mattoafilmscore: the new luce.

government created killer nano robot infection (

mattoafilmscore) wrote,
@ 2005-11-24 19:39:00

Current mood:

turkeyed out.

the new luce.
yep. effective 01/06, only bands drawing at least 200 people per show will be allowed to play at pizza luce. trampled by turtles every weekend anyone?

anyway, this could explain all the wishy washy bullshit many have experienced while trying to secure a date for their crummy bands.

it seems scott and co. feel they're losing too much money with all these "poorly attended" shows to continue housing "just any ol' band". i guess i'm confused, see, i've been to pizza luce many times on non-show nights and the place is generally a ghost town (with the exception of a bar full of drunk musicians paying way too much for a beer in part to support one of the only places willing to give local original music a place to be heard). i know their thought is that the 'loud rock' drives away all these customers who either want to eat in silence or don't wanna pay to get in (this is what your shitty ideas create, andy olson), but in reality, i think even the crappiest of shows draw people that would otherwise be sitting at home in to a bar to spend money on drinks and food.

what a kick in the fuckin' dick.

anyway, start learning covers or playing funk, fuckers... cuz with the exception of twin ports brewing co, no other club in town books original music... well... i guess there always is the tap room.

(Post a new comment)

	gonolius 2005-11-25 02:49 am UTC (link)
	What the fucking shit. I hope you are just celebrating an early April Fools Day. Where did you get this info? This is bullshit. (Reply to this) (Thread)

mattoafilmscore
2005-11-25 03:10 am UTC (link)

uh. this info was given to me AND confirmed by about a dozen and a half luce employees, fellow musicians and record shop employees that spend 95% of their time outside of work there.

got doubts? call tomorrow and try to book a show for ANY day next year. they'll give ya nothin'.

i guess my stint judging the rock and roll kamakazi will be it for my involvement with luce.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	gonolius 2005-11-25 03:42 am UTC (link)
	I didn't want to completely doubt the info, I was just curious as to where your information comes from. As if it wasn't enough that they were ripping people off for alcohol, now they do this. How can they be losing money when the beer (sans PBR) is so fucking expensive? Ce la vie. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	averymadmouse 2005-11-26 01:37 am UTC (link)
	My friend Chad is a driver there. He said that was what the last employee meeting was about. Maybe Scott thinks cause it worked for the minniapolis restaurant it will work in duluth. I think nope. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	poorgirlcostume 2005-11-25 04:46 am UTC (link)
	sucks if completely true about luce. support superior but not our idiot mayor, TPB and Bev's have been hosting some decent shows...time for a trip across the bridge (Reply to this) (Thread)

	gonolius 2005-11-25 05:04 am UTC (link)
	Oh yeah. I'm all about TPB. Rick is a cool guy and the beer is awesome. The biggest problem with TPB is the small stage. Also, lots of Duluthians never want to make the trip to Superior... even for a band they like. Viva Superior! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	mrashley 2005-11-25 05:30 pm UTC (link)
	As long as they limit this policy to whoever they book as their "headliner" then fine. If each band on a bill needs to meet this criteria then they are indeed idiots. (Reply to this) (Thread)

mattoafilmscore
2005-11-25 10:09 pm UTC (link)

regardless, just think about it...

how many bands in duluth draw 200 people consistantly?

2? maybe 3?

the film score's last show had 165 paid and the place was packed. there are very very few bands in this town that can do that.

for the most part, this will eliminate any chance of pretty much any band we know playing there again... cuz i highly doubt the state champs or the farewell tour or the supertacks will be opening up for the turtles or low any time soon.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	warholbaby 2005-11-25 06:06 pm UTC (link)
	music is a business and not an art that should be nurtured and respected. man, we should all move to europe where they are nice to musicians. pizza luce is a disappointment. (Reply to this)

averymadmouse
2005-11-25 06:59 pm UTC (link)

Fucking Shit.

There is antoher reason why I don't want to update my gear...

Why spend all that money to sound really fucking good in a tiny basement?

Maybe we should all find another fucking bar.

