Of course Enrique should walk the 10 blocks and see Cheap Trick. I'm sure he'll enjoy it. And of course Live Nation put out press releases saying they would try to reflect the community. But its not authentic, and that's a disservice. If DC subsidized putting a Panera Bread where Busboys and Poets originated, the residents would have a place to get coffee and WiFi . . .and bread . . .which is nice . . .but an opportunity for true vitality (which of course resulted from B&P) would have been retarded by something stagnant (even if Panera tried to 'reflect community').
People talk sh*t about Birchmere, but I'd be surprised if people don't respect the Birchmere.
crazy.. there were DECADES for other people to build a concert venue in Silver Spring.. nobody did. the birchmere pulled out.. IMP only seemed to get interested/ panties in a bunch when Montgomery County and LN reached their agreement..
Moreover, I'm not so sure the concertgoer isn't better served by having LN have a major club presence in the area than by IMP expanding its empire.. Lets remember: IMP is the one that runs the show in town.
people hate Live Nation and everythingn about it.. if Live Nation hadn't built the Fillmore we'd have the coolest club full of personality etc. built by IMP without taxpayer subsidies... and pigs fly...ok maybe, but I'm skeptical... IMP seems very comfortable with its current setup... when it has bigger shows it rents out DAR (substandard sound) or Strathmore or now the Kastles stadium.. it also books at Ramshead and MPP..I mean IMP has it all already... its going to keep doing great.. but having another player, I think, could be good for the concert consumer
the 930 hardly ever books Latin rock acts. I might not like Live Nation but its Live Nation venues putting on Andres Calamaro's first US tour.. and I will gladly go to NYC to check it out and I hope he comes back and plays the Fillmore cause I know the 930 Club ain't doing it.
again , lets remember that we all know the 930 is the best club in the US et.. we all know LN and Montgomery County pulled a shady deal that did not benefit taxpayers, and we all know LN is on the hall of shame list of companies..
BUt at the end of the day when I saw Mark Knopfler at the Warner Theatre who gave a rats ass if it was a Live nation venue? same with Elvis Costello and many others!