sunday nights make her sad.

Where else can you melt into such glitter goth hotness and witness 'a la mode floor licking? Plenty of room to actually dance, plenty of room to actually mingle, plenty of time to actually palpate some delectable trouble. And, plenty of patience required to get into the god damned bathrooms ... way too small for the amount of people up in here. Playful DJs and friendly bartenders; coloring way outside the lines with Elysites you will be. No one seems to care who is doing what or who as long as you are having fun ... complete with iron cages and smack your bitch up stages. Arrive rested - leave exhausted.

Oh Sleazium I've been here twice on 80's night, yet I've experienced a lot, and DJ Pumpkin Spice spins some great 80's tunes! Here are things that might happen to you (assuming you're a guy?) Get your clothes drenched in sweat from dancing Meet some girls that ask you to join them in a risque photo Have your shirt ripped open by said girl(s) Get discouraged at times by the wealth of lezzies Get hit on by a member of the same sex. You could avoid the last one by sticking with a group, but where's the fun in that?

We walked into Elysium Sunday night for 80s night and walked into a maelstrom of counter-cultures. The list of party goers included (but was not limited to) punks, lesbians, sorority chicks, goths, yuppies, frat boys, metal heads, gay boys, hipsters, and 80s freaks. I have never seen so much eyeliner applied in so many different ways. Wet 'N' Wild should really expand their marketing.... The highlight of the evening was when a Billy Idol look alike (you know who you are!) hopped on stage and mashed with a sorority chick, grunge dude, and goth queen in a bustier. Cover: $4 Lone Star: $4 Memories of Elysium: Priceless

If there's any club in Austin I'm qualified to review, it's got to be Elysium. For years I whiled away virtually every Sunday evening boogin' down to the left-of-center eighties at Atomic Cafe. When the club was sold, I was thrilled to find that the new owners were regulars John Wickham and his lovely wife Sarah. They've kept the spirit of the previous club intact--goth and virtually every "alternative lifestyle"-friendly--while making improvements and giving the place their own spin. As always, Sundays are the flagship nights. Goths, punks, and indie kids mingle with thirty-somethings (like myself) reliving their youths. Definitely a party atmosphere, Sundays have a reputation in some quarters as a bit of a meat market, earning the club the nickname "Sleazium." At any rate, Sunday night music is a mixed bag, in my estimation. While I prefer the darker side of the decade--your Smiths, Joy Division, Thrill Kill Kult, et al.--these compete for turntable time with more mainstream fare, like Michael Jackson and Toni Basil. This is why, when I'd really like to shake my money-maker, I opt for Wednesdays. Driven mostly by requests and ably helmed by DJ Pumpkin Spice (i.e., Sarah Wickham), Wednesdays have a smaller, but clearly devoted, following. Not exactly a goth night (see Saturday for that), one can dance relatively unfettered by butts and elbows in your business without being conspicuously alone on the floor. That said, it's Sunday night as I write this. Guess where I'm off to next? See ya there...

If I lived in Austin, then I would probably frequent here. This place makes the little goth/industrial girl in me happy. Elysium is a divey bar/lounge with dance floor and pool table, along with quite vintage looking a/c blasting on. The drinks are cheap (well I'm coming from NYC) and the bartender is nice. The bathrooms' decor is on acid but it is kind of cool. Come and chill or dance your heart out, I'm sure nobody here will judge.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a club-goer. I'm far too much of a mild-mannered homebody for that. I'd much rather spend my night curled up on the couch playing video games or reading math books that go out to a club or bar. Regardless, I agreed to accompany a friend to Elysium for their 2009 Steampunk Ball because it sounded somewhat interesting. After all, how often do I have occasion to wear a corset? Pros: 1) Friendly people 2) Decent music (not the kind of stuff you'd find on my ipod, but danceable) 3) Free soda -- not sure if the bartender just thought I was nice/cute or if they regularly give free drinks to designated drivers, but who am I to complain either way? 4) Inexpensive cover ($3 the night we went) Cons: There is only one and it's a biggie. The smoking. OMFG, the smoking! Now my Libertarian sensibilities won't allow me to be offended by this flagrant violation of city law because I don't think that the government has any business telling private business owners that their patrons can't do something otherwise legal on their premises, but I digress... On a personal level, however, I find smoking inside to be disgusting and disrespectful to non-smokers. If it were mostly confined to a particular area of the club, I wouldn't mind, but folks were smoking by the bar, by the pool tables, even out of the dance floor (seriously? wtf?). All this with a nice patio outside to go smoke & drink and watch other Austinites walk by. By the middle of the night, I was literally sick to my stomach due to the smoke inhalation. On that basis alone, I probably won't be back, despite an otherwise pleasant experience. Sorry, Elysium. Smoking FTL.

