By Lisa DuPre
Photos by Ron McKeown.
Years ago in the 1970s and 1980s, Dallas was a mecca for live music. There were many venues and plenty of musicians to play in them. Greenville Avenue had clubs up at least as far as Park Lane, and all the way South, almost to downtown with venues like Tango.
Dallas was the music capital of Texas at that time just due to the sheer number of music venues, without a doubt, before Austin decided to try to claim the title.
In 2024, David Card, owner and operator of Poor David’s Pub, celebrated his 47th year in the music business of bringing quality live music to the Dallas public. It is, indeed, a momentous accomplishment.
When I started this interview, I said to David “my how time flies”. He responded “Yes, life is short and then you pass away.” His sense of humor is truly unique.
David’s first location was on McKinney Avenue from 1977-1983, and was a dart bar called Eton Run. He had it from 1977-1983. He also owned Bo’s Place on Oak Lawn, where Card first started having live music. I asked him why he wanted to get out of the dart business at Eton Run and he said, “Well it just sort of happened. I started music at Bo’s place and I learned there that people who are leaning in and enjoying live music are a much better behaved crowd. And because you pay your cover at the door, you don’t want some idiot ruining your show. So that’s what I learned at Bo’s Place.” He kept Eton Run and later sold Bo’s Place.
Card then said, “I remembered that and one time I booked The Bees Knees Band at Eton Run and had them back several times. After that I changed the name of the bar to Poor David’s Pub. Then David said, “The rest, as they say, is history.”
He remained at that McKinney Avenue location for 6 years. The landlord would not give him a long-term lease, so he moved to Greenville where he signed a new 10-year lease.
When asked where Card was finding all of the great musical acts he booked, he said he wasn’t finding them, they were finding him. The venue’s reputation was growing as a serious listening room. People were there for the show not to watch TV or talk with friends. One of Card’s “mottos” is “Leave your ego at the door, the show’s on the stage.” The venue was also known for presenting an extensive variety of musical styles like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Maren Morris, Dixie Chicks.
When his lease was ending on Greenville, David started looking for a permanent location that he could purchase. He met Jack Matthews in 2000, several years before the end of his lease. Matthews worked with him and ended up selling him his current space in South Dallas on Lamar.
One of the things Card believes adds a great deal to the success of his venue is his sound quality, which is managed by Carlos “The Magnificent” Sanchez. Carlos has been a mainstay at the venue for many years, and makes all of the performers sound their best.
David with Joe Ely, Michael Fracasso, and Maria Elena Holly at the Greenville Ave. Green Room. Copyright Ron McKeown 1995-2024.
David Card has served up a feast of fabulous music for North Texas music lovers for 47 years and we all hope he will continue to do so for many, many more.
—
