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SWAYZE'S, AN ALL-AGES CLUB for live music, has been open for just more than two years in a nondescript shopping center at the corner of Barrett Parkway and Bells Ferry Road, about 28 miles north of Atlanta. And it's attracting local and touring hard-core, emo and metal bands, as well as a regular crowd of fans still in high school and college.

Jenni Girtman/AJC (ENLARGE)
Word of mouth gets local bands like Not Quite Bernadette exposure at Swayze's, an all-ages club.
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TRUE TO THE CAUSE: Owner Lee Satterfield not only books all the shows at Swayze's, he also handles the door, soundboard and what little promotions the club does. "Most of the shows are promoted grassroots style, and that works for us," he says. "For local bands, it's easier to play here. If they try to get a gig [in the city] and don't pull enough kids, they won't let them play again. A lot of bands play here again and again and still no one cares about them. But that's OK with me because I'm more in it for the art than the money." Satterfield is also a member of the band Treephort, so he knows the business from both sides.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? Aside from the small stage at the back of the venue, the only decoration is a sort of shrine to the club's movie star namesake. "We had a bunch of pictures of Patrick Swayze, but most of it got ripped down," says Satterfield. "I was mainly looking for a catchy name for touring bands to remember. Eventually I'll get some more stuff up as soon as I can figure out a way to make sure it doesn't get ripped down." During the day, you can shop for death metal CDs at the aptly named Deathgasm Records inside Swayze's.

DOIN' IT FOR THE KIDS: Being an all-ages club, Swayze's appeals to those who are not old enough to get into most nightclubs. Satterfield also keeps ticket prices low ($5-$7) and makes sure most shows are over by midnight. And since there is no bar at Swayze's, there are no worries about underage drinking.

UPCOMING SHOWS: Park, Tokyo Rose, Dead to Fall, and One Way Letter tonight; Willowford, Eleven Minutes Away, the Fall of Autumn, Forever Fades, and the Green Light on Friday; Stranger by Day, Kama and Mourningstar on Saturday; Psyopus, Paria, Amoebic Dysentery and Kshatriya on Wednesday.

HOURS: Doors usually open at 7 p.m.; open only on show nights.

— Jonathan Williams