Thats just bad business for them. How does a new band prove they can draw that many? With a handshake and a hearty promise!? Wow the two old fucks that don't get a pizza because of loud music really compare to all of us spending 3.50 a drink! HELLO WE ARE ALL FUCKING DRUNKS!!!!

It's just basic fucking math.

(Reply to this)

	nictoafilmscore 2005-11-26 12:20 am UTC (link)
	just the final nail in the coffin my friends. evicted from the practice space, and now this, all in 1 month. never thought i'd become a bedroom/basement musician. what does that spell...awesome. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	averymadmouse 2005-11-26 01:32 am UTC (link)
	We should practice in your bedroom! heh, That sounded way gayer then I ment it to sound. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	mattoafilmscore 2005-11-26 04:26 am UTC (link)
	hey justin, you can practice in my pants if you'd like. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	latuska 2005-11-26 03:52 pm UTC (link)
	Fuck Pizza Luce. Their food's overrated, anyway. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	(Anonymous) 2005-11-27 04:43 am UTC (link)
	now thats crazy talk.....baked tater pizza? the wrangler? overrated? i think not.... dustin (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	gonolius 2005-11-27 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	All Luce Pizza VS TPB Chili Polish Pizza (with a side of sauerkraut)... FIGHT! And winner by TKO in a record 3 seconds... The Twin Ports Brewery Chili Polish Pizza! Luce Pizza VS VIP? Versus Shamrocks Cheeseburger Pizza? Sorry Luce... you lose! Luce pizza is mediocore at best. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	lamond 2005-11-30 06:26 am UTC (link)
	Not only is the food overrated, it gives me the poops 9 out of 10 times. Also I can count on one hand, how many times our dinner order wasn't fucked up out of the hundred or so times we ate there. (Reply to this) (Parent)

Even though you could care less..
(Anonymous)
2005-11-27 03:28 pm UTC (link)

I agree with you.. I know you hated when I said that the cover was screwed up and the place is empty, but this is what happens. There is no support network for the bands. You blast me, but I try. The Tap Room said that last year to bands. The bars up here suck. Superior has a better plan with drink specials, but Duluth is retarded.

This will chap you even more, but I went to The Alrights last night and there was no cover charge at the Reef Bar. That bar could be another good venue, but they have 90% cover bands. The Tap Room takes 10 hours to get a drink if there are any people there. The Red Lion isn't what you want in a main venue and Grandmas I have heard has horrible acoustics. The other venues like Brewhouse, Sir Bens, Beaners all have folk bands. And why up here is folk so popular?

I did think Luce did something right by exposing new bands (we disagree about the price) to young people. The place is slow now though, and bars go through cycles like that. Boku Frequency was told they wouldn't play Luce again.. So a funk band might not work..

The bands get crapped on. Live music continues to shrink, but look at rock music all around. It's gone, it's underground..

Now rip away, but remember I am agreeing with you. Even though you beat the shit out of what I write I still am here to help out. Without assholes like us it would be all coverbands and folk moshpitters... basically all John Mayer pussies.

AO

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Even though you could care less..

gonolius
2005-11-27 09:45 pm UTC (link)

Firstly... I really don't want this to turn into another 100 comment post ripping on you, but seriously... I am having a very hard time decyphering half, if not 75%, of what you posted. Maybe it was my low score in english on my ACT, but I just cannot read most of it (e.g.: "And why up here is folk so popular?").

Secondly... the bands should be each others support network, but it will never work because so many bands (and people) are "cliqueish". Ergo, the bands in said cliques help each other out.

Thirdly... I don't think Luce told Boku they couldn't play there anymore because they were a funk band, I am sure it's because of their "manager". It's one thing to talk to her or interview her, it's another thing to have to deal with her to set up shows. I'd rather run an ice pick up my urethra.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Even though you could care less..
(Anonymous)
2005-11-28 07:53 pm UTC (link)

I was blunt in my style, but I get so much crap that I can't say too much.

Boku was double-booked at the Red Lion and Luce.. They chose to play the Red Lion and Mark told them they could never play luce again. I could have written about it, but let it go. This was a few weeks ago, I think Halloween.

