Quick! Somebody lease this place before we're stuck with another blues club. - Alex De Vore
The Santa Fe music scene has begun to show some movement (Pixies and Morrissey, Starfucker on the horizon and whispers of a Radiohead show), and I’d like to see the scene keep rising right to The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Here’s how:
1. Personally, I will try to stop bitching about a lack of variety. I’m starting to realize it’s my own damn fault for assuming that downtown bars might try something other than tunes that make guests want booze.
My new outlook makes room for more of the fine classical jams at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, one of the organists at the First Presbyterian Church or maybe even—gulp—some kind of hotel guitarist.
It’s hard to venture outside one’s comfort zone, but the sooner we start trying new things, the faster we’ll get out of our acoustic guitar rut.
Bottom Line: Check out something that you don’t already know because it just might surprise you.
2. This may sound strange coming from me, but we have to be more supportive. I maintain that it’s nobody’s job to hold local musicians’ hands; however, instead of zeroing in on this bullshit, let’s try to focus on what we want to see. Let us perhaps recommend overlooked local musicians to promoters and venues. My first choice is this dude: Alix Monasterio. (We swear the first draft of this column came in before Pasatiempo’s “New and Emerging Artists” piece hit the streets.) I’ll admit I’ve yet to see him live, but the stuff I’ve heard on his Soundcloud page is totally solid. Homeboy records pretty epic indie/rock/experimental tracks all by his lonesome, and it’d be cool to see a teen performing at a venue besides Warehouse 21 for once. Club owners, fear not, because the Alcohol and Gaming Division says you can have underage performers in a professional capacity as long as they’re over 18. Oh, and don’t anybody worry, because I’ll still let you know when something stinks.
Bottom Line: Tell your favorite venues they are welcome to bring in new talent.
3. According to local promoter/Meow Wolf cohort Vince Kadlubek, “The biggest thing that could change the Santa Fe scene right now would be a new venue, and somebody will have to get in where Corazón was.”
Kadlubek believes that a remodel would be in order. Y’know: Knock out the kitchen; rebuild the stage in a less awkward location—stuff like that. Furthermore, he envisions this dream club as a welcoming space for all music fans. “An all-ages space would be completely essential,” Kadlubek says. “I know that Mikey [Baker] sometimes split the place up and welcomed kids, but if there was some way to have it partitioned like the Launchpad [which is in Albuquerque, in case you’re reading this and aren’t from around here], it would go a long way towards providing music for the youth who are so often overlooked.” True words.
Semifacetious Bottom Line: Someone rich needs to help us.
Actual Bottom Line: Unless someone attempts a mid-level club, the lack of venues for awesomely non-Americana/blues/R&B local bands will continue to be my complaint du jour.
Cumulative Bottom Line: Let’s make Santa Fe attractive to bands and musicians that can inspire local musicians while giving the fans a scene worth saving. Otherwise, the best talent we can hope for is iTunes DJ.
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One of the MAIN problems in Santa Fe is not only a good venue but a good STAFF especially the "bouncers" or "door staff". Usually these guys are rude, stupid ( I do mean stupid as in not knowing much and proud of it) and untrained. How many shows have you been to as a 44 year old and you are asked for ID? Yes, yes, we all know the law but does common sense have to go out the window? Yes, it does when you have an idiot at the door. So after that you walk in and try to get a drink. No staff so you go to the bar and someone who would rather not be there is there. Typical. Then add in the rest of the bickering staff who are late and you have Corazon and other failed clubs. HIGHLY trainded and motivated staff make all the difference. Oh and starting on time would be charming.