Memories are keeping the spirit of Club de Wash alive, even after a fire leveled the popular Madison music venue Sunday morning, taking the stage, sound system, horseshoe-shaped bar, and rare band photo collection with it.

''The Wash,'' as it was often called, was a 200-capacity club that was bigger in its influence than it was in its size.

Not only did small touring bands such as Soul Asylum opening for the Appliances, Smashing Pumpkins, Babes in Toyland and Alanis Morissette cut their teeth there, many local bands and their managers and promoters also made a living at Club de Wash.