The ego thing with bands up here is not something specific to the area. Every town has lots of bands who fight for every show and never help each other out. I used to manage Velveteen, who are now Sunshine Behavior. They had no shows so I asked The Alrights if they would let SB open for them in St. Cloud. This would bring tons of people to the show as SB had lots of local fans from their Velveteen days. So SB opened and when they were finished they wanted to take their crowd with them and go to another bar. This pissed me off and the Alrights because after they left the place was empty. I asked Jimmy from SB why they would leave and not try to form a relationship with The Alrights for later shows and he blew it off as no biggie. It was a biggie cuz now SB has no shows and The Alrights will think twice before having them open again. This is one story, but on so many levels it gets repeated all the time.

When a band finally makes good with another one it helps out a lot. That's Probably why up here I see Farewell Tour, Cars & Trucks, Portrait, and other bands all playing together. You guys are friends, but why not join with The Alrights, Boku, or other genres? Sure Val is Val, and the Alrights are whatever, but it is important to support other local bands.

And Mat, I do believe bars should pay the bands. When Luce charged $5 for your shows they overcharged and this is the result (Now Mat will blow his top and just write about that). Having live music and being successful is tough. Look at how many people go to Old Chicago and the other corporate feedlots. Had Luce' charged $3 they would have had more people OR NOT? You say it is because people are cheap, but they are. Look at how many people download music today for free, you can piss and moan about it or figure out another way to survive. Like I said a long time ago, if someone sees a $5 cover and have never heard of the band they are less likely to go in.. If no one is inside the place than they are even less likely. I never said there should be no cover charge, just LESS ..... And maybe I am wrong about that, it was just an idea.

Also ... The Reef Bar and The Tap Room are locally owned, non-conglomerates.. They should be the bars people support around here. People should write to the managers and owners and try to build up those venues. Luce' screwed you, a typical Uptown bar thing to do. Boycott them, I would.. Saying that now you won't, but ever since I have moved here I have wondered what the big deal is with that bar? I assumed it was location, TBT, college kids.. I thought the Tap Room had much better acoustics and setup.. It also can hold more people and not send them outside to smoke.

A good cover charge to me is $2-$3 dollars. A good price for a local band's CD is about $5. I still believe a candybar or soda should be $.50 and a CD from the store should be close to $10. I think a gallon of gas should be under $2 and a pack of smokes should be $3.. Anything above that I think sucks.

I do support what you guys do. I pay most nights I go out, which is every singe weekend. If you look at the Reader you might notice that Luce never advertises their shows. Sure the Reader puts in what bands are playing, but Luce is the only local venue that never has purchased an ad. The only way the Reader talks about a show at Luce' is if I go and watch a band play there.. And usually with Luce' I have to pay for my entry.. I then spend hours writing about the band, all for free. What do they do for the local music community (Scene)? How much do they pay you to play there?

Anyway, tear away... Just my often misunderstood, poorly written comments for your own viewing. I told you our days are numbered...

AO

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Even though you could care less..

mattoafilmscore
2005-11-28 08:08 pm UTC (link)

why don't we play with bands like boku or the alrights? because i think those bands are, uh, well... they're not bands i enjoy or have a ton of respect for and i do my best to play with bands i like and respect. not to mention the fact that those bands' audiences would be slackjawed and retarded watching us play. i've been forced to endure that shit before.

as for boku getting banned for giving luce the shaft... well fuckin' duh. that's what happens. you do that at any bar or club and you're going to get 86'd from playing there. what would you have written about it? "boku and their 'manager' totally fucked the dog and left a club hanging so they got 86'd". not really news. not really mark's fault. definately boku's fault.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: Even though you could care less..

gonolius
2005-11-28 09:26 pm UTC (link)

I also think that there should be world peace, and everyone should love everyone!

Honestly though... I do not believe in god... I believe in scientific facts. Ergo, I want some sort of proof that shows that having a show at $3 instead of $5 will draw more random people to see a band they have never heard of before. Do you have anything like this?