Being a product of the 80's I have soft spot for dank dark somber spaces. Being a product of the 80's I personally have serious problems with old tired music that has been played for far too long and want to see more changes within the Gothic/Industrial cultur. But being an artist and somebody that likes to think ahead I highly encourage change and adaptations and contribute to the community on many levels... and I think Elysium is one of the best spaces to support underground subculture in Austin. I know the owner well so I may be biased but I hold back no punches either as I always want the places I love to do better and to be successful. If you are teeny bopper you will love Sunday nights - Retro 80's night. This is when you can hear all the crap we didn't like in the underground back in the 80's because it was on MTV and always on the radio. But you will get lucky and hear little jewels throughout the night - stuff from the B-sides, obscure hits, and music for the masses. If you still love Depeche Mode, the Go Go's and Toni Basil this is a night for you. If you consider yourself a true Gothic/Industrial fan which is what the club is known for than Saturdays and Wednesdays are good night. They both have their place. Wednesday is more suiteed to the obscure the dark wave style of the mid 90's while Saturday is more suited to more modern releases - dark trance , synth pop, etc... Fridays are the best nights to catch up and coming sub culture bands trying to make their mark and be the next Bauhaus or Trent Reznor... like me for example. I often perform with my collective - Hipnautica along side friends like subNatural, Chant, Death is Not a Joyride, etc... Many people wonder why I play there so often. 1) they have a green room for our ladies to get ready 2) they have a great stage 3) powerful sound system and Chuck is one of the best sound man 4) the owner always pays fairly based on real traffic 5) the patrons are open minded freaks like me While the club as Austin's only dedicated Gothic club the space and the patrons are open to other genres... such as Rock, Metal, Experimental, Industrial, DubStep, Dark House, Dark Trance, Goa, Dark World Electronic, Post Apocalyptic as well as many other sub cultures off shots. Life is too short to be closed minded - open your eyes and you will see the world is a beautiful place to be. As for the bar - great drink prices, if you are a regular they will take care of you, I hear that the staff can takes a little while to warm up to you - unless you are really cool to them, tip well and/or very hot. Be friendly, take your time at the bar, tip well, and take it all in stride. this ain't sixth street or the warehouse district - don't be a pansy or expect to be baby sat. ~sky

This club has been my favorite club to go to for over a decade. It is the heart of a community and a definite place to check out if you are into dark music and or the 80s.

I've visited this establishment once, and I really liked the underground scene at Elysium. This is predominantly a gothic type bar/club and it's different from many other club scenes. I found the people to be really interesting and the place has almost mysterious vibes. My favorite part of the night was when everyone did this gothic style of dance picking the penny off the floor, haha. Although I'm not too big on the club scene, I will probably come back next time I'm in the area because this place is just so different.

