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re: For the In-the-Know people, why did the Varsity in BR move away from live music?

Posted on 4/11/25 at 3:25 pm to
Posted by TFTC
Chicago, Il
Member since May 2010
22903 posts
Posted on 4/11/25 at 3:25 pm to
quote:

He booked what people would pay to see. His job was to make the venue money, not get the best bands available.


Someone that is really good can do both... if the job/venue exists only to make money... like JW said, prob for the best...
Posted by monsterballads
Gulf of America
Member since Jun 2013
30807 posts
Posted on 4/14/25 at 3:08 pm to
quote:

I saw what I consider to be a lot of good music throughout the 2000s in BR, and then it just died.



still have great bands/songwriters coming through BR, it's just all going to Chelseas.
Posted by kingbob
Sorrento, LA
Member since Nov 2010
68357 posts
Posted on 4/14/25 at 3:46 pm to
quote:

still have great bands/songwriters coming through BR, it's just all going to Chelseas.


In my opinion, Chelsea's is getting the same tier of bands that used to frequent the Spanish Moon. The types of bands that The Varsity used to get regularly no longer play 2 dates in Louisiana. They either only stop at New Orleans or bypass the state entirely. Back in the 1980's-early 2010's, those same bands would play New Orleans AND Baton Rouge (and sometimes even Lafayette or Lake Charles). Now, the state frequently gets completely skipped.
Posted by cfish140
BR
Member since Aug 2007
8029 posts
Posted on 4/14/25 at 5:22 pm to
Honestly the best time I ever had at the Varsity was the 2014 World Cup. The matches there against Ghana and Portugal were insane. It was $10 all you can drink beer and everybody would launch their beer in the air anytime a goal was scored and the place would come unglued. Funnest World Cup ever. It sucked when we lost to Belgium in the knockout though lol, but at that point we were just happy to make it out the group of death
Posted by Brosef Stalin
Member since Dec 2011
40651 posts
Posted on 4/14/25 at 7:09 pm to
I would say Chelsea's has done a much better job than Spanish Moon ever did of bringing in big names.
Posted by kingbob
Sorrento, LA
Member since Nov 2010
68357 posts
Posted on 4/14/25 at 8:05 pm to
quote:


I would say Chelsea's has done a much better job than Spanish Moon ever did of bringing in big names.


Nowhere near as good as the Varsity did, though. Chelsea's has pulled some great underground acts, but they don't pull the mainstream stuff like the Varsity did.
Posted by TopWaterTiger
Lake Charles, LA
Member since May 2006
11169 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 12:50 pm to
quote:

Back in the 1980's-early 2010's, those same bands would play New Orleans AND Baton Rouge (and sometimes even Lafayette or Lake Charles). Now, the state frequently gets completely skipped.


I've notice this too. Seems the state is getting completely skipped more often than not. Is there any financial reason to this?
Posted by wildtigercat93
Member since Jul 2011
115041 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 1:56 pm to
quote:

The Bends come May 2nd, great band can't wait


Saw them out in Austin recently after finding them on Spotify, glad to know they are gaining some stream. Trying to make it in for that show as well. They are just so brand new they barely have any original music, but I believe an EP is coming this summer
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
56723 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 2:14 pm to
quote:

glad to know they are gaining some stream

It’s Gordon’s nephew


That’s where the steam is coming from


Cool radiohead name though
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
56723 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 2:16 pm to
quote:

it's just all going to Chelseas.

You mean the emo night and karaoke place?
Posted by JW
Los Angeles
Member since Jul 2004
5022 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 2:28 pm to
Glenn balanced the the fine line between Art + Commerce by doing both -- making money and keeping a balanced and interesting calendar. Big difference from the eventual casino dude who would pass on bands like Stereolab for frick's sake.

Of course Chelsea's calendar is similar to the Spanish Moon when you have the same talent buyer. Not easy booking a venue that is destination only, so he's doing fine with the current climate from what I can observe from far away.
Posted by Jay Are
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2014
5453 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:45 pm to
quote:

You mean the emo night and karaoke place?


That's every club venue in America.

Lucero used to come through the Varsity, now they go to Chelsea's. Same with Minus the Bear. Same with many others, I'm sure.
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