People do not care about local music. Period. Especially business owners... Scott at Luce has shown this. And I am talking about local ORIGINAL music, not just some lameo band paid hundreds of dollars to keep mindless college douchebag budlight drunken shitbags dancing with the skinnyass long blond hair bigtitted annoying women and buying overpriced drinks they'll end up spilling anyway.

I am sure Cars & Trucks, Farewell Tour, The State Champs, Both, Sloe Loris (etc etc) could all play The Tap Room... but what kind of response would we get? Mindless staring and booing? Probably. Stuff thrown at us? More than likely. Just because we don't play something thats "dancy" enough for people.

Now we're just getting back into the whole "entertainment" in original music thing.

"Luce' screwed you, a typical Uptown bar thing to do." How do you know this is what bars in the area do? How long have you been here?

"And usually with Luce' I have to pay for my entry.." GASP!! OH NO! You have to PAY to get into a show! How DARE they make you pay.

The big deal with Luce is it's perfect for the hipster / scenester. They don't have to deal with most of the typical college doucebags you see at the Tap Room.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: Even though you could care less..

mattoafilmscore
2005-11-28 02:15 pm UTC (link)

jesus christ, olson...

you just don't fuckin' get it, do ya? unfortunately, people like you become the voice of the music community because you have a weekly public forum discussing it. when people like you write articles about bands and clubs charging too much, you're planting the idea in peoples' heads that they shouldn't have to pay to see local music... or that they shouldn't have to pay much. if just 5% of the morons that read the reader were actually stupid enough to agree with you, that could do enough damage to cause places like pizza luce to 86 their live music.

while i won't give you enough credit to say the blood's on your hands, i will say that you're a contributor to what pretty much is the final nail in the coffin of duluth original music.

the main culprit is pizza luce's greed and stupidity. two things that will no doubt turn around to bite them in the ass when they realize the shows they housed actually got people in to a place that would otherwise be empty.

i agree with justin, local musicians; sound guys... anyone that was "employed" by these shows should stop going to luce. i really don't think scott realizes how much business is made up from the local artists that basically go there to support a business that supports them.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Final Nail? mrashley 2005-11-28 04:50 pm UTC (link)
	I've been through more than one "final nail" in this music scene. True, I am nowhere near as active as I once was, but I don't think the situation is any worse (or better) then in the past. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Final Nail? mattoafilmscore 2005-11-28 07:35 pm UTC (link)
	honestly though, even through the "tough" years, there was always a few places to play... all there really is right now is the TPB, and as cool as that place is, it's not really a reliable place for shows. (Reply to this) (Parent)

averymadmouse
2005-11-28 05:51 pm UTC (link)

I have been thinink about this a lot. It really grates on me. On the one hand, Luce is a restaurant and I guess they never really had to have live music in the first place. But then on the other hand I don't think they realize the massive insult this kind of policy impliments. It is the equivilent of saying, "thanks guys, but unless you can make us shit tons of money you fucking suck and you music is worthless."
I know thats not the case but god damn it I am pissed off and thats what it feels like.
I want to say lets organize a fucking boycott, but I thing that would really finalize some things and definantly burn some bridges. But if we keep going there then nothing will change.
If Luce were going under that would be one thing, but that is not the case. A decision like this is the differce between being a patron to the arts and being greedy...

Think about it, Green Mill, Old Chicago, Sammys, Grandmas Sports Garden and Luce all within a mile, if Luce doesnt have the drive to stand out then why bother.

So untill Luce can grow some balls and be something that this town needs (instead of just another pizza place) I really have no choice but to stop spending money there.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

gonolius
2005-11-28 07:18 pm UTC (link)

The idea of a boycott is good in theory, but will never work. The regulars will still go there... and no matter what people will still attend shows there. Look at all the hippies and the scensters you see there EVERY DAY... you think they would stop patronizing Luce because of this? Doubtful.

I do, however, like the idea of plastering flyers everywhere. How about a headline of: "Pizza Luce hates local music" - Kanye West

Has a nice ring to it don't you think? Throw some other propaganda on there on how they are trying to shaft local musicians / bands and why people should not patronize the place. Well, then again it's not really propaganda if it's true... right?

