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Message |
    
Soda
Citizen
Username: Soda
Post Number: 1104
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 9:17 am: |     |
It's official: The Bottom Line will close -- at least at its current location -- forever, due to $100K+ in unpaid rent. Maybe the place just outlived its demographics, or maybe the Village (Greenwich, that is) just isn't the "destination" it used to be to NYC/Metro music lovers.
In its way, it was every bit as important a part of The Scene as the Fillmore East, Cafe Wha?, the Academy of Music, Capitol Theater, The Cookery, Max's Kansas City, etc. etc...
Your thoughts, or favorite evening there??? |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1678
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 9:28 am: | |
I had a fun night there with Loudo III.
It's really really sad that it's closing. Don't NYU students seek live music? How about 20 somethings? What's with kids these days? or is it actually the obscene rent that is the bottom line?pun intended
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L'Angelo Misterioso
Citizen
Username: Misterioso
Post Number: 16
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 9:41 am: | |
As of yesterday late afternoon, NYU said it was willing to continue negotiating with Alan Pepper for a new lease. Sirius Satellite Radio had offered to pay the back rent if a new lease was on the table. They seem to want some exorbitant amount for rent, but there may yet be some hope that the Bottom Line will survive this.
I sure hope so.
Maharishi University Class of '67 |
Hank Zona
Citizen
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 870
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 9:58 am: | |
hmmm..this will be a good "top ten and then some" list...
-Annie Haslam, first concert back in the US after a long hiatus, doing "Mother Russia" and "Ashes are Burning" to end the show.
-Marshall Crenshaw, first concert back after a long hiatus.
-Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, the whole large band...probably the single best show I saw there
-Steve Howe, solo
-Shawn Colvin, when she wore jeans and flannel shirts
-John Gorka, Cliff Eberhardt, Christine Lavin
-my first Fab Faux show
-various David Johansen shows in various personae
-a couple of the Vin Scelza songwriter shows, including one with Richard Thompson
-a Lyle Lovett songwriters show..featuring Texas songwriters who influenced him (at the release of "Step Inside This House")
-numerous folk and fast folk shows
-Todd Rundgren
I'll have to go through my stubs...there were plenty more. Also bootleg recordings (and now commercially available I think) of Springsteen, Van Morrison, Santana and Harry Chapin's 2000 concerts, were all played a multitude of times by me. I also remember listening on the radio to the day and night of music a month or two after September 11, when so many performers went on stage and played for a free audience. The great thing about the Bottom Line was that it was wider than it was long..so you were so close to the stage.
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L'Angelo Misterioso
Citizen
Username: Misterioso
Post Number: 17
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 10:10 am: | |
My favorite evening there? A mid-week show - Freedy Johnston. He did a rendition of the old standard "Night and Day," just him and a guitar, that was to plotz for. The house was maybe a third full, and I was sitting right up by the stage. Shweet.
Maharishi University Class of '67 |
chrisd
Citizen
Username: Chrisd
Post Number: 87
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 10:32 am: | |
- Jo Jo and the Modern Lovers lurching through a cover of Huey Piano Smith's "Don't You Just Know It."
- John Cale's Sabotage Live show in a much nicer venue than CBs.
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Yossarian
Citizen
Username: Yossarian
Post Number: 126
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 10:47 am: | |
I realize that a lot of people have great memories of the Bottom Line, but I'm not one of them. I've seen a handful of shows there, and I really don't like the set up or the atmosphere. If there's a crowd there, you wind up getting jammed in like Japanese tourists at the Blue Note. Also, I like a place where I can stand up.
If the Bottom Line does go belly-up, there are still plenty of places (better, IMO) to see a show. Mercury Lounge, Tonic, Bowery Ballroom, Maxwells, Irving Plaza, just to name a few.
L'Angelo -- Freedy's great. Sound like a good show. I had a similar experience at Makor with Josh Rouse. Just him and a guitar for a crowded first set. Then the room cleared and a few of us stragglers stuck around for drinks. Unannounced and out of nowhere, here comes Josh for a second set. There's nothing like seeing someone you love with you feet resting on the same stage he/she is perforning on. |
L'Angelo Misterioso
Citizen
Username: Misterioso
Post Number: 18
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 11:27 am: | |
Personally, I like a place where you can sit down. I HATE standing for hours, and I like being able to get table service even during a show (quietly and discreetly, of course).
