Friday, June 20, 2008
goodnight to the dame
This weekend sees the closing of Lexington's most popular live music venue, The Dame. I'm beginning to feel a bit cursed in that every bar I love, eventually closes. First it was High On Rose, then Kitty O'Shea's, and now the Dame. If the owners of Shamrock's are reading this, they may want to start worrying.
The Dame was a great club. Since it's opening 5 years ago I got to see a lot of great bands on their stage.
I saw Sunday Valley play there more times than I can count. I got to see them play their final show, get back together for a while, then play another final show. You don't get to say goodbye to many bands twice.
I saw Old Crow Medicine Show at the Dame. It was so crowded that night that I wanted to punch people. Most nights the people who weren't at the Dame to see a show would at least stand in the back and talk. That particular night the talkers stood in the front, scattered throughout the people there for the music. It was infuriating.
I saw Caitlin Carey (formerly of Whiskeytown)play there the night Sara and I admitted that we liked each other.
I saw Chris Whitley play the Dame before he died. Dirty and I were the only two people in the club that night who weren't either college professors or lesbians. We contemplated running out and buying tweed coats with elbow patches so we'd fit in.
I saw Frank Black. What a great night that was. I had dinner out on the sidewalk at the Thai place across the street from the Dame with ET and Vlad, then got in line for the show. It's a really vivid memory for some reason.
I saw Over The Rhine there with Sara a couple of times. For one show the staff had set up tables on the dance floor. It was a nice touch and a nice change from the usual standing-shoulder-to-shoulder stuff.
I saw the Avett Brothers play there last summer. That was a dream come true - to see my favorite band play in a little local bar. It was the best Avett Brother's concert I've ever been to.
I even got to see Charley The Intern and his band Pistol Report play there. I'm glad that got to happen before the place closed.
I saw lots of other little bands and local acts. I'm sure I'm also forgetting some really awesome show that I should remember. My biggest regret is not getting to see Arcade Fire when they played back in 2004.
With the exception of the Frank Black show, I was always at the Dame with people that I loved, so all my memories of great music are accompanied by memories of me and my friends having fun together (and at least one memory of Dirty vandalizing a car).
I hear stories that the Dame is going to relocate. I hope they do and I hope they achieve success they never dreamed of in their old location. If they move, I'll happily attend shows wherever they end up settling. In the meantime, though, I mourn their loss, however long it last.
Goodnight Dame.
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The Dame was a great club. Since it's opening 5 years ago I got to see a lot of great bands on their stage.
I saw Sunday Valley play there more times than I can count. I got to see them play their final show, get back together for a while, then play another final show. You don't get to say goodbye to many bands twice.
I saw Old Crow Medicine Show at the Dame. It was so crowded that night that I wanted to punch people. Most nights the people who weren't at the Dame to see a show would at least stand in the back and talk. That particular night the talkers stood in the front, scattered throughout the people there for the music. It was infuriating.
I saw Caitlin Carey (formerly of Whiskeytown)play there the night Sara and I admitted that we liked each other.
I saw Chris Whitley play the Dame before he died. Dirty and I were the only two people in the club that night who weren't either college professors or lesbians. We contemplated running out and buying tweed coats with elbow patches so we'd fit in.
I saw Frank Black. What a great night that was. I had dinner out on the sidewalk at the Thai place across the street from the Dame with ET and Vlad, then got in line for the show. It's a really vivid memory for some reason.
I saw Over The Rhine there with Sara a couple of times. For one show the staff had set up tables on the dance floor. It was a nice touch and a nice change from the usual standing-shoulder-to-shoulder stuff.
I saw the Avett Brothers play there last summer. That was a dream come true - to see my favorite band play in a little local bar. It was the best Avett Brother's concert I've ever been to.
I even got to see Charley The Intern and his band Pistol Report play there. I'm glad that got to happen before the place closed.
I saw lots of other little bands and local acts. I'm sure I'm also forgetting some really awesome show that I should remember. My biggest regret is not getting to see Arcade Fire when they played back in 2004.
With the exception of the Frank Black show, I was always at the Dame with people that I loved, so all my memories of great music are accompanied by memories of me and my friends having fun together (and at least one memory of Dirty vandalizing a car).
I hear stories that the Dame is going to relocate. I hope they do and I hope they achieve success they never dreamed of in their old location. If they move, I'll happily attend shows wherever they end up settling. In the meantime, though, I mourn their loss, however long it last.
Goodnight Dame.
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