The Venue Shuffle

So all these shows are bending around.  What does it mean?

Think of this:  the high-profile shows which used to go to HOB, now go to Nokia and Club Nokia.  This is because the venue is newer, nicer, and HOB will have lower-end booking.

The shows which used to go to Knitting Factory and Key Club now will likely go to HOB.  This is because there are no small venues to accommodate.  No, the Avalon won’t pick up the slack: they make too much $ on filming and nightclubs.

The medium size venue shows which went to Gibson on occasion, now go to Nokia.  Gibson compensates by booking more latin shows.

The medium size venue shows which used to go to HOB will probably go to Wiltern, and if they can’t draw, then the Palladium.

The rock shows that seem to draw now are all latin shows – look for more of those in 2010. 

For indie/low-low end shows, well, you’ll see them showing up at more lesser-known, lesser venues like Good Hurt in Santa Monica, The Mint off Pico and The Echo, and probably more secondary market venues like Palladino’s in the Valley and Brixton in the South Bay.  It just doesn’t pay to play L.A. any more.

End of an Era: Key Club likely to close

It used to be Gazarri’s (did I spell that right? Does it matter?) in the 80’s, when hair and heavy metal collided. 

In the 90’s, it re-opened as Billboard Live, then renamed the Key Club. 

One of the best stages in Hollywood, looks like is closing its doors.  The Gauntlet and KROQ are both reporting that the Key Club shall close at the end of the year due to poor attendance, virtually absent booking and the fact that Steel Panther (aka Metal Skool) can’t play every single night…plus Key Club can’t pay salaries by charging $20 for a Bud Light - $8 is already robbery.

The Key Club was heavily buoyed by the rise of Indie Rock, Punk Rock and Camp Freddy.  Burlesque and Fetish shows abounded and filled the floors with rockers and regulars every night.  We shot many, many shows on that stage (and off it!).  Names of all levels had graced the Club and left their sticker on the wall.

As always, all good things must come to an end.  And I’ll miss it…of course until it re-opens.

The Key Club had expanded to the new Morongo Casino in Cabazon, opening for one year before bad attendance and crappy booking did the club in.  It seems that plague had followed it to Hollywood. 

The club had been in disrepair.  While the Troubadour showed no signs of slowdowns, with improved sound and lighting, the Key Club used to rock state of the art production values, but lately had boasted bad sound, antiquated lighting and a really bad video screen.  Unprofessional wait and bounce staff (generally speaking) didn’t help.

So down in the grave with other infamous rock shops like Lava Lounge, Safari Sams, and Knitting Factory: a sign of the times that good o’le fashioned rock shows don’t draw like they used to; and the end of the line for another quality venue in Los Angeles.

There’s still the Roxy, Viper and Troubadour: three quality venues in West Hollywood.  Otherwise, you’ll have to pay too much for HOB and haul way out for Spaceland.

Such is the way of the world.