291 replies to this topic

[burt]

mrd3b, on Apr 10 2007, 02:01 PM, said:

If this venue is still slated for a June opening, and many of its shows are to be booked in cooperation with the original venue in New Haven, this news I came across on the Toad's Place Wikipedia page does not seem bode well for a very successful first couple months.  
"The legendary New Haven club will close for three months beginning May 6th, 2007, following charges stemming from a November 2005 raid by police and liquor inspectors. Toad's settled negotiations with the Connecticut State Liquor Commission November 2nd, agreeing to a 90-day suspension of its liquor license and a $90,000 fine for 2005's raid, during which the club was charged with a reported 90 counts of sales of alcohol to a minor. As part of its compromise with the liquor commission, Toad's Place admitted to 45 counts of sales of alcohol to a minor."

On the other hand, maybe it will be a boon for Toads Richmond.  Perhaps they can absorb the bookings cancelled out by New Haven's problems -- and I'm sure Richmond will be extra careful about infringing on ABC laws after the New Haven troubles.

[burt]

News about TOADS PLACE sort of got displaced this morning in the Dining Out Scene thread because the new restaurant, HIGHWATER, was being discussed.

The Granby Theater in Norfolk, also known as a club called Premier, got shut down a short while ago because of a shooting (no injuries) and 19 ABC violations.  I think it is (was) more of a dance space than we we are expecting with TOADS and THE NAT.  Word on the street is that it will reopen under new management in a month or two.

NORVA, on Monticello Street across from MacArthur Center in Central Norfolk continues to pack 'em in.  It is the concert sister of Richmond's The National and the two halls will probably share some performance bookings.

[j_c]

From Pollstar....

Sat 06/16/07 The Waybacks

Thu 07/05/07 Jefferson Starship

[BGW]

j_c, on Apr 16 2007, 04:03 PM, said:

From Pollstar....

Sat 06/16/07 The Waybacks

Thu 07/05/07 Jefferson Starship

That is, in a word, unfortunate.

[burt]

BGW, on Apr 16 2007, 04:44 PM, said:

That is, in a word, unfortunate.

Not being familiar with the youth music scene I'm curious as to why the bookings are unfortunate?

[Cadeho]

Jefferson Starship? HAHA Burt, they're from the 60s!  I didn't think they were even still around.  I think they started as Jefferson Airplane, then Jefferson Starship, then simply Starship.  We built this city on rock and roll!

[BGW]

burt, on Apr 16 2007, 05:24 PM, said:

Not being familiar with the youth music scene I'm curious as to why the bookings are unfortunate?

Neither of these acts has much to do with the "youth music scene." As Cadeho pointed out, Jefferson Starship is rooted in late '60s act Jefferson Airplane, but these days is merely a dog and pony act consisting of 1 or 2 original members and cobbled-together fill-ins playing, often poorly, an hour of "hits", typically for small crowds at State Fairs and Office Park concerts. You could have probably booked them to play your living room in exchange for take-out and a beer. The Waybacks are a not-very-well known jam band that would probably be very appropriate for Cary St. Cafe (and might fill it).

The booking of these 2 acts is unfortunate because we already have plenty of places for acts like these to play. If that's who the promoters are going to book, building a new venue was hardly necessary. They'll have to step things up considerably to keep the doors open.

[burt]

According to Pollstar, Jefferson Starship has lined up some fairly decent bookings -- certainly not the major venues, but some respectable places.  I bet a quarter they will fill the house with baby boomers when they take to Toad's stage.   On the other hand, Pollstar doesn't even list The Waybacks.

If you check out Pollstar, pull up The Norva and take a look at their long list of bookings.  Of course, the names ring no bells with Ole' Man Burt, but I have a notion the acts are hot stuff with you young'ns.  I suspect THE NATIONAL will present that type of edgy music.  It has been reported that Widespread Panic will open The Nat, and apparently they have a huge following; they filled the Landmark a couple of weeks ago.

