  Jnot Member Username: Jnot Post Number: 7 Registered: 01-2007 |
http://jasper.webvomit.com/?p= 1314 I've been hearing a couple rumours around town that the Lager House's days are numbered. First their web site started reading "We're still open! We have not been sold! So keep on comin' up to the Lager House." Last week I heard a rumour they might be going all-jazz at the end of the year. Now, apparently it's been bought out and the new owner fired the booking staff. Tonight's the last show listed. Can someone explain what's going on? It seems crazy to fire the booking staff at one of the most consistently packed music venues in the city. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 2505 Registered: 10-2003 |
It's a new owner's prerogative to go in a different direction. He may plan on fixing up the place and might want a more sedate crowd. Rock fans are notorious for trashing clubs and behaving badly... they don't treat the joints very well. On the other hand, if the Lager House is no longer booking rock acts, another bar owner (who doesn't mind his club getting beat all to hell) would be wise to step up, take up the slack, and make some money. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2910 Registered: 10-2003 |
From what I've heard it's going the direction of Blues Bar. I have reason to believe the source. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 2507 Registered: 10-2003 |
Cool... Detroit needs a bona fide blues bar near downtown. | ||
Jnot Member Username: Jnot Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2007 |
I don't know. . . the Lager House is far enough outside of downtown that it will never get enough foot traffic to open a new blues bar. Besides, who's playing 'bona fide' blues in Detroit anymore?? Until the city really get's rolling on redevelopment in Tiger Stadium, that strip of Michigan is going to continue to be an underpopulated no-man's land. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10370 Registered: 10-2003 |
Blues fans will seek out a place with good blues. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 834 Registered: 12-2006 |
There are enough liquor licenses assigned to places in the old ballpark 'hood that you could make a hell of a nightclub district out of it. Plus it's got way-good freeway access. The old stadium in the middle is what it is, but a group of entrepreneurs could do quite a bit around there. Quite a nice possibility. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 4177 Registered: 10-2004 |
The Western YMCA on Clark held their Christmas parties there--at least for the last few years before it closed some four/five years ago. It was still somewhat of a quiet neighborhood bar back then before it closed and became a club of sorts. Obviously, my going there two/three times annually back then didn't help much pay for its expenses. | ||
Jtw Member Username: Jtw Post Number: 176 Registered: 06-2005 |
Professorscott - Agreed. Let's see what happens with tiger stadium; i wouldn't be surprised to see that stretch of Michigan explode with night life if they could get something in there. | ||
Treelock Member Username: Treelock Post Number: 223 Registered: 03-2005 |
Would be a pity to see the Lager House cease to be a rock venue, but a good blues venue would be fine and rock clubs come and go all the time. Something else will fill its spot, but I will miss that back patio. | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 2303 Registered: 06-2006 |
Not really on the same topic and a different side of town, but I don't want to start a new thread for this.. But what's up with the space next to Stub Hub where it says "Angelina's Italian Grill - Coming Soon"? How long has the sign been there for and does anyone have any background on it? | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 568 Registered: 04-2006 |
i've heard these rumors for a while. but didn't notice that this was the last show. not a bad last show, though. Mountains and Rainbows are pretty good. | ||
Gdub Member Username: Gdub Post Number: 1148 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'll miss that place, too, but I think it's a good thing to mix up the musical genre offerings in that part of town. The place wasn't making much $ despite some stellar booking (opening late and selling $1 Pabst didn't help), and the condition of the upstairs apartments apparently calls for a considerable amount of rehab expense. So naturally the new owner wants a place that will make more money, and whose business will finance the improvements to the building. Blues will attract an older crowd with spending ability that presumably far exceeds that of the typical hipster showgoer who can barely afford 2 beers. | ||
Detroitfats Member Username: Detroitfats Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2007 |
You're right on Treelock. Spent many nights coolin' out on the patio between bands. I would hate to lose this place. | ||
Brandon48202 Member Username: Brandon48202 Post Number: 186 Registered: 12-2004 |
Expect to see improvements at the Lager House in the next few months, the name will be the same and the general concept will be the same also. | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 1222 Registered: 09-2004 |
