Editor’s note: Please stay on point. — JD (Sep 20, 2007)

When are they disclosing the name or does anything already have that info to leak available?

Corporate sponsored music venues like Live Nation suck the heart and soul from music, all the while doping us into thinking our music proclivities are unique and say something extraordinary about our personalities. And they do: we’re consuming lemmings.

By the way, Live Nation only does bookings for Rams Head Live, it doesn’t “run”, operate or own them.

Lastly, I go to standing-room-only clubs all the time. I don’t consider myself “above” them. The overwhelming majority of live shows that I attend are in these kinds of venues. What would be nice in this discussion is if more people advocated for a venue whose artists appeal to the WIDEST cross-section of people in our diverse community. How about a venue that appeals to all ages, all backgrounds instead of some narrow demographic?

As I find Mr. Richardson’s take on standing room clubs as places “have to stand the entire time, tolerate a certain amount of noise from the audience, and experience a much more impersonal level of service” to be quite insulting to others tastes in music and atmosphere – particularly considering downtown’s evolving demographic. So perhaps I am not the only one who needs to restrain my comments regarding others’ personal tastes.

To add, I would find it as a description of the atmosphere that your letter describes, not an “ad hominem” attack. If are not interested in critiques of your public statements then I suggest you not make them. I simply make the point that a large majority of the music that the 20-30’s demographic that largely populates the central business district listens to is not well accomodated by a seated venue. And the county has already spent millions or our tax dollars on a seated venue – strathmore – which promotes plenty of the music that I listen to as well, and I should I want to indulge that side of my musical tastes I have little trouble hopping on bus to travel the handful of miles down the road. Should I wish to indulge my other musical tastes – those would be the rude ones that interrupt people by standing and dancing and other impersonal activities like that – I’ve love to be able to do that within the county as well.

Editor’s note: Gary Stith is director of the Silver Spring Regional Center. Thanks, Gary! — JD (Sep 20, 2007)

I go to 9:30 Club and Black Cat ALL the time – I even have the ticket stubs to prove it. I know these clubs very intimately and have nothing against them per se. But that’s not what’s really at issue. My biggest concern is that this project began life as a community-led initiative to situate the Birchmere opposite the AFI, but now the situation has essentially flipped from being bottom-up to being top-down. The lack of transparency and disregard for community input is what we should all be concerned about here. The public investment accounts for over 70% of the total funds (per the Gazette). For those of us who live in Silver Spring, this is our Main Street. If the county is going to use public money, then we all have a say in this project.

P.S.
I thought “ad hominem” attacks were discouraged on this blog. Paul Silver’s “joke” that “I think Mr. Richardson is looking for a place he can sit down and bob his head along to oldtime music” is insulting given that Mr. Richardson’s own music collection is huge, vast, and truly “catholic” in terms of diversity and breadth. Mr. Richardson actively seeks out the best of old and new music.

Editor’s note: Mr. Richardson’s comments have been edited for content. — JD (Sep 20, 2007)

Editor’s note: This comment has been edited for content. — JD (Sep 19, 2007)