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Started By
Message
re: The Varsity's talent buyer quit to book casinos
Posted on 6/9/12 at 4:50 pm to A Mite Ee One
Posted on 6/9/12 at 4:50 pm to A Mite Ee One
correct
0
Posted on 6/9/12 at 7:26 pm to TheDoc
quote:
quote:
4. Carolina Chocolate Drops
I could get them in BR. Would anyone go?
i would go twice.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 10:32 am to the only dirt mcgirt
Apparently you know him doc, so my sources were wrong. That said , I was around for the glory years of the varsity and was disgusted by the booking direction it took in 2002 especially since I put my name in the running for the job .... Who knows what the old guy passed on ( stereolab and queens of the ... Are rumored )
I'm glad there has been a change and a no brainer good deal booking on the lips is a good start.
I'm glad there has been a change and a no brainer good deal booking on the lips is a good start.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 10:56 am to JW
Old booker passed on a lot including the two you mentioned.
None of the 500-800 person drawing bands wanted to come to BR...
Now, things will be different.
None of the 500-800 person drawing bands wanted to come to BR...
Now, things will be different.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 11:13 am to TheDoc
Doc - It's good for the arts and music scene as a whole ... I live in Nola but work in BR a few months out of the year. I honestly don't know the last time I went to the varsity unless to grab a drink on a game day
There is a smaller venue in the works for a fall opening that will also help bolster the scene .... Similar to the blue moon in Laffy ... Holds 250 with character
With the varsity back, manship, moon, the new place and Chelsea's there will be a scene and hopefully these places will work together like it was in the 90's ...... I booked shows at the three of the aforementioned venues and would get referred to by glen at the varsity if he couldn't or wouldn't do the show ..... hopefully your guy brings back that sense of openness to the varsity
There is a smaller venue in the works for a fall opening that will also help bolster the scene .... Similar to the blue moon in Laffy ... Holds 250 with character
With the varsity back, manship, moon, the new place and Chelsea's there will be a scene and hopefully these places will work together like it was in the 90's ...... I booked shows at the three of the aforementioned venues and would get referred to by glen at the varsity if he couldn't or wouldn't do the show ..... hopefully your guy brings back that sense of openness to the varsity
Posted on 6/10/12 at 12:32 pm to TheDoc
i'm just seeing this post and i'm literally crying with joy. it's about time someone came in and made some changes. the varsity has SO MUCH potential, but whoever was booking was doing a horrid job. i believe this is going to really change the music scene in baton rouge and bring in some top notch names.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 1:19 pm to TheDoc
quote:
Now, things will be different
I guess I'm a cynic, but I'm curious as why things will be different? It's easy to sell out a Flaming Lips show... But those will come around, what, 4-5 times a year? I don't live in BR anymore and maybe I'm out of touch, but it has ever been a huge music town and we watched the varsity go from great shows to retro nights and bag o donuts.
Has ownerships views changed? Are they now more willing to promote live music, rather than turn a profit?
Posted on 6/10/12 at 2:03 pm to JW
quote:
There is a smaller venue in the works for a fall opening that will also help bolster the scene .... Similar to the blue moon in Laffy ... Holds 250 with character
Where? I don't think BR needs another venue.
Just a venue to create an atmosphere for live music. It shouldn't be up to the band to bring a crowd.
The crowd should be there expecting quality music every night.
You have to create an environment where people know there will be good music all the time. No matter what night.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 2:06 pm to TFTC
quote:
I guess I'm a cynic, but I'm curious as why things will be different?
Because the guy booking now isn't a shite head concerned with just cover bands
Posted on 6/10/12 at 2:28 pm to TheDoc
I'm not in BR anymore so I don't guess it really concerns me much but I still really hope this guy will do what he said concerning local original acts.
There is no reason a place like BR can't have a thriving local scene and I place most of that blame on the venues. The Varsity being the most blatant offender.
There is no reason a place like BR can't have a thriving local scene and I place most of that blame on the venues. The Varsity being the most blatant offender.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 3:25 pm to CottonWasKing
Baton Rouge was starting to have a pretty organized scene last year with phantom party records and another group of bands as well.
But phantom party was dismantled and faded away.
The varsity would seldom give local bands the chance to open for the big ones.
They would have plenty of local shows though.. Especially in the summer months.
I just don't think ANOTHER venue is the answer. With that one AND the caterie building back up, it's going to be spread thin. Crowd wise.
A lot of people that hung out at Chelsea's and the spanish moon now hang out at the radio bar. It's a great bar, but that's the kind of atmosphere Chelsea's really used to have.
That's the thing though, you can't depend on the bands to bring all of the crowd. You don't expect the bartenders to bring their friends every night or the cooks.
It has to be an established atmosphere and THEN bring bands in to entertain etc.
Not many people in this town understand this concept.
But phantom party was dismantled and faded away.
The varsity would seldom give local bands the chance to open for the big ones.
They would have plenty of local shows though.. Especially in the summer months.
I just don't think ANOTHER venue is the answer. With that one AND the caterie building back up, it's going to be spread thin. Crowd wise.
