Bottleneck

The Lawrence, KS building that houses the Bottleneck was home to everything from a roller rink to a paper warehouse before finally taking shape as a live music club (alternately named Off the Wall Hall and Cogburns) in the '80s. Purchased in 1985 by current owner Brett Mosiman with cash borrowed from an American Express card, Mosiman renamed the club the Bottleneck after the numerous varieties of beer sold there. The Bottleneck's journey began with a regular Monday-evening open mic night (a tradition that still continues today) giving local talent the opportunity to take the stage in front of friends and fans. Rising stars and avant-garde rockers alike have also graced its stage including Living Colour, Butthole Surfers and the Residents. The Bottleneck soon cemented its status as a scheduled stop on many major-city, national tours, giving nearby University of Kansas students access to some of the best names in modern music. The following artists have played at the Bottleneck since its inception in 1985: Gin Blossoms, Wallflowers, Cracker, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, They Might Be Giants, Gwar, Jewel, Edwin McCain, Guided by Voices, Everclear, Cake, Ben Folds Five, Sublime, Smashing Pumpkins, Marilyn Manson, Filter, Radiohead, Goo Goo Dolls, Bo Diddley, String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, the Smithereens, Butthole Surfers, Marcy Playground, Junior Brown, Lucinda Williams, 311, Faith No More, Rusted Root, Weezer, Fastball, Luscious Jackson, Semisonic, X, the Offspring, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Cibo Matto, Built to Spill, Soul Asylum, Social Distortion, Deftones, Blind Melon, Presidents of the United States, Jurassic 5 and Pharcyde.