Gas Monkey Live

Fast N' Loud star Richard Rawlings expands Gas Monkey empire with live music venue

The team behind biker bar-restaurant Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill is expanding its empire with a second place: Gas Monkey Live. The new live music and entertainment venue will take over the old Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in Northwest Dallas.

Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill is owned by Richard Rawlings, Fort Worth native and co-star of the Discovery channel TV show Fast 'N Loud, which follows Rawlings and partner Aaron Kaufmann as they bring derelict cars back to life. The duo also owns Gas Monkey Garage, a hot rod and merchandise shop.

Gas Monkey Live will give them a venue that's strictly about music, says spokeswoman Cheryl Rios.

"We have a restaurant already, this is about amazing live music," she says. "Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill has been doing so well and selling out that we saw need for a live music venue, too."

The grand opening for Gas Monkey Live is October 11, with a performance by California punk rockers Social Distortion.

The 38,000-square-foot space will accommodate up to 3,000, Rios says; Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill holds 1,000.

Amenities will include video screens, game room, pool tables, pinball machines and a VIP area with booths and table service.

There will be food but it will just be bar snacks. Rios says the main goal is to be a live music venue; it will also be available for events. The team is already on the premises, executing the renovation, which includes removing the four cars that hung from the walls during the Toby Keith days.

Former Live Nation promoter Peter Ore will book bands for both the new venue as well as the bar and grill. The music will cover all genres, Rios says, from Los Lonely Boys slated to perform on November 15, to Opeth, appearing December 13. It also has a large dedicated parking lot, which she says distinguishes it from venues in downtown Dallas.

Grand opening is October 11, with a performance by California punk rockers Social Distortion. Tickets for the October 11 show go on sale August 15 at Gasmonkeylive.com.

Gas Monkey Live will take over former Toby Keith I Love This Bar & Grill space.

Photo courtesy of Toby Keith

Gas Monkey Live will take over former Toby Keith I Love This Bar & Grill space.

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