What town in Ohio is best for gigging?

[MEKer]

For everyone currently in Ohio Bassists Club------what town/city actually has the most music happening? Columbus cuz of the University scene, Cinci?? Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton?

[sonic assassin]

cincinnati has fallen apart. all the good local clubs have closed. all thats left are the big wigs, and you have to be someone to get into them.

i can supply a list of places that are still around if you're interested.

[nysbob]

I don't know that Cinci has fallen apart. I think it's a strong and diverse music town, especially compared to most of the midwest.

[Mutato]

They type of music you are looking to play might help someone make a recommendation.

[JazzBassMayn]

Toledo isn't really that bad... for a cover band. Original bands are under appreciated and don't get much recognition. But being that I'm in a cover band... it's not so bad. I was in an original band a few years ago and we played a bit, but found Columbus to be more receptive.

[sonic assassin]

Originally Posted by nysbob

I don't know that Cinci has fallen apart. I think it's a strong and diverse music town, especially compared to most of the midwest.

poison room - closed.
sudsys - closed.
top cats - closed.
underground - only taking national christian acts.
blue note - bad management.
play by play - impossible to get in unless your name is langus.
annies - good if you can get in and meet their ticket quota
mad hatter - good place.
bogarts - hole in the wall but if you're big enough to get in, great.

thats all the clubs i can think of off the top of my head.. and most of them suck or have closed.

there are a lot of really cool bands in cincinnati. a lot of really weird ones too. the problem is the club scene. and inherently, most cincinnati people are just mean. in leaving here to go to school and coming back, ive learned that all most cincy folks ever want to do is fight.

ive also found in the last 3 years of playing this place that the band camaraderie is dead. people treat each other like **** around here for no reason.

[MEKer]

Thanks for the replies. Too bad about Cinci--sounds like lots of other places now.
Whats happening in Columbus, anyone know?
I actually am an Ohio boy but hqave been long gone. However, am moving back for several reasons (Findlay) now I am retired military. So am looking around to see where to go since Findlay by itself has no music scene to speak of. I know Bowling Green has the university, Toledo is close. Thats all I know.

[JohnnyPustular]

Michigan still rocks and its only one state away!

[fitz420]

3 suggestions.
i play frequently at:

The lazy chameleon - columbus
The frog bear & wild boar - columbus
The blind pig - cleveland

all decent paying with decent built in crowd

[DistantTremor]

What do you guys think of Cleveland for Metal, and for Jazz?

[nysbob]

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

"snip"

OK, you named some places that closed - how about Stanleys, RP McMurphys, the Blue Note, Allyns, Southgate, Jaspers, all the suburban joints, etc etc.

You seem to have had some negative experiences, which is unfortunate. I gig regularly & haven't seen a legitimate bar fight in several years - I guess I'm hanging in the wrong (or right) places.

[Eminor3rd]

Columbus Jazz? Dick's Den. Campus is great for cover bands, jam bands, and some alterna-pop. Cleveland, though not what it used to be, is the post-punk/emo/hardcore scene.

[Craig_S]

What about Port Clinton, Medina, Holland, or Point Place?

Sorry, I was born in Toledo. Another turd town...

[sonic assassin]

Originally Posted by nysbob

OK, you named some places that closed - how about Stanleys, RP McMurphys, the Blue Note, Allyns, Southgate, Jaspers, all the suburban joints, etc etc.

You seem to have had some negative experiences, which is unfortunate. I gig regularly & haven't seen a legitimate bar fight in several years - I guess I'm hanging in the wrong (or right) places.

i mentioned the blue note. we were supposed to play there next week, but they wanted 1000 dollars in presale tickets from 4 bands before we even got in the door. ridiculous. as if they werent going to make enough on drinks. and then they were going to try to stiff us on payment.

ive actually never been to the southgate house, and i forgot about it, so you got me there. ive never heard of the rest. are those rock joints? and where are they located?

its not so much barfights, its just typical cincinnati people are cynical and mean. myself included. we're a hard bunch to understand. and it seems all the bands and all the promoters are just ****th people.

theres no reason to play with a band, be totally cool with them, even help them set up and/or sound check, and then they talk **** about you.

and theres no reason for promoters to just do the shady promoter things they do. this place seems to be full of nothing BUT those people. bleh. im really down on this town as of late. i went away to college for a year, come back and its no better. the only difference is that all the good clubs are gone.

[gweimer]

I played in Cincinnati for a few years before coming up to Columbus. Sorry, but I have to agree with Bob. Cincinnati was a fun place to play, even in the indie scene, where there was no money. Southgate House was by far my favorite place, and nobody has mentioned Jefferson Hall yet. They abandoned Main St. for Newport on the Levee, but they seem to be going pretty strong. Lots of little places on the perimeter of Cincinnati to play - Rhino's Live, Putters, Rick's Tavern. And I never saw a bar fight in either the little joints I played covