While the old stage has managed to retain nearly all of its fondly remembered charms, booker Jason Petzold was quick to point out that some parts of the venue have been improved pretty dramatically.

"We just completed a major revamp of our back patio, so people should be sure to check that out now that the weather is bearable," he says.

Even when it was hot, the patio was made bearable by the club's much-improved beer selection. Thank God for Karbach Weiss-Versa Wheat. Still, do yourself a favor and only head out there to smoke between bands. Quality live music is the real draw at Fitzgerald's, same 30 years ago as it is today.

Which begs the questions: Who has put on the best show there in the past two years?

Everybody has their favorite. I think mine might have been the When We Ruled H-Town showcase this summer. It was a blast watching groups like deadhorse and Spunk reunite to wreck the last club standing from their era of local music in the '90s.

Stars, who will be back at the club this month, got a couple of mentions. Other names like Portugal. The Man, the English Beat and Holy Ghost were tossed out, too.

"Iron and Wine," says Katial. "I have never been a dedicated fan. However, seeing the way the crowd responded to Sam (Beam) on stage was fulfilling. I have always enjoyed watching the crowd from stage or side stage, seeing them have the time of their life.

"Fitz has given me many such great moments over the past two years, and this was definitely one I will remember," he says.

Smith, meanwhile, had some local names on the tip of his tongue.

"Young Mammals," he says. "Like many Houstonians, I've been jamming these guys since they were too young to know how badass they were. The first time they played at Fitz after the re-opening was my first to see Ryan Chavez play for them as their permanent drummer. He killed it. Cley Miller has improved so much at playing guitar since 2006 that it makes me want to vomit a unicorn."

Then again, isn't the best show always the next one? Waiting around on that big balcony for the music to start still gets the heart racing, three decades later.

"We booked nearly 400 shows in the first year alone, and we aren't slowing down," Petzold says. "Fitz has some really awesome shows coming up that we are very excited about."

See you there.