I use to frequent Elysium every Sunday for its 80's night. The music mix is spot-on especially after 12:30 or so. It also gets more crowded as the night progresses. Cover is $4 and worth it in my opinion. Drink prices have dropped since I went a couple of years ago. The club has undergone some renovations over the years and for the better. Mirrors were added, benches replaced some chairs and tables, and stalls were added in the women's restroom. Elysium is definitely back on my radar for Sunday dancing! Also, if you have never been to Elysium, you should check it out even if it is just for the people watching. All kinds of people-goths, hipster, nerds, etc-flock to this 80's night. The diverse group are probably regulars on other nights. Elysium welcomes the gay community as well. If you come on a day other than Sunday, Elysium might be featuring djs, midwave night, or live goth, synth, or indie music. Be sure to check the website as the events and cover changes with different days.

Everyone talks about Sunday night 80s night, and it's true ... super fun. Only thing really worth doing on Sunday nights. Dance to "Radio Ga Ga" (instead of Lady Gaga), dance to Billy Idol (instead of Kanye West), dance to "Billie Jean" (instead of "Single Ladies") ... no hip hop where white girls in too-tight dresses try to do that booty-vibration thing, where it seems like they are trying to achieve perpetual motion with their ass. Easy to cut loose and just have a good time with music that actually doesn't suck. Very friendly people come there too. After a year of coming off and on there's always someone there I know to chat with, and I always meet people, especially if I dress outlandishly enough. Be careful about getting TOO friendly, though, or you might get drawn into some goth-kid drama.

Yeah, I'm the freak out there dancing to almost everything a couple of Sunday nights! A shout out goes to DJ Pumpkin Spice for a great solid effort. An older woman DJ. Unheard of! Good for her. But, you can almost set your watch to what she's going to play. I'm an 80s (new wave) child. So, when I go out to dance at a new wave/retro DANCE club, I'm not going there to listen to Motley Crue, "Girls, Girls, Girls" or other heavy metal tunes. I did enjoy the Billy Idol look alike, his gal friend middle aged Goth Chic and the whole crew in the furry jackets. By the way, just say no, if they try to sell you acid and/or X. They take rejection okay. However, always Austin, love you for being laid back. Everyone was out there just to have fun and dance! No one was a jerk at all! Really enjoy visiting it once a semester!

My favorite place in Austin. Elysium is pretty much everything a dance club should be...full of interesting looking people, an out of the mainstream soundtrack with a dark, maybe mysterious, atmosphere. The music and the crowed has a definite industrial bent, but to label the place as goth or industrial would be missing it. Elysium has great theme nights ("Madchester"), has great parties (the New Year's Eve Black and White Ball was off the chain...heard the Steampunk Ball was a lot of fun too but i missed it) and is also a great place to a see a show...large enough for an act to really bring it but small enough to still be intimate. The staff is great and the crowd is one of the friendliest I've come across. The resident DJs regularly give you something nostalgic and brand new in the same night. Sundays' Regression, Elysiums's 80's night, is incredibly popular and a really good time, but I think Saturday's Haven, is one of the best times in Austin...they always seem to crescendo in all of the right ways. Elyisum is out of the ordinary and that's why i go.

Wow. Elysium can certainly cure you of your delusions of attractiveness. If you go with an ultra-hot friend and expect to get hit on by hipsters, that is. My ultra-hot friend, Megan, and I ended up here after spinning records at the new "Church of Round Sound" (record-player party) event (every first and third Sunday of each month) at Longbranch Inn. Yeah, I know I said I wouldn't touch Longbranch again with a long branch, but there weren't very many hipsters there last night, so it was tolerable. Megan told me that Elysium was having an '80s night last night, and asked if I wanted to go. Well, she pays close attention to what records I play, boys and girls, so I emphatically answered, "YES!" And off we went in my car. Upon entrance, Megan introduced me to the doorman and bartenders, and some of the patrons, so I felt I had an *in*. Megan and I each got a drink and ventured out to the dance floor. This is where things fall apart for me. And it's not Elysium's fault. I don't even dare say it's my fault. I mean, hey, I'm an attractive woman. And I had a big smile on my face and was dancing with myself (not Billy Idol style, though). But no guys wanted to dance with me. Bless Megan for dancing with me, when she wasn't being danced with by frat boys. Honestly, I felt like roach-bait next to her. But I kept dancing and enjoying the music anyway. At least I didn't get hit on by skeezy guys, like what happened the one time I went to Qua, so there's the silver lining. One definite bad thing about Elysium that Jason C.'s review reminded me of: There didn't seem to be any air conditioning inside Elysium. It was hotter than hell in that place last night, and it's only going to get worse as summer progresses, so beware. Dare I accuse Elysium of doing this on purpose to make you sweat out your alcohol so you have to buy more? Three stars for friendly bartenders who will get me a drink lickety-split and for good music, but minus two stars for no air conditioning and too many 21-year-olds on '80s night.

