I have lots of great news and such to post, but right now I'd just like to announce that I've finally gotten the gumption to start the Youtube channel. Until now I've only used it in order to see videos you have to sign in to see. But having recently reformatting my camera, I can now shoot videos and will be experimenting with various aspects of it and expect to have a lot of short interviews, shows, segments pertaining to Louisville music and whatnot. So, here is the first one. The test run. This particular post is also an experiment. As in, whether or not I can figure out how to actually post it here. I realize that this and other posts sound really far fetched. As if there couldn't possibly be anyone out there ignorant enough not to know how to do this kind of stuff, simple as it is and all. But I assure you, dear non existent reader, there is. There is! He is me. Alas.
Anyway, here goes:
Wow. Blow me down. It seems to have worked. Surely my computer will crash now.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Sunday, August 21, 2011
One of these days
Maybe I'll actually clean this page up and give it another try. Phil Olympia just started one awhile back that is inspiring, but I'm lazy and he is not. Check it out here http://never-nervous.blogspot.com/
So far, it is an excellent resource for Louisville music and I look forward to using it. Props dude.
Now if only I were half as motivated...... maybe one of these days.
So far, it is an excellent resource for Louisville music and I look forward to using it. Props dude.
Now if only I were half as motivated...... maybe one of these days.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
First, to follow up on the Skull Alley situation, the last show has been booked for December 31st. At that time, the venue will have been open for two years and seven months. A pretty good run. Jamie is remaining positive about it and looking forward to the next stage of life, when he can finally do some things he may not have other wise been able to do. Good luck, and all that. Thanks dude. You're one of the good ones. Looking forward to seeing what you do next.
Now, on to the previously mentioned technical difficulties: Still not figured out, as now we seem to only have internet about once a week. Go figure. Anyway, I've been focusing on writing for awhile now, so it doesn't really loom that large in my mind at the moment. I mean, for a blog that no one sees and even fewer care about, what's the difference anyway? Right? Right.
Now, on to the previously mentioned technical difficulties: Still not figured out, as now we seem to only have internet about once a week. Go figure. Anyway, I've been focusing on writing for awhile now, so it doesn't really loom that large in my mind at the moment. I mean, for a blog that no one sees and even fewer care about, what's the difference anyway? Right? Right.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Skull Alley to close in the near future
Rumors had been circulating about this for weeks now but there was no real solid facts to go by. So, I finally just asked. A few people responded with bits and pieces of information, which is all I had to begin with. Finally, Jamie responded and now we know the scoop. So, straight from his own mouth, here you go:
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skull alley is not closing. well, not yet anyway.
most of what people have said above is true. Basically, the fire marshall told me to move the printshop out back in May/June (cant remember directly) because of a coding violation. If you use a space for "assembly use" you cannot use basements below the assembly area for anything including storage. So yeah, printshop essentially died back then and I lost 40% of my income overnight. I was able to kind of put out easy one color shirts with a mobile set up that I kept down there, but that's gone now too. I tried to negotiate a lower rent agreement with the landlord (since it was his fault as bryan said above) but he refused to do anything unless I signed a two year lease extension (why i'd sign a two year lease when i just got my legs cut out from me is beyond me).
Around the same time turnout went from okay to absolutely horrid. Bands that used to draw 30-40 were now drawing 10 and bands that used to draw 100 were now drawing 30-50. I dont know if it was the economy bottoming out, too much competition, or what but fewer people through the doors = much much less $$ in beer/soft drink sales which was the other main source of income. Also factor in Zanzabar becoming the new hot spot for shows and suddenly I was losing the bigger indie shows that would bring in the real drinking crowds.
Those three things combined cut my overall gross to 1/4 of what is was in the spring when things were looking really, really good. I owedback taxes from when my "partner" disappeared and I lacked the cashflow to pay the sales tax ... in the spring I was doing really well and paying it all back at a rate that would have it taken care of well before I needed to renew the beer license (you can't renew if you owe any taxes), but with the money dried up the beer license is kaput.