I like your "thanks guys, but unless you can make us shit tons of money you fucking suck and your music is worthless" comment... it seems to fit. To me, I am sure Scott doesn't give a damn about local music anyway, so what should he care?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	mattoafilmscore 2005-11-28 07:40 pm UTC (link)
	scott doesn't care. the decisions and stipulations make that pretty apparent. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	mattoafilmscore 2005-11-28 07:39 pm UTC (link)
	yeah. me too. (Reply to this) (Parent)

no surprise.

desolationyes17
2005-11-29 02:27 am UTC (link)

It really sucks, but I saw it coming in a way.
Pizza Luce is a growing corporation. They saw a window to make more money and jumped through it. In truth they've never truly been about supporting the music scene, only themselves.
I understand from a business point of view that a business has to make money. That is why it makes sense to have acts that bring in more business. I just hope they made a decision like this to help ends meet and not to be greedy.

(Reply to this)

Luce
(Anonymous)
2006-01-03 06:55 pm UTC (link)

The first few months of Luce were great. I went in, I got free drinks I got free food. They booked all the bands the got the drunks drunk and took over the music scene in Duluth. They did what the set out to do. Luce is the worst neighbor any bar, or resturant could ever have because they could care less about you and your business. So now they are the only place left, they raised prices and now the very people that they used to put them on the map are getting the boot. Where's the money? Not with the 20 to 30 something band croud. So it's on to the next money maker my friends. Too bad so sad for the bands of Duluth. I care about Duluth music, I chose never to play Luce because of what they stand for. I saw the writing on the wall a long time ago. I refuse to support a business that clearly cares about only one thing.... themselves. Pizza Luce is nothing but a Pizza Joint, it's not a rock club. Duluth needs good neighbors not corporate snobs. Aaron

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Any musicians willing to talk about this on the record?
(Anonymous)
2006-01-04 07:40 pm UTC (link)

Sarah Henning here from the Duluth News Tribune. I called Scott and got his side of the story on the record this afternoon. I'm interested in writing a short story for the DNT on Luce's shifting entertainment options. I can only present a balanced report if some musicians and/or employees are willing to comment on the record. I don't write one-source stories.

If I don't get any response by Friday morning, I likely won't write anything, as I leave Friday afternoon for a two-week writers' conference and by the time I return, this story will be old news.

Contact me if you're interested. My e-mail is shenning@duluthnews.com and my phone number is 279-5536.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

The Pixy-winged Rock & Roll Fairy
(Anonymous)
2006-01-04 09:43 pm UTC (link)

Spring. I promise. Maybe earlier.

On the flip side, can we get a little less tawk and a little more rawk here? Really. Putting together a one-night show *anywhere* is by no means rocket surgery. To be a little more explicit, "DO" and "YOURSELF" are two of the more important words in DIY.

it seems rather ridiculous to me, as a band, to expect a venue (be they pizza parlor or pawn shop or penni purveyors) to do your work for you. Though, from my personal experience, this is apparently the expected norm. Make me posters. Advertise my show. Send out my press releases. Coordinate my sound. And pay me. There is a word for this and this word is called "lazy."

There are many, many buildings in this town that can hold ~100+ people. Just because they don't have some dude out front wearing a name tag that says "booker," doesn't mean they're out of bounds.

CONTACT OWNER
SECURE VENUE DATE
* door cover ($ for door till)
* ID checker/cover taker
SOUND
PROMO
* posters
* press releases
RAWK

That's it. There's smaller details, but this shit isn't that hard, kids. Example:

:::Mama's Bar Hoedown:::
Rent = $0
Posters = < $20
Ad = $60
Door Person = $25
Sound = $0 (bands taking care of their own sound--prices may vary)
COSTS: $105
Bands = [Profit - Costs] / # of bands

And I could have cut out the ad and done the door myself and cut the costs by 80% (and hired sound and increased my original total by maybe x2). It was in Superior. There were maybe only 150 people. It wasn't the bestest or the rawkinest or the überest. But, bands played, people seemed to have an ok time, and I received a phone call from Mama the following Monday thanking me for the show and commenting on how *nice* everyone was. Total work time for me was under 6 hours.