"hipster showgoer who can barely afford 2 beers." Because we all know Hipsters don't have jobs. They couldn't possibly be gainfully employed. | ||
Webvomit Member Username: Webvomit Post Number: 21 Registered: 07-2005 |
Brandon48202, I'd like to think you're right but folks don't book properly in this city. Rich and Jay did an outstanding job. Granted, it mostly went ignored and unappreciated, but if they end up somewhere else, the talent they were able to spot and book will end up there as well. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 400 Registered: 11-2003 |
Webvomit, what is the proper way of booking? You should contribute yourself. | ||
Gdub Member Username: Gdub Post Number: 1149 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sure, Sharmaal, some of them are gainfully employed. But then they spend it all on clothing and blow. | ||
Webvomit Member Username: Webvomit Post Number: 22 Registered: 07-2005 |
Rjlj, who says I don't? I didn't show up here to criticize or instigate. I've got my own space for that. I just wanted to give credit to two guys who did an incredible job getting nationally touring acts / up-and coming artists into a city notorious for lame crowds and apathy. I'll leave you all alone now. I just remembered why I don't post here regularly. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 401 Registered: 11-2003 |
What space do you run? I am curious. I just hate when people sit on the side lines and criticize and think they can do better than the people in the game, not say that is you. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1835 Registered: 05-2005 |
Gdub hits the nail on the head | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2945 Registered: 10-2003 |
"a city notorious for lame crowds and apathy. " Are we talking about the same city here? During the garage rock resurgence some years back, the scene was awesome. Because there were great bands! If you have great bands, the people will come see them. The Lager House fit its role perfectly. It was difficult to get a show there if nobody had heard of you. You could start out at the Old Miami or 2500 Club (blech), then move up to The Belmont or maybe get a show on an off day at the Magic Stick or Alvin's playing a short set with other new bands. Small's was easier to get a show at than the Lager House. Playing the Lager House meant something. The only place to go from there was a weekend night at the Stick. And if you could conquer that room, you pretty much had graduated from being an underground Detroit band. Detroit audiences lame and apathetic? More likely they've heard it all before, and you need something a little better for them to care. | ||
Detroitrulez Member Username: Detroitrulez Post Number: 462 Registered: 12-2006 |
unfortunately, it is pretty clear to most observers, inside and out, that the Detroit scene has fizzled considerably from its peak of four or five years ago. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2952 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yes it is. But I blame it on the lack of a cohesive scene. There will be another, as there always has been. Just need another wave of great bands in the area. | ||
Detroitrulez Member Username: Detroitrulez Post Number: 463 Registered: 12-2006 |
you could also blame it, in part, on the exodus of a lot of folks out of Detroit. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2955 Registered: 10-2003 |
You could, except when you walked into a packed Magic Stick to see the Von Bondies six years ago, how many of those kids were actually from Detroit? | ||
Jnot Member Username: Jnot Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2007 |
most recent buzz- they're staying open for another three weeks, but it's open booking. just call up the bar, bring a supporting act and you have the honor of playing one of the final shows at the lager house. sad sendoff for such an important spot | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1932 Registered: 11-2003 |
I think overall this will be a good thing. I know the guy that bought it (assuming someone else didn't come in at the last minute), he lives in the city and cares about doing something that will be an asset to the neighborhood. In other words, a place that will actually be open during regular hours if you want to have a beer or a sandwich, in addition to having live music. From what I've seen, the Lager House was lately only open sporadically, for live shows. I do understand the loss of the booking team is a big deal, though, which will totally change its character as a rock venue. (having been in a band myself...) | ||
Vas Member Username: Vas Post Number: 816 Registered: 01-2004 |
The "scene" not only in Detroit, but all throughout the country is made up of far too many bands who aren't good enough to warrant a packed, happy show. There is some great stuff, but a lot of it is marginal and held together by music freaks endlessly looking for the next big, artsy things. Lets face it, the era of the music store employee being the rock star is over. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 845 Registered: 12-2006 |