So yeah, beer license is done this week, and I'm meeting with a lawyer asap to figure out the realistic end date. yeah a "save skull alley" kind of benefit campaign would delay this, but honestly every six months or so throughout the entire business something crazy and out of my control has happened and just made me have to work harder to keep it going. I've been going 60+ hours a week for almost three years straight and I just don't have the energy left. It's a great space, but the overhead is high and the general support/interest in the project is fickle at best. Overall, it's just not sustainable and I'm ready to move on with my life and starting working off the $30,000 in debt the place has created for me.
most of what people have said above is true. Basically, the fire marshall told me to move the printshop out back in May/June (cant remember directly) because of a coding violation. If you use a space for "assembly use" you cannot use basements below the assembly area for anything including storage. So yeah, printshop essentially died back then and I lost 40% of my income overnight. I was able to kind of put out easy one color shirts with a mobile set up that I kept down there, but that's gone now too. I tried to negotiate a lower rent agreement with the landlord (since it was his fault as bryan said above) but he refused to do anything unless I signed a two year lease extension (why i'd sign a two year lease when i just got my legs cut out from me is beyond me).
Around the same time turnout went from okay to absolutely horrid. Bands that used to draw 30-40 were now drawing 10 and bands that used to draw 100 were now drawing 30-50. I dont know if it was the economy bottoming out, too much competition, or what but fewer people through the doors = much much less $$ in beer/soft drink sales which was the other main source of income. Also factor in Zanzabar becoming the new hot spot for shows and suddenly I was losing the bigger indie shows that would bring in the real drinking crowds.
Those three things combined cut my overall gross to 1/4 of what is was in the spring when things were looking really, really good. I owedback taxes from when my "partner" disappeared and I lacked the cashflow to pay the sales tax ... in the spring I was doing really well and paying it all back at a rate that would have it taken care of well before I needed to renew the beer license (you can't renew if you owe any taxes), but with the money dried up the beer license is kaput.
So yeah, beer license is done this week, and I'm meeting with a lawyer asap to figure out the realistic end date. yeah a "save skull alley" kind of benefit campaign would delay this, but honestly every six months or so throughout the entire business something crazy and out of my control has happened and just made me have to work harder to keep it going. I've been going 60+ hours a week for almost three years straight and I just don't have the energy left. It's a great space, but the overhead is high and the general support/interest in the project is fickle at best. Overall, it's just not sustainable and I'm ready to move on with my life and starting working off the $30,000 in debt the place has created for me.
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This was followed with a lot of people saying they wanted to do benefits and such to help Jamie defray his debt, which of course is admirable. I think that some of them missed the point however and took it as a question of 'how do we keep it open?' instead of seeing it for what it is, which is 'it's over'. Jamie's latest response is this"
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Obviously this is a huge deal not just for myself but for the community I spent a lot of time and energy trying to help grow with the space. My entire aim with the space was to provide a hub for DIY-oriented culture to thrive but as with any lofty ideal I've spent the majority of the last two and a half years just trying to keep the doors open. In the wake of Skull Alley closing, I'd love to see a conversation about how to use its closure as momentum to keep the ball rolling and not see the community fade into another dark ages that always tends to follow a venue closure.
To respond to evenmoregeneric's comment on the controversial louisville thread, I can't agree more. I vowed when I opened that I would NOT turn into another Brycc House. If I need to do constant benefits and donation drives just to keep the doors open, then it's obvious it's not sustainable and I'd rather end on a high note than watch it fade away. Had I gone the non-profit route that'd be a different story, but of course that would've made the place have an entirely different feeling and vibe than what ended up happening.
That said, I do really appreciate all the talk of benefits to cut into the debt. I will never ask anyone to do that, but if someone else wants to put it together I'm certainly not going to complain. I'll probably set up a paypal donate button on the site soon and make some new shirt designs to sell as a fundraiser. Also if anyone wants a city of louisville sticker, i've got about 1,500 left.
Someone mentioned the kickstarter money, sean I think. The first two 7"'s are at the plant now and that will pretty much wipe out that fund (it's been kept in a separate account the entire time and not used for Skull Alley overhead at all). I'd much rather see the series come out now (and after the place closes) to serve as a document than to have used the money just to pay the rent for 1 more month. I'd like to see some of a last shows be recorded in order to be added to the series since I think we've only got 6 shows recorded at this point. It sucks that all this stuff with the fire marshall/etc started right as this 7" project was about to launch and forced me to spend my time with damage control. I really wanted most of the first 6 to be out by now.
