Clear Lake’s Surf Ballroom makes Rolling Stones’ list of ‘coolest clubs’

Some of rock and roll’s greatest performers have found their way to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake in recent years-- and they are apparently singing its praises.  

So much so, in fact, that the Surf Ballroom has been named as one of 20 “Venues That Rock” by Rolling Stone magazine.

In the second of a  four-part series on great music venues, Rolling Stone polled 26 insiders and musicians to compile “a list of the nation’s coolest large clubs and theaters.”  The Surf is listed as number 20 on the “cool” list in the May edition of the legendary magazine.  Unfortunately, just the top 10 best big rooms are featured in the May 9 edition on the stands. The list in it entirety is featured on the Rolling Stone website, www.rollingstone.com.

“Many live-music theatres are older than this no-frills 1934 dancehall with a wooden floor surrounded by Fifties-style diner booths and (for some reason) palm trees. But few other clubs have booked rock and roll since the beginning, from the Everly Brothers and Little Richard to Santana and Lynyrd Skynyrd, today, Willie Nelson and Cheap Trick,” the Rolling Stone writes.  

Of course the listing notes the ballroom was written into rock history after Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a plane crash after performing as part of the February 1959 Winter Dance Party at the Surf.  

The article also notes the building received - Read More Via e-Edition