No matter how old I get, I’m always down for a live rock show.

There’s something about the lights, the amps, and the energy of a crowd that never gets old. That said, I’m at the age where I prefer my rock shows on weekends—because school and work nights hit a little harder when you’re up at 2 a.m. trying to headbang through a Monday morning.

Flashback to Lubbock’s Forgotten Rock Havens

Thinking about live music got me reminiscing about all the places that once kept Lubbock loud. One of the best-remembered was Tequila Jungle, a short-lived but powerful venue that brought some serious noise to the Depot District. Before we go further, I have to give runner-up status to Abbey Road as the second best short-lived venue, which hosted legendary acts like Ratt, Wendy O. Williams, Nick Lowe & Noise To Go, The Stray Cats, Hughes/Thrall, Slade, and more. The club’s history is fuzzy, but its legacy is solid rock.

The Rise (and Fall) of Tequila Jungle

According to Setlist.FM, Tequila Jungle hosted concerts between 2008 and 2011—a brief but wild era. The venue itself was unconventional: giant roll-up doors, a patio, and a strange VIP riser that somehow added to its charm. My first memory there was a Pop Evil show that didn’t even make the official listings. I know Texas Hippie Coalition and Jackyl played there too, along with an incredible lineup that included The Reverend Horton Heat, Goatwhore, Of Mice & Men, Every Time I Die, Powerman 5000, Napalm Death, Five Finger Death Punch/In This Moment, Otep, Whitechapel, Theory of a Deadman, All That Remains, Nonpoint, Trivium, and dozens of others.

Read More: Steps To Stay Calm Amid Lubbock’s Road Rage Incidents

What’s Left of Tequila Jungle

That’s a ridiculous amount of star power for such a short run—and that Five Finger Death Punch/In This Moment double bill was pure fire. The building that once housed Tequila Jungle still stands in the Depot District, but its rock-and-roll spirit feels like a ghost. I’m not sure what it’s used for now, but it will always live on in Lubbock’s loud, gritty history of live music.

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Gallery Credit: Renee Raven

Texas Tech’s Tortilla Throwing Tradition

Gallery Credit: Topher Covarrubio