My two experiences at Elysium. 1. Goth night. (almost every night but especially Saturdays) When we were shaking off a night dancing on 6th street my friend turns to me, face gleaming and says...Hey, I have a place I really want to go. So we arrive at Elysium on Red River. We go in. She immediately opens her purse, where she has stored for this occasion with a necklace with studs and a pair of black gloves. This, ladies and gents, was a Goth night. Everyone in the bar was dressed in black. Black lipstick, silver studs, piercings and tattoos. Several people danced alone on the dance floor to loud heavy metal, and she grinned and went to join the small crowd. Looking down at my tank top and jeans I realized I couldn't be more out of place if I tried and after the polite hour of hanging, decided to call it a night. I vowed I would never go to Elysium again. ( 3 months later) 2. 80's night (Sundays) "Just try it one more time," says my friend. You know, the one of the black gloves fame. "Its 80's night, it's like totally different." So I did. This time instead of the black and spikes people were dressed in bright crazy colors. The music was a little obscure for 80's but once and again they played something I knew. In the beginning individuals danced alone on the dance floor ( Ten bucks says at least half of them were on something illegal) and by 12 the club was a huge dancing slip and slide, packed so tightly you could barely breathe and didn't want to. The hard core dancers shook it on the slightly elevated stage. The less hardcore ones played pool in the back. This was a really great party. I went back many many times. But only on Sundays.

When i first moved to Austin, I found this club and knew what i had to do. I had to start making a reputation for myself on this dance floor! For 5 solid years, from 2007-2011, i owned this club! Actually right after i first moved to Austin, the real owner John welcomed me with his big papa bear arms like sure there was room for another stray. This club saved me from having to go to the gym and gave me the space to try all my avant-garde ballet dancer rock and roll superstar wannabe moves. The last time i punked Goth night by wearing all off-white organic cotton and hemp clothing topped off by a floppy green gardener's hat, i got pushed from behind on the dance floor :~/ One night, after pulling out all the stops in my interpretation of "Sweet Dreams (are made of this)", the crowd stopped dancing and gave me a standing ovation! Were you there? I can still remember that night like it was yesterday. "Send me an angel .. Send me an angel .. Right now, right now .. Do you believe in Heaven above?.. Do you believe in love?" Well I love Elysium.

I gotta say, I'm a fan. Maybe not "Yay! I'm a fan", because all those goth kids from Elysium might get the wrong idea about me. Not that they don't already. I mean, I have some black clothes. Sure, I like to be dark and gothic sometimes. But when I go here on any kind of regular basis, I end up wearing things that I know will make people in there do a double take. That usually means wearing bright colors or any of my Glamor-Hippie gear. That really creeps them out. Plus, my GF likes to go there a lot for 80s night. That's usually when I go too. She dances to all the dark and goth/industrial stuff. I dance to all the happy-go-lucky fun music. Perfect. I can drool over her dancing and she can laugh at mine! And, btw, John the owner is a great guy too. A little intense for some people, but I like him. He's helped us out with some great shows at Elysium, and is always eager to help out. One thing... No clowns. They are not allowed. Just so you're warned.