A lot of people that hung out at Chelsea's and the spanish moon now hang out at the radio bar. It's a great bar, but that's the kind of atmosphere Chelsea's really used to have.
That's the thing though, you can't depend on the bands to bring all of the crowd. You don't expect the bartenders to bring their friends every night or the cooks.
It has to be an established atmosphere and THEN bring bands in to entertain etc.
Not many people in this town understand this concept.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 3:41 pm to TheDoc
quote:
The varsity would seldom give local bands the chance to open for the big ones.
They would have plenty of local shows though.. Especially in the summer months.
I am by no means an expert but imo therein lies the problem.
Not many people are going to show up at the varisty on a thursday night when they don't have a clue who the four bands on the lineup are.
If they allow those local bands to open up for some large acts then people are entirely more likely to recognize the name and go see some local talent.
Idk I could be wrong but thats just my opinion.
Fwiw I don't think a new venue is the answer either. I would be happy to see a small blues bar open but I don't BR has the scene to support it.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 3:56 pm to CottonWasKing
The Varsity itself is a lame venue. The central location is really the only good thing about it. When I was underage the bouncers were VERY strict on kids drinking. Don't even bother trying to smoke any funny stuff in there, either. I just wish it could be more like Tipitina's and no holds barred.
But the biggest problem, I think, is that most bands are going to skip over Baton Rouge and head straight to New Orleans. Why play The Varsity when you can drive a hour longer and play one of the most storied musical cities in the world?
Trust me, I want the Varsity to become a good venue. I would love for Baton Rouge to obtain the music scene that Athens,GA has. I just don't see it happening.
But the biggest problem, I think, is that most bands are going to skip over Baton Rouge and head straight to New Orleans. Why play The Varsity when you can drive a hour longer and play one of the most storied musical cities in the world?
Trust me, I want the Varsity to become a good venue. I would love for Baton Rouge to obtain the music scene that Athens,GA has. I just don't see it happening.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 4:01 pm to Souljah
quote:
But the biggest problem, I think, is that most bands are going to skip over Baton Rouge and head straight to New Orleans. Why play The Varsity when you can drive a hour longer and play one of the most storied musical cities in the world?
No one is asking for Baton Rouge to become New Orleans but why can't Baton Rouge grab those bands on the way in or out of New Orleans? There is absolutely no reason I can think of
Posted on 6/10/12 at 4:13 pm to CottonWasKing
In no particular order, bands/performers I've seen at the Varsity:
Dwight Yoakam
Robert Earl Keen
Railroad Earth
Yonder Mountain
North Mississippi All-Stars
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Galactic
Moe.
Ryan Bingham
Rusted Root
Blues Traveler
Perry Farrell
Snoop
Willie
Drive By Truckers
G. Love and Special Sauce
Pick your Texas country college scene band
...and that doesn't include all the shows I can't remember.
Used to work at the Varsity. The old talent buyer booked all of the above bands. A lot of factors play into booking the bands at a mid-level club like the Varsity that make it a restrained affair.
All that said, there's no point in bitching and moaning about the BR music scene. Go through the gates when the good ones come in, enjoy, and leave it at that. Solace lies in the fact NOLA is 75 miles away.
And FWIW, the Flaming Lips are fluff, a lot of sizzle because the steak ain't that good.
Dwight Yoakam
Robert Earl Keen
Railroad Earth
Yonder Mountain
North Mississippi All-Stars
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Galactic
Moe.
Ryan Bingham
Rusted Root
Blues Traveler
Perry Farrell
Snoop
Willie
Drive By Truckers
G. Love and Special Sauce
Pick your Texas country college scene band
...and that doesn't include all the shows I can't remember.
Used to work at the Varsity. The old talent buyer booked all of the above bands. A lot of factors play into booking the bands at a mid-level club like the Varsity that make it a restrained affair.
All that said, there's no point in bitching and moaning about the BR music scene. Go through the gates when the good ones come in, enjoy, and leave it at that. Solace lies in the fact NOLA is 75 miles away.
And FWIW, the Flaming Lips are fluff, a lot of sizzle because the steak ain't that good.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 4:24 pm to Honest Tune
quote:
Moe.
When the frick did moe. come to br?
Posted on 6/10/12 at 4:25 pm to CottonWasKing
The problem with that, though, is that most bigger/well-known bands are choosing their own opening acts, as opposed to them being chosen by the label or venue.
I read a great article on that the other day, I'll post it when I get home. The point is, if there's a big act playing and a local band isn't given the chance, it's most likely not the fault of the person booking the show.
I read a great article on that the other day, I'll post it when I get home. The point is, if there's a big act playing and a local band isn't given the chance, it's most likely not the fault of the person booking the show.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 4:26 pm to CottonWasKing
2006
Chelsea's booked Mofro the same night. Yes, when they were just called Mofro ha.
Chelsea's booked Mofro the same night. Yes, when they were just called Mofro ha.
Posted on 6/10/12 at 4:33 pm to Honest Tune
quote:
2006
Ok that was before my time in BR.
I knew if they would've played while I was there I damn well would've remembered it
Posted on 6/10/12 at 4:48 pm to CottonWasKing
their lights at that show were badass. light man played the purple gold angle all damn night.
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