LexRides

[brokebike]

just got through having a chat with my buddy Nick about how lately, it seems that each passing week reveals another blow to Lexington's underground / indie-arts-music / DIY / alternative / non-mainstream whatever-you-want-to-tag-it establishment (for lack of a few better catch-all terms).

Could it be that 2008 will be remembered as the year the counter culture died in Lexington?

Have I simply not lived long enough to ride the waves of the cycle and weather the storm?

As I sit here and try to be as optimistic as I can, I think about what the creative climate was like when I moved here in the mid-90's. Everyone was still bemoaning the loss of many treasured indie establishments... those of which I never knew, so I could only try to empathize as an outsider. So, naturally I associated myself with a loose group of like-minded folks who, over the course of a decade, in ways direct and indirect seemed to be the ones building something of a foundation for interesting things happening here in this town.

It's a very strange mix of feelings when you find yourself witnessing what could be a very characteristic ebb and flow.

Is that what this is?

[seicer]

I don't think so, but it will take time to readjust and for new venues to spring up. The Dame isn't closing for good (from last word), but it may be in a hiatus while its relocating. The Icehouse was great, but it didn't meet minimum fire codes -- and as much as I hated to see it close, I'd rather not have another disaster like what had happened in Rhode Island. Better be safe than sorry.

You also have a lot of underground events at houses popping up. 161 Glenn and some place on Oldham hosts music events quite often, although I can see those quickly being shut down if the music and crowds became intense enough.

The market will react. There will be vacancies in the downtown and around the campuses, and clubs or music venues will move in. It goes through phases it seems...
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Sherman Cahal | Cincy Rides

[elzie5000]

Having been here forever, and generally being an everything-is-cyclic kind of person, I think it is absolutely not the end, just nearing a possible low point of the circle.

Mid 90's to now is about 270 degrees of that cycle. Whipper snapper.

Seriously, though, things close and it sucks. And people rightly fight the process and maybe they'll win this one. But probably not. The important thing is that the spirit that created those places doesn't go away. For every LMNOP or Wrocklage or @ttic or Icehouse or Dame that goes away, other things happen eventually to fill the void.

An integral part of "underground / indie-arts-music / DIY / alternative / non-mainstream" is its vulnerabilty to "progress" and "the man". If they played it safe and dumbed down their content to maximize their audience they wouldn't be any of those things anymore. And they'd still go broke and close because that's just what happens to 90% of the bars and restaurants in Lexington.

20 years ago there was no WRFL. 10 years ago most of us wouldn't have been caught dead at Al's. 5 years ago there was no alleycat community.

Somebody stop me before I start singing "The Circle of Life".

[brokebike]

please forgive my sensational title to this thread... I thought it might catch more attention and spur discussion. A cheap jab, I know.

I'm with you on this, as I feel like we're in a trough right now... I think I've just reached a point where I needed to hear more people say they feel it too.

[brokebike]

[seicer]

I guess the question people should be asking is: where will the next entertainment hub be at?

151 W. Main (I think that's the correct address) is being prepped up for something. It's the formerly-beige-now-charcoal colored building with red accents that was slated to be the home of a restaurant and jazz club (those plans fell through a while back)... could it be a nightclub or music venue?

What about along S. Limestone? I'm not really for sure where there are many vacancies that can host a club or venue.
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Sherman Cahal | Cincy Rides

[brokebike]

[mcrib]

I think you have to look at the phenomenon brokebike is describing in a larger context. I feel like there is impending doom in a lot of important aspects of my life. It costs more to go to school and when I get out I have more debt and there are fewer jobs. These are scary times to be living in. I don't want to turn this into a political discussion but unfortunately that is where the finger has to be pointed. While I think Newberry has a decent vision for Lexington on the state and federal level we are fucked. Steve B. has proved that voting for him is really not that different than voting for Fletcher. We are in a downturn not only here in Lexington but at every other level. The rich bastards are worrying about staying rich while the rest of us will have to be content to struggle to get by and search harder to find what few pleasures remain in the current climate. sorry to rant.
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Albert Einstein trembled when he found out time was water. Seeping through the rafters to put out this burning world.

[Octopod]

we are entering into a scary decline and we are definitely going to see some crazy shiza go down in our lifetimes with environmental degradation, end of oil, increased craziness with weather, an economy in major trouble, poor health care etc. Luckily, everyone on here knows how to do more with less and can ride a bike, two skills that will be very important (that many people have forgotten). i just hope the assholes in charge don't fuck everything up so bad that we can't enjoy the little time we have.
I too am concerned about the direction Lex may be headed and don't want to buy into any ebb and flow "it's just a cycle" stuff. I'd like to think that passionate, inspired folks living here can help keep Lexington unique/weird whatever you want to call it. I hope that monstrosity doesn't get built in the middle of downtown but if it does, we'll figure a way to reclaim our city.
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All you haters die slow

[luckywarriorpig]

thanks to the writer earlier who listed 2 houses that have shows. but there are more!

the red planet, on hillcrest
chaosome, hazel avenue
glenn ave, (closing this month)
the shrieking shack, 503 oldham court.

(shameless self promotion, i know)

[jkizzle]

is the4re a listing of house shows anywhere? i havnt heard anything since basically the reading room went down

[luckywarriorpig]

the shrieking shack: myspace.com/503oldhamct
the red planet: myspace.com/theredplanet
chaosome: on myspace under lexington punk and hardcore

i am not sure if the charles mansion is still having shows. i think the frowny bear is done.

and lets not forget the void skateshop.

between these venues, there is a show happening pretty darn often.
such a super way to support DIY venues and artists.

[TheDame]