And just one more thing: FYI, talking like a bitch:

"Why don't we play with bands like boku or the alrights? because i think those bands are, uh, well... they're not bands i enjoy or have a ton of respect for and i do my best to play with bands i like and respect. Not to mention the fact that those bands' audiences would be slackjawed and retarded watching us play. I've been forced to endure that shit before."
--mattoafilmscore

is one of the greatest ways to get yourself put to the bottom of any booker's list. Just an FYI.

Most people don't get terribly excited about lack of respect or slackjawed retards--who, coincidentally, are frequently referred to as "customers" and "fans." (Correct me if I'm wrong, but fans of the Alrights and fans of Boku Frequency were just referred to as retarded slackjaws? Nice.) I know I personally like to work with people that are nice and easy to get along with and friendly and are trying to do hard work themselves. FYI.

In conclusion, woe to the venueless band, thine time of hardship and duress shall soon be neigh, as the pixy-winged rock & roll fairy descends from the heavens to sprinkle venue dust across the land with glittering stages and competent sound persons and cover charges not-too-low and not-too-high and audiences not too slackjawed and free booze tickets for all. Picking up instruments one-by-one, the pixy-winged rock & roll fairy shall play them; freeing all from their bondage of independent musicianship, yet creating exactly the correct and most harmonious tones as to please even thine most fickle. The pixy-winged rock & roll fairy shall become the band. The pixy-winged rock & roll fairy shall become all bands. The alpha, the omega and that devil rock sign one makes with their hand. Freed from the shackles of self-promotion and the devilish tasks of creating opportunities and venues for thine own art, all shall be free--finally free--to blog full time.

Spring. I promise.

|adam|

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: The Pixy-winged Rock & Roll Fairy

mattoafilmscore
2006-01-04 11:20 pm UTC (link)

uh. wow.... so why the fuck is this thread getting all this attention now?... over a month after it was posted:

sarah: i've talked to scott on the phone regarding this issue... to me it's dead. no article needed.

adam:

1. who the fuck would preform surgery on a rocket?

2. who is talking about people expecting the venue to do the work for them? i don't know anyone that expects the venues to do anything for them besides house a show. the rare few that actually do expect things handed to them on a silver platter deserve nothing. no one that posts here fall in to that catagory.

3. re: "There are many, many buildings in this town that can hold ~100+ people" man. feel free to let all of us lazy, whiny musicians know where all these places are, cuz i sure as fuck don't know of many...

4. ... and oh, the personal jab! oh no! it's killing me!!!! i must stop speaking my mind! i must kiss every ass there is to be kissed! i must be a phoney that blows smoke up the asses of crappy cover bands and maroon 5 knock offs! suck a cock, you fuck. spoken like a true know-it-all scenester that's never been forced to play in front of a bunch of drunk SLACKJAWED RETARDS that give you the finger and shout out "Freebird" because you're not playing music they can shake their asses too. what i said has nothing to do with being "nice", "friendly" or "easy to get along with". the statement was made in response to being asked why we don't play with bands like that. i guess being honest makes me a cocksucker... i guess we'll never be asked to play the crazy train. bummer.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: The Pixy-winged Rock & Roll Fairy gonolius 2006-01-05 02:29 am UTC (link)
	Dude, didn't you know you were supposed to start working part-time to work on setting up shows all by yourself in your spare time? Didn't you get the memo? And you need to look around, there are thousands of places that would -love- to have loud rock shows with 200 people milling about. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Nels the Baller (Anonymous) 2006-01-05 07:07 am UTC (link)
	I have to give credit where credit is due: Scott Nelson is a fat, smelly, greedy shit-bag, but he can play some basketball. (Reply to this)

	Lets all go somewhere else (Anonymous) 2006-05-31 11:18 pm UTC (link)
	i'm just not going to go there. I'll order pizza hut and have shows in my basement. Thoese fucks. (Reply to this)

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