Keith, your shirts were the last I was able to print before I absolutely had to stop. After the place closes my plan is to rent a small space just to screenprint. I'd love help getting customers back at that point, but before then I just can't swing it anymore.
Ummm, i think i covered most comments. Oh yeah, house shows are awesome but I'd caution against people relying too heavily on them ... they can end abruptly and tend to gravitate towards exclusion as a smaller and smaller group of people become privy to their happenings.
To respond to evenmoregeneric's comment on the controversial louisville thread, I can't agree more. I vowed when I opened that I would NOT turn into another Brycc House. If I need to do constant benefits and donation drives just to keep the doors open, then it's obvious it's not sustainable and I'd rather end on a high note than watch it fade away. Had I gone the non-profit route that'd be a different story, but of course that would've made the place have an entirely different feeling and vibe than what ended up happening.
That said, I do really appreciate all the talk of benefits to cut into the debt. I will never ask anyone to do that, but if someone else wants to put it together I'm certainly not going to complain. I'll probably set up a paypal donate button on the site soon and make some new shirt designs to sell as a fundraiser. Also if anyone wants a city of louisville sticker, i've got about 1,500 left.
Someone mentioned the kickstarter money, sean I think. The first two 7"'s are at the plant now and that will pretty much wipe out that fund (it's been kept in a separate account the entire time and not used for Skull Alley overhead at all). I'd much rather see the series come out now (and after the place closes) to serve as a document than to have used the money just to pay the rent for 1 more month. I'd like to see some of a last shows be recorded in order to be added to the series since I think we've only got 6 shows recorded at this point. It sucks that all this stuff with the fire marshall/etc started right as this 7" project was about to launch and forced me to spend my time with damage control. I really wanted most of the first 6 to be out by now.
Keith, your shirts were the last I was able to print before I absolutely had to stop. After the place closes my plan is to rent a small space just to screenprint. I'd love help getting customers back at that point, but before then I just can't swing it anymore.
Ummm, i think i covered most comments. Oh yeah, house shows are awesome but I'd caution against people relying too heavily on them ... they can end abruptly and tend to gravitate towards exclusion as a smaller and smaller group of people become privy to their happenings.
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So. There's that.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Ongoing tales of technological incompetence
After about an hour of tinkering last night, I finally figured out how to list pertinent links divided into groups such as 'Active Louisville Labels' and 'Louisville Lip Bands'. Or so I thought. After setting up the categories and listing a couple of initial links, I clicked on them and they worked. So far so good. Now when I come back to the page and click the links, what do you know - they don't work. Of course. Back to the drawing board, or the keyboard rather. Did I mention that I'm a Luddite? I think that's putting it too mildly.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Durrrrrrrrrr!
Through a system of trial and error (mostly error) I am slowly figuring out how to set this page up. It is somewhat disconcerting to me that pretty much any modern day 12 year old could have set the whole thing up in about 5 minutes and have done a better job of it than I could or will in about a years time of tinkering and doddering. Then again, I'm usually the first to point out that I am for all intents and purposes, a Luddite. Anything I manage to actually figure out here is surely no credit to me, but rather an accident born of about 39 previous failed attempts. Nothing new there.
The two items I am struggling with at the moment are how to have a list of links that will take the reader to other pages which are related to the label, or in general, to pages which should bear some significance for anyone interested in the musical heritage of our fine city and how to continue to post pictures. On the first, I have found the templates for the task but am apparently operating them incorrectly. Try, try again! On the second, it seems that you must purchase additional storage space. Funny. There was no mention of that little factoid at the beginning. Again, nothing new there either.
And so on.
The two items I am struggling with at the moment are how to have a list of links that will take the reader to other pages which are related to the label, or in general, to pages which should bear some significance for anyone interested in the musical heritage of our fine city and how to continue to post pictures. On the first, I have found the templates for the task but am apparently operating them incorrectly. Try, try again! On the second, it seems that you must purchase additional storage space. Funny. There was no mention of that little factoid at the beginning. Again, nothing new there either.
And so on.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Bill Terry aka MONTAG in the studio
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| The man, BILL TERRY, getting ready to record his Kinghorse cover "What Am I Supposed to Do?" |
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| Bill's instruments of choice for the track: A toy trumpet, a depleted roll of paper towels and a mostly empty box of Cheez-its. The Fosters 'oil can' was the masters drink of choice that evening. |
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