Makor is kind of like that (I even saw Norah Jones there, before anyone knew who she was. That was a nice show - almost like being one of the 3 people in the audience, seeing The Police in their 1st US show, at The Chance in Poughkeepsie NY).
Maharishi University Class of '67 |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 217
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 11:27 am: | |
What a huge drag. This was my favorite spot to see live music in New York. Can'r remember all of the shows but one's I can recall off the top of my head:
John Mayall (Jazz influenced band) 73-74
Leo Sayer (before he became a hit machine, actually performed in white face like a mime).
Too Many NRBQ shows to remember (One of the best was a split show that the Q opened up and then in the 2nd half, John Sebastion came out and the Q backed him on mostly Lovin Spoonful Tunes.
Buzzy Linhart Tribute (W. Buzzy, Eric Anderson, David Amram, Phoebe Snow, etc.)
Procol Harum
Ron Sexsmith, Jill Sobule
John Hiatt-Numerous times, sometimes solo sometimes with the Goners.
Jack Bruce-Clapton came out and played the encore.
Tower of Power
Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham
Blind Boys of Alabamba with David Lindley, John Hammond etc.
Loudon Wainwright 3rd
There's loads more but can't get that old grey matter to recall |
ina
Citizen
Username: Ina
Post Number: 74
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 11:35 am: | |
One word: BETTY |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 792
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 11:50 am: | |
Hank, I envy people like you who can remember everything. I know I've been to the Bottom Line, but I can't remember who I saw. I have no recollection of most concerts, movies and books. (Except for what everyone was wearing.) |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5818
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 12:31 pm: | |
Best show @The Bottom Line: Michael Hedges |
drewdix
Citizen
Username: Drewdix
Post Number: 408
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 12:58 pm: | |
(the late) Roy Buchanan. |
jamie
Moderator
Username: Jamie
Post Number: 392
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 1:32 pm: | |
Michael Hedges was amazing there.
I recently went there to catch John Gorka (my favorite folkie), he always puts on a great show. But for the late show, I believe a Wednesday night - there was only 30 people. I heard the earlier show had a lot more people. Gorka usually gets around $2,000 - $3,000 per gig - I'm sure he gave them a break. But unless more people get out and support the arts - these venues WILL fade away. |
musicme
Citizen
Username: Musicme
Post Number: 412
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 1:52 pm: | |
Ah Drew!
I saw Roy in '75 at the Community Theatre in Morristown.
Me and about 28 other people. What a thrill!
As for TBL, it was enjoyable playing there on several nights. Always a good place to play! |
ros
Citizen
Username: Ros
Post Number: 107
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 6:52 pm: | |
A good place to play, unless you're in a large band-very tight stage, and no place to hang in the back (2 small dressing rooms) Plus full price for musicians on drinks, even sodas!
It's nice that Sirius offered to pitch in. The down side was that they were recording groups for broadcast with no compensation to the musicians (I found out last time I played there, a month ago, as we were onstage.) |
wharfrat
Citizen
Username: Wharfrat
Post Number: 867
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 5, 2003 - 7:58 pm: | |
TBL memories-
-Waiting outside for standing room for Patti Smith and being the last person admitted. John Cale plays bass on "My Generation" encore.
-NRBQ, July 1977-THE BLACKOUT-power goes off, emergency lights and candles, the band plays on, acoustically, sort-of. Spent the night in Grand Central Station, sharing the grand steps with lots of tired and p'oed business types. Friend's parents meet us at CPW/96 St next day, to bring us home.
-1st anniversary show on a night much like tonight. David Bromberg is the headliner. Loudon Wainright, the surprise guest.
I always liked the Lone Star, on 5th and 9th Street. It was the place with the big iguana on the roof.
