Old bands, bartenders and customers are having a 10-year reunion this weekend to celebrate the 31st Street Pub. The legendary rock and roll venue was the backdrop for touring bands and gritty punk stories for decades. The ceiling was filled with signed instruments and cymbals from artists. The walls were a massive sticker collage of band stickers. It closed in 2015, when owner Joel Greenfield had a Friday blowout as they dismantled the place before setting off on his Harley-Davidson, riding off into retirement — something he always promised to do.
The 31st Street Pub 10-year reunion will be at Mr. Smalls Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. The show will be all ages to accommodate families that may have been started at the pub, after the pub or since the pub. Four local bands will be playing: The Cheats, Argus, Porno Tongue and Böttle Rät, with DJ MAX from the Attic playing between sets.
Cutting-edge rock and roll was the slogan, and crass was the style. A scrolling LED board listed the other venues in town, including my old one, and said “f*** them.” Above the cash register was a sign that read “Will accept gold teeth if you’re out of cash.” And there were always the great Underwear Afternoons, where the bartenders served cold beverages on a hot day in their underwear.
Joel was a straightforward, no-nonsense owner who dealt with the many personalities of the music industry. His famous tagline during the years he ran the pub was “RESPECT.” He was a great mediator, squashing beefs between bands and getting them the hell on stage, then out the side door at close. Promoters and other venue owners paid homage to Joel. Johnny and Judy (Banana) Zarra, who ran The Electric Banana, would often make appearances, showing the respect they had for one another.
Sarah Powers, a Pittsburgh nightlife powerhouse, worked at “The Pub”. She said on social media, “It’s hard to explain how important The Pub was to people unfamiliar with it. It wasn’t just a rock venue or a corner bar. It had heart. There was a family there (a dysfunctional one but a family nonetheless). Joel Greenfield and Michelle Harding were two of the best people to work for ever…” The event is organized by Harding.
According to mutual friends, Joel is enjoying retirement. He hasn’t decided if he’ll stop up for the show.
The Strip District went through a rough time in the early 2000s, and by the mid-2010s, customers dwindled. Joel would often joke with me, “It’s the Uber nerds keeping us alive.” He was referring to Uber’s Advanced Technology Center, whose building was a few blocks away. (It now houses Aurora.) By 2015, the time had come.
The 31st Street Pub is part of a long list of live venues that shaped local culture. Earlier this summer, Lava Lounge, which was another stage for art and bands, held a reunion. These reunions may serve as a reminder that we need to take the time to celebrate what was and reconnect with each other.
“The Pub” was one of the longest-lasting venues of the city’s live music scene. It was a place where bands honed their skills, earned respect and people got to see real, cutting-edge rock and roll. This weekend’s reunion will be a chance for old friends to catch up, compare scars and share stories behind tattoos new and old.
Update, Aug. 30, 2025: This story was updated to include a quote from Sarah Powers and to note that the reunion is organized by Michelle Harding.