Well put Vas. There is nothing quite so unstable as the music scene in any city. You have to be constantly reinventing yourself. That's why we've had great eras where you could run yourself ragged trying to see all the great acts all over town, in lots of different genres, and we've had eras where you might as well just stay home. Karaoke is a big buzz-kill because it collapsed the number of places who were willing to pay for decent, live entertainment. Why pay a band when you can pay some guy with a video monitor and a CD cart and then your patrons can listen to some drunk asshole ripping apart "American Pie"? And people will come and listen! This is a very sad trend all over the place. If we were going to import some piece of Japanese culture, why in God's name did it have to be that? | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 4201 Registered: 10-2004 |
With all the music available electronically on all sorts of media, why pay dearly to hear it at a club? Must be some kind of herd mentality. But again, some sex might be involved afterwards. | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 574 Registered: 04-2006 |
VAS, there are thousands upon thousands of bands... there are now, and there have been for decades... some suck, some are amazing. nothing has changed... there will always be independent artists and music enthusiasts who follow them. Livernois, the reason to go to the club is two fold. first it's a place to see all your friends like you would at the bar. no one wants to host 200 people at their house. plus, it's a change of scenery. Second, music always sounds different at a live show. sometimes better, sometimes worse, most of the time better. this is especially true for punk or garage acts who add a visceral energy when playing live that is NEVER done justice on record. | ||
Soulhawk Member Username: Soulhawk Post Number: 318 Registered: 04-2004 |
This was posted on Myspace: NO! For the umpteenth time, NO! The Lager House may, in the next few weeks, be transferring ownership. But, nothing about The Lager House will change. It's still going to be the same shit hole you love going to. The bathrooms may see some renovation, thank god. But, other than that there will be very few changes. Yes, it's true. Rich and Jay are no longer booking shows at the Lager House. They're just burnt out and need a break. Rich did an awesome job for six years, but now he's moving on. So, if you're looking to book a show, send a message on myspace, mail your shit into the Lager, Attn: Aaron @ 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI 48226 or e-mail your information to adrianne@lagerhousedetroit.com. We're still booking bands, we just have a little gap due to the changeover in booking. So, wipe your tears you fucking morons and come up for a drink. Since we don't have bands right now, it's a perfect time for you to bring up your ipod, plug it into that monstrosity of a tuner, jam out to YOUR favorite music and drink, drink, drink. Aaron's working tonight so come up and buy him a shot. Don't give him crap about the bar "closing" cuz now you know what's really going on. Just shut up and drink! | ||
Jazzstage Member Username: Jazzstage Post Number: 126 Registered: 08-2007 |
Livernoisyard, Music, like poetry is best experienced live. You have to feel it as well as hear it. There is also the element of the show that was so important to many artists (Frank Zappa etc). Sometimes, some of the herd gets it. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 4208 Registered: 10-2004 |
It's also more fun doing it instead of merely spectating. I'd like to get back into jamming via banjo again in the future, though. [Got free drinks doing that.] For starters, gotta replace the old five-string and take the time... (Message edited by LivernoisYard on October 06, 2007) | ||
Transitrider Member Username: Transitrider Post Number: 23 Registered: 01-2007 |
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.d ll/article?AID=/20071009/ENT01 /710090398/1033 Good news. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2986 Registered: 10-2003 |
"Lets face it, the era of the music store employee being the rock star is over." Crap, don't tell Brendan Benson. | ||
Detroitsuperfly Member Username: Detroitsuperfly Post Number: 114 Registered: 07-2005 |
"Crap, don't tell Brendan Benson." Or the Electric Six | ||
Miketeevee Member Username: Miketeevee Post Number: 19 Registered: 07-2005 |
I'd tell Brendan Benson.. but he moved to Nashville. I don't think he'll be back to play the Lager House again anytime soon. I doubt we'll ever see him again.. period. Any thoughts to why so many people get angry when local favorites move out of the D? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2991 Registered: 10-2003 |
Have you ever seen the old video clip of the Liverpool girl crying because The Beatles didn't belong to Liverpool and the Cavern Club anymore? | ||
Miketeevee Member Username: Miketeevee Post Number: 23 Registered: 07-2005 |
Exactly, Johnlodge. Exactly. | ||
J_stone Member Username: J_stone Post Number: 399 Registered: 10-2003 |
I saw the Rock n Roll Indian and Serge Joebot Saturday night. I thanked them for the good times and said I was a big fan. |
