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Venues & Viciousness It's A Crying Shame
by Miss Lana
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While updating the calendar on the site, a task that requires "focus" if you are ever going to "get er done"...lots of time and effort...blah, blah...I had to stop and put some of my thoughts down about more important issues...things like venues that are disappearing so fast that it boggles my mind.
The Longhorn Saloon in Fort Worth closed, a friend e-mails me, so I take it off the venue page. The Top Rail, one of the oldest dancehalls in Dallas, changed its format to a Mexican dancehall. That was a killer for the regulars that went there, and there were a lot of regulars that went there. Although the OKOM (our kind of music) format never really caught on at the Top Rail, it was still a country music venue that had a honky tonk history...until last year. I heard on the news a couple of days ago that The Gypsy Tea Room in Deep Ellum has closed its doors. That brings a whole new paragraph or two into this rant (if you will) about Deep Ellum.
Deep Ellum was home to and even pioneered many blues and jazz artists back in the 1920s and 30's, legendary artists like Leadbelly and Blind Lemon Jefferson. It was so noted for music that it brought in other legendary acts like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lightnin' Hopkins. It was a nationally known hotspot, dubbed Deep Ellum stemming from an ebonic twist referring to "deep Elm" Street. After sitting rather dormant for several decades (in the 60's, 70's and 80's) except for a few businesses, the old buildings were vandalized and run down, but the potential was there for revival. And revive it did, as artists and entrepreneurs moved in and laid their claim to clubs, avant-garde boutiques, restaurants and specialty shops, renovating the buildings but preserving the "old charm" of Deep Ellum. Many renovated and lived in an upstairs loft above their business, adding even more of a neighborhood feel to the area and much activity during the day to help build the economy there. The new music of today emerged in almost every format imaginable....Club Dada, Trees and other new age music clubs prospered as did blues and country format venues, and Deep Ellum was once again alive with arts and culture for almost any taste attracting huge crowds on weekends. Now, that scene is diminishing again with most of the blame pointing to crime in the neighborhood keeping the crowds away.
With the closing of The Gypsy Tea Room, now the talk is of tearing down the old buildings and putting in new condos, etc...(heavy sigh). Why is that the answer to everything? Is that going to decrease the crime rate in the area? It certainly hasn't in other areas around downtown, i.e., uptown that have redeveloped to appeal to the more affluent. It has just attracted more crime to those areas because they have a higher-end clientele (equals more expensive stuff to steal). I don't think that is the answer. I think we should find ways to deter the crime so we can preserve the neighborhood and bring the night life back. The old buildings are definitely part of its charm, it wouldn't be the same "Deep Ellum", if the original buildings are destroyed. And what will happen to our beloved Adair's Saloon and The AllGood Cafe? Luckily, the Sons of Hermann Hall is protected since they are listed in the Texas Historical Society, but that's just one of only two buildings in Deep Ellum that are protected by the State. I'm pissed off!
Other OKOM venues have come and gone in the matter of a year or less, Texicana Grill in Addison and then it was Randy White's BBQ, which I think has also closed. Randy White's BBQ in Greenville also closed. Now The Balcony Club is in danger of becoming extinct. The Balcony Club! You know, that weird but quaint little club above the Lakewood Theater. What a damn shame! Dallas also lost their Hard Rock Cafe and Fort Worth's Black Dog Tavern is no longer open. Whatever the reasons may be, it's disconcerting and sad that our choices for live music are becoming less and less instead of more and more. Go out and support your favorite live music venues while you can, and hope that your support will make a difference. Otherwise, we may be at home listening to our favorite artists on CD or traveling to Austin (not just a 3 hour drive anymore!) when we need a good dose of live music.
On a more positive note, the house concert venues seem to be growing and thriving. Most artists I know prefer these venues to bars and clubs. It is more intimate and more conducive to "listening" to the music which is a huge plus for both the artist and the real music lovers. You pay a donation of $10-$20 depending on the artist, and BYOB, so it is generally less expensive to attend a house concert than go to a club. Usually, you bring a dish of food to share, and a pot luck is enjoyed before the show or during the intermission.
There are several house concert venues in the North Texas area, Cuervo Acres in Princeton, Nocona Nights in Nocona, Waresville Halle in Greenville, Sherwood Glen in Dallas, Alex Whitmore's house concert series in Denton and one in Richardson whose name escapes me for now. These venues should be supported, too, so if you want more information on these house concert venues, e-mail me and I'll be happy to fill you in. House concert venues have increased nationally in the past few years giving us an excellent alternative to the club scenes that are quickly becoming obsolete for acoustic and independent artists. If you haven't been to a house concert, I encourage you to do so, because if you want to "listen" to the music, this is the venue for it.
Part two of this rant is about the old, on-going debate of our Texas artists "selling out". I read a recent blog that a very good friend (and a writer for MissLana.com) wrote. I won't mention any names to protect the innocent, but in the blog, he referred to Jack Ingram "selling out" with his recent hit, "Lips of An Angel". I found that rather vicious of him to say, as I don't see it that way at all. I agree that some artists do sell out, but I don't think Jack is one of them. I've been following Jack for years, and I just can't see it. Yes, I see he's in the national limelight now, and this is his chance to finally make the money that an artist with his talent and tenacity should make.
In a recent article in the Dallas Morning News, Jack was interviewed by Mario Tarradell. In that article, Jack was quoted..."I want to make records that I can care about and I would sell on my own out of the truck like I did at Adair's for all those years. I also want to make singles and make a record that we can go sell a ton of. I want to make you money (his label) and me money." I don't think Jack would say that unless he plans to stay true to the music he's been playing for years. Of course, he wants to make money. Wouldn't you? If he can make $100,000 instead of $10,000, I say good for him.
I saw Fred Eaglesmith recently at Gruene Hall. Fred has sold one of his songs to a movie, and had a monologue to go along with it about "selling out". He said that is part of the business of music and making money in music...selling your songs. So to me, it's about making as much money as possible while being true to yourself. I think that is what Jack is trying to do, that's what we would all try to do if we were in that business.
Also in the article, Jack proclaimed, "I just became very confident with my own identity. That I could try to do some things outside of myself, outside of my control, and it would still sound like me. My music would still be me because at the heart, it's still the same person...my heart, my identity, my soul." I hope this is true, because I have loved Jack's music and passion for years, and I would hate to think that will change because Jack has become a national success. And although "Lips Of An Angel" and "Wherever You Are" aren't my favorite tunes that Jack does, his cover of "Love You" is one of my favorites, a song written by Trent Summar. Hopefully, in all of this, some of Jack's songs will shine through the glitz of Nashville and get the exposure necessary to become hits as well.
I will give Jack the benefit of the doubt for now that he will stay in control of his career and be true to himself. And I will continue to hope that he can do that and make the big money he's working so hard for and deserves. I love it when one of our artists makes it big but doesn't sell their soul to do it. I'm counting on you, Jack. Please don't make me eat my words.
Happy Trails, |