I saw Lonnie Mack play there one night. Bob Dylan was in the audience, drinking up a storm. At one point he tried to climb the stage and sit-in. He was so loaded he fell backwards and landed on a group of people sitting at tables by the stage! |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 221
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 6, 2003 - 1:23 am: | |
Yea I miss the Lone Star on 13th real bad too. Some great memories there:
Jaco Pastorius inviting me in to see him play. I was walking by and looked in the window,Jaco came by and said, "Cmon in and watch me play". He told the doorman, "He's with me", jumped on stage, played like a demon for around 15 minutes and then seemed bugged by something. He started playing 3rd Stone from the Sun (Hendrix), lifted his bass in the air and threw it on the floor, jumped off stage and out the door, show over. What a mad genius he was.
Billy Swann who asked Edgar and Johnny Winter on to the stage with him and then it became a Billy Swann and Winter Bros. gig.
Jerry Lee Lewis
Rory Gallagher- I thought he was gonna levitate the place!!!.
The Band-without Robbie of course but they rocked that joint like crazy.
Blondie Chaplin-I was sitting at the bar next to David Johansson who was so drunk he kept on falling asleep and would occasionally awake and bellow, BLONDIE.
Townes Van Zandt-He got a little too drunk and asked Eric Anderson to come up and finish the set for him.
So many more that I can't remember. I played there various times also and it was always a hoot.
It's so sad when NYC loses clubs like this. I miss Max's Kansas City, the Cafe Au Go Go (I was too young to enter but the owner let me sit on the steps to listen to a then unknown Mahavishnu Orchestra. A year later he let me in to see an unknown Weather Report), the Village Gate etc. Pretty soon Manhattan will be nothing but Rite Aids and all nite groceries. A real shame. |
ril
Citizen
Username: Ril
Post Number: 137
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, December 6, 2003 - 10:11 am: | |
just last night, even with the storm & the news about the closing, John Hiatt did a benefit for the Bottom Line. when we called, they said 'he's on stage right now--come on down for the late show!' We seriously considered it, but didn't trust NJT to be able to get us home in the snow. |
Jonathan Ben-Asher
Citizen
Username: Jonathanba
Post Number: 73
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 8, 2003 - 11:56 pm: | |
Laura Nyro's annual shows, some of them wonderful.
Steeleye Span.
--- Jonathan Ben-Asher |
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 62
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 11:41 am: | |
Anyone ever see the Roches Christmas show at the Bottom Line? That will always be a stand out event for me. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 326
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 12:08 pm: | |
The two jerkoffs that rent the place have not botherd to use the donated money to pay the Nov or Dec rent . NYU is moving to evict them immediately . These two have been deadbeats for years , NYU just put up with it. |
Davegateway
Citizen
Username: Davegateway
Post Number: 18
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 8:54 pm: | |
Of all the places that have come and gone, I'll miss TBL the least. Am I the only one who thinks being shoehorned into a lunchroom table was a lame way to see a show? Besides,I think I'm still waiting for my drink from the last time I was there. |
Hank Zona
Citizen
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 874
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 11:34 pm: | |
Id get there as early as possible and wait on line, cruise in quickly and get one of the small roundtop tables to the left of the stage...always comfortable. But if I had to choose between sitting at a 16" wide table knocking knees with someone directly across from me to see a performance in as intimate a setting, versus seeing an act on the jumbotron with nothing but 50,000 people between me and the stage, I'll knock knees any day. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 797
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 12:32 am: | |
I have to say, after just finishing paying off my debt to NYU, hearing that these guys at the Bottom Line owed $117,000 in back rent to the school kind of p'd me off. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 244
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:53 am: | |
I don't know all the facts but this back rent issue is a little sticky. Supposedly TBL raised enough $ to cover the back rent but were holding out in paying this to NYU until they offered them a new (reasonable) lease. These are all legal strategies.
I'm getting real scared nothing will pay off and NYU will shut down the best club NYC has to see popular music that is not mainstream MSG material.
If they do shut down TBL, we should all boycott NYU anyway possible. Stating they need that space for classrooms is BS. NYU owns half of the real estate in the West Village, I just think they're getting greedy. As a major University, I think they have some responsibility to the arts . |
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