Maybe Toad's will pick up some of the bookings cancelled at Toads New Haven which will close for three months due to liquor violations.  OR, maybe the local Toads plans to go with the Pat Benetars,  BeeGees and similar prehistoric acts hoping to rope in the nostalgia crowd.

[JSI]

Toad's Place website is up...

Toad's Place

[burt]

JSI, on Apr 27 2007, 09:22 PM, said:

Toad's Place website is up...

Toad's Place

You're a fount of information today, JSI.

So it appears TOADS PLACE RICHMOND will open July 17th with a group called SHOUT IT LOUD TOUR.
Is this an act known to you youngsters?  Apparently an earlier notice of The Waybacks and a June 16th opening are incorrect.

I like the website.

[burt]

I guess the Shout It Loud tour's star is Reel Big Fish.  Here is their itinerary from Pollstar:  Fish apparently is traveling with Less Than Jake.

http://pollstar.com/...tartSearch.y=12

Edited by burt, 28 April 2007 - 08:05 AM.

[wrldcoupe4]

It may not be the opening date. They said they will be updating the calendar soon to add more shows

[Icetera]

burt, on Apr 28 2007, 10:00 AM, said:

I guess the Shout It Loud tour's star is Reel Big Fish. Here is their itinerary from Pollstar: Fish apparently is traveling with Less Than Jake.

http://pollstar.com/...tartSearch.y=12

I believe both were known from the late 90s, but I am not  sure if they ever made radio.  Not a bad start.

[burt]

Hey, Coupe!  It looks like you were right.  I just found the following on Pollstar which indicates that The Waybacks are still on schedule for June 16th.

http://pollstar.com/...p;go_green.y=18

Edited by burt, 28 April 2007 - 01:21 PM.

[Downtowner]

Less Than Jake had some good songs they had a few songs on my Hockey game NHL 2003 by EA Sports. Less Than Jake seems to be pretty well known around Freeman. I can't remember if they were Heavy Metal or just your every day Modern Rock Band.

[BGW]

Downtowner, on Apr 28 2007, 03:36 PM, said:

Less Than Jake had some good songs they had a few songs on my Hockey game NHL 2003 by EA Sports. Less Than Jake seems to be pretty well known around Freeman. I can't remember if they were Heavy Metal or just your every day Modern Rock Band.

Pop-punk-type band.

I remain utterly unimpressed- they're still booking bands that could easily play existing venues in town.

[Cadeho]

I did read in the Weekend section the schedule for Fridays at Sunset... too bad I work Fridays and I've been working Fridays for years!  I last saw Chaka Khan in 2003!   And what is this about a Short Pump Summer Concert Series?  

[TBurban]

Cadeho, on Apr 28 2007, 10:44 PM, said:

I did read in the Weekend section the schedule for Fridays at Sunset... too bad I work Fridays and I've been working Fridays for years!  I last saw Chaka Khan in 2003!   And what is this about a Short Pump Summer Concert Series?  

Hah.  They over-exaggerate the Short Pump 'Concert Series.'  They just have a few local bands such as the Kings of Swing and Marna Bales come play at sptc.

[burt]

TBurban, on Apr 28 2007, 11:02 PM, said:

Hah.  They over-exaggerate the Short Pump 'Concert Series.'  They just have a few local bands such as the Kings of Swing and Marna Bales come play at sptc.

Tommy, we're hearing far too little from you lately.  I miss your reports, pictures and comments.

It's about time for updates on projects in the far, far West End.

I hope you and Joey will visit an "all ages" concert at Toads and give us a youthful assessment.

Edited by burt, 29 April 2007 - 06:42 AM.

[burt]

BGW, on Apr 28 2007, 09:11 PM, said:

Pop-punk-type band.

I remain utterly unimpressed- they're still booking bands that could easily play existing venues in town.

BGW, what do you predict for the National?  Do you consider NorVa a cutting edge venue, and do you think its Richmond cousin will book similar musical acts?

Is Blackfinn going to offer entertainment?  I gather from its web page and my space that it will compete with some of the Bottom's "pretty people" venues.