Welcome to the new Korova

The Korova is the venue everyone loves to hate — everyone that doesn't regularly attend the shows there, that is.

Marred by sound problems since the days of Ruta Maya, things slightly improved after the coffee shop went out of business and the place was re-baptized and re-opened as a live music venue without parking (unless you show up early enough to turn on the lights or are willing to cough up a few bucks to park in one of the nearby garages — or are a lucky mo-fo who finds a meter outside). Even the Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala bitched about the place on Twitter.

"I hope you are not playing at Club Korova in San Antonio," he tweeted dub duo Peaking Lights on March 19. "Thieves case the shows and follow the band and steal their gear." Needless to say, most people who played at Korova do not have their gear stolen, but you get my point: the Korova has a history and it's not always flattering.

Despite that history, the Korova is also one of the most active venues in town and has had its good share of great shows and festivals. Now the place is undergoing another reinvention: on Thursday, July 5, fans will have a sneak peek of the new Korova with a Ghostpizza-produced show featuring Dark Planes, Milli Mars, Western Tink, Low Times, Eets Feats, Beautiful Lou, Viciouz Viv, Awfset, Swedish Erotica, High Society, A.Y.D., Daecos, and others. The show is free, but you have to get tickets at the Afterlife Clothing Shop (628 S St. Mary's) or by RSVP via ghostpizzapartystuff@gmail.com (specify how many guests you're bringing and pick tix at the Korova's will-call booth).

"The main reason I booked at the Korova was because the sound has definitely improved in the past couple of months," Ghostpizza's Miguel Nelson told the Current. "I've also been told that the sound system will be upgraded some more."

I certainly hope so, especially because the very next day, July 6, is the grand re-opening of the Korova with a dynamite show: Girl in a Coma, Langton Drive, and Mrs. Howl. It's an all-ages show and doors open at 8 p.m. The (new) Korova is located (as usual) at 107 E Martin. Buy tix at jivetickets.com/concerts/girl-in-a-coma.

> Email Enrique Lopetegui