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Mean Mr. Mustard's

Buckets of beer and a packed dance floor.

How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths — cover art

Step into the neon glow of Mean Mr. Mustard's, where the air buzzed with energy and anticipation, and the beats of new wave and post-punk set the pulse of the night. This legendary college bar was a rite of passage for OSU students, a sanctuary where the eclectic mix of patrons danced side by side, fueled by buckets of cheap beer and a shared love for daring sounds. The packed dance floor pulsed with anthems from The Smiths, The Cult, and Depeche Mode, making every night an unforgettable celebration of youth, rebellion, and community. Mean Mr. Mustard's wasn’t just a venue; it was a cultural cornerstone that shaped a generation, echoing the spirit of the '80s and '90s long after the last call. Here, amidst laughter and music, memories were spun like vinyl, capturing the essence of an era that defined us.

On the playlist

How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths — cover art
How Soon Is Now?
The Smiths
1985
Spirit in the Sky by Doctor & The Medics — cover art
Spirit in the Sky
Doctor & The Medics
1986
She Sells Sanctuary (Sundance) by The Cult — cover art
She Sells Sanctuary (Sundance)
The Cult
1985
Love My Way by The Psychedelic Furs — cover art
Love My Way
The Psychedelic Furs
1982
I Touch Roses by Book of Love — cover art
I Touch Roses
Book of Love
1986
West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys — cover art
West End Girls
Pet Shop Boys
1985
The Bottom Line by Big Audio Dynamite — cover art
The Bottom Line
Big Audio Dynamite
1985
New York (Double New York Mix) by MCL — cover art
New York (Double New York Mix)
MCL
1988
Rock Me Amadeus by Falco — cover art
Rock Me Amadeus
Falco
1985
Love by The Cult — cover art
Love
The Cult
1985
Tenderness by General Public — cover art
Tenderness
General Public
1984
Welcome To Paradise by Front 242 — cover art
Welcome To Paradise
Front 242
1988

Did you know

  • Named for the Beatles' 'Mean Mr. Mustard' — patron saint of a dance bar full of misfits.
  • New-wave, post-punk, goth, and industrial-dance nights ran until last call — sticky floors, buckets of beer, and a floor that emptied of anyone who wasn't there to move.
  • The set spanned 1979–1996, but its heart was the 1983–1989 years.

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