Chicago's horrible to see shows because they're so crowded with people who don't care about the bands. It's really sad and so unfitting that this has happened to Chicago but I don't think it has a lot to do with the venues.

.

Chicago's horrible to see shows because they're so crowded with people who don't care about the bands. It's really sad and so unfitting that this has happened to Chicago but I don't think it has a lot to do with the venues.

In my experience, this is not just a Chicago thing. It has to do with how people consume music instead of experiencing (or even listening to) it. Many people go to shows just to be seen at the show.

_I've got no beef with The Empty Bottle although I'm not crazy about the general "scene" that revolves around it.

I could give you plenty of stories, but it doesn't seem to change anyone's minds about the place. People keep going there despite it being one of the worst clubs to play or watch a show. Oh well, truth will out.

Razorblade Doucheface wrote "Give me some stories; I'm honestly curious since I've only been there a couple times. The experience was neither remarkably good nor bad."

Which story do you want? The asbestos story or the knowing about the asbestos and not telling your own bartenders who have to knock their heads against said asbestos night after night as they changed kegs for years story?

While this is strictly small potatoes compared to Chicago, I have found that getting a decent venue going in such locales as Grand Forks, ND (my old stomping grounds) is a complete and utter mess. There's a group of young-ish, concerned folks there right now trying to scrape together funds to start a venue/coffee shop that actually PAYS bands, both local and touring, and they're getting summarily screwed by the city-council members. Kinda sad.
We had a club going for a while, strictly not-for-profit, and one that paid touring bands, but through mismanagment, and through a couple of jackoffs (notably the fella who goes by the name Har Mar superstar or whatever--the old Kalvin Crime guy) complaining about getting $50 a show, it was shut down.
So, this is a problem on a national scale, I think.
But, yeah, the Metro's sound system is brutally bad. I was there about 3 weeks ago to see a show, and sheesh, bass-in-your-face. And rude, too.

So, that's that, I guess.
Ike

Ike wrote: a couple of jackoffs (notably the fella who goes by the name Har Mar superstar or whatever--the old Kalvin Crime guy)

It blows my mind that this guy got a major label deal. I'm really glad he got dropped, though.

He keeps changing his name to keep people from realizing how hard he sucks.

Here's a story about the Empty Butthole - it's a little self-serving because it concerns a band I was in. Sorry.

We (Cheer-Accident) were doing a record release party there for a CD on Pravda. Pravda had paid extra to have the picture of the CD in the ad. Three weeks before the show, not only is there no picture, but Bruce has added a headliner (Railroad Jerk) without telling anyone in the band or the label. Okay, fast forward to the show. We're still okay because the people who came to see us can still see us and get out at a reasonable time. Bruce approaches us asking if Railroad Jerk can play next because "they have a lot of fans that don't want to sit though another band". We say that is definitely not okay. He says, oh well, I already told them they could. The band not only makes the crowd wait (building anticipation) but plays an encore, too. Bruce says nothing. We get to take the stage at 1:00 AM, shorten our set and get paid a lot less. Oh, and Railroad Jerk compared cities in which one could get good cocaine. Anyway.

I'm not trying to sound like a complainer and if this was an isolated incident I can understand, but he is notorious for this kind of behaviour.

Anyone else like to share?

Dylan wrote:Anyone else like to share?

i've only played their once and had no complaints about management, but i was kind of shocked at how bad it sounded on stage. the sound people kept telling us to turn down and when the show started you couldnt hear anything at all. not like a big ball of noise...i mean you literally could not hear anything, it was like, silent...

i cant say that i've ever really enjoyed a show there either.

however, i played at the bottom lounge recently and i liked it...sounded pretty good on the floor and very good on stage. also, i dont worry about brian peterson fucking me over...

ever play a house show where the people putting it on think they're "sound guys" and try to mic instruments to pump through their 6 channel behringer mixer/power amp? thats the best...

andyk

Ah, the metro....

so many fine shows I have seen there.....Dead Milkmen, Sugarcubes....Pixies....
I remember the sound being pretty good. I never coatcheck and am suprised so many do, so I have avoided that headache.

However, lately I thought the sound sucked eggs. It was Death Cab For Cutie that first kicked it off....a year or two ago (in fact their show at the Fireside sounded better!). Just recently I saw Mogwai and DCFC again....so I am convinced something or someone there is making the PA sound bad. Strange, I really like the venue and have had little run-ins with the staff.

As an aside, the mogwai show had plenty of "scenesters" there to have dire conversations that couldnt possible be had at more appropriate times. That is what gets me about the Empty Bottle. Horribly placed stage and a large crowd of scenesters.

regards,
spoon