No Clubs, which celebrates four decades on the scene this month, has staged a staggering number of concerts over four decades—340 of them from 1985 to 1995. Founders Tony Rifugiato and Dave Hundley were the prime drivers in the early development of an alternative music scene in the Bay area by booking punk and hardcore acts in the ‘80s. Butthole Surfers, Circle Jerks, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Black Flag, The Damned, Corrosion of Conformity, 7 Seconds (10 times)—that barely scratches the surface.
They soon began to stretch out and include in their slate such acts as Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade (probably the first African-music shows in Tampa Bay), Pearl Jam, Richard Thompson, Marilyn Manson, Ween, Cocteau Twins, and even an artist as obscure as Mississippi bluesman R.L. Burnside. In more recent years, No Clubs has presented early-career concerts by Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Kendrick Lamar, and a fledgling Dua Lipa.
I asked Tony, Dave and Vicki Huddy—the latter of which became third partner on Jan. 1, 2025—to each come up with a short list of important shows in annals of No Clubs. I’ve cobbled it down to 15. The commentary is mine. The quotes are attributed. Ticket prices have been included if available.
See posters for these gigs and a few more below.
Suicidal Tendencies, Cuban Club, Dec. 20, 1985 ($7)
Where it all started.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, London Victory Club, Sept. 7, 1986 ($8 advance/9 door)
“It was their first tour through town and London Victory was packed. The show was as raucous as you’d expect. The club was owned by a father and son. The father comes over to me after and says, ‘That was the best show ever. I know you didn’t make money tonight. How much did you lose?’ We lost $485. He handed me $500.”—Dave
Sonic Youth with fiREHOSE, Nov. 11, 1986, Act IV Lounge
“It was Sonic Youth. They were the underground darlings. We never expected to be able to put them on.” —Tony
The Replacements w/Alex Chilton, Cuban Club, April 25, 1987 ($8/10)
Paul Westerberg walked off stage, looked at me and went, “best show we’ve ever played, man” … Alex Chilton was washing dishes at the time, and we managed to get him to come and play this gig.”—Tony
King Sunny Ade and his African Beats, Jannus Landing, May 10, 1987 ($12)
With a 20-piece band playing Nigerian juju music, King Sunny mesmerized a small crowd of about 400. “We lost all the money in the account on that show, but a show the following week made every penny back”—Tony
Anthrax, Dec. 17, 1987, Florida State Fairgrounds ($14/$16)
A barricade broke, people got hurt, lawsuits were issued to the Fairgrounds and No Clubs. Somehow, Tony and Dave escaped relatively unscathed.
Fela Kuti and Egypt 80, Jannus Landing, Sept. 17, 1989 ($14/$17)
An epic world-beat show by the legendary Nigerian artist who founded Afro-Beat.
David Byrne, the Rei Momo Tour, Tampa Theater, April 28, 1990 ($18)
“After the show we took David over to a Mexican restaurant down the street. The place was packed and when we walked in, everyone gave him a standing ovation. Because I was standing right next to him, I felt like I was getting a standing ovation as well.”—Tony
Pearl Jam, Jannus Landing, April 22, 1992 ($10/13)
The first date in the U.S. leg of the band’s Ten tour was a wild, truly transformative show to a packed house. Those who were there, including me, still talk about it. “That was the night when a good band crossed over into a great band. Afterward, they were lying around absolutely knackered—they knew they had just played out of their skin.”—Tony
Neville Brothers with Was (Not Was), Jannus Landing, March 19, 1989 ($14/16)
A co-promotion between No Clubs and Rob Douglas at Jannus Landing. They managed to set up a date where the separate tours intersected, a rarity in the concert business. “Was (Not Was), with their soulful vocals and tight rhythm section (with Don Was on bass) pushed the Neville Brothers to up their energy on stage.”—Dave
Green Day, Sept. 23, 1994, Florida State Fairgrounds ($12.50)
The band had opened for Bad Religion at Jannus Landing in 1993, then headlined Jannus on March 11, 1994, five weeks after their mega-hit album Dookie came out. This Fairgrounds show put them in front of a massive crowd.
Todd Rundgren, No World Order (solo) tour, St. Petersburg Coliseum, Jan. 31, 1995 ($17.50)
This is Dave’s pet choice. Tony, not so much. “It helped that the Coliseum let us do BYOB. It turned into a big party. It was an interactive show with Todd set up in the middle in his POD. I’m a really big fan of Todd Rundgren and we rarely did acts that we ‘liked.’ The few times that we did they were not well attended.”—Dave
Paramore, State Theater, April 21, 2007
“I was in high school. It was serendipitous that I would later work for the promoter who put on one of my favorite State Theater shows.”—Vicki
Twenty One Pilots, State Theater, March 23, 2013
“This was the first time I was ever a promoter rep for Tony and it ended up being a band I’d listened to for over 10 years.”—Vicki
Turnstile, Jannus Live, Oct. 14, 2022
“This is a band everyone should see at least once. They put on such a fun show and their energy is unmatched on stage.”—Vicki
This article appears in Dec. 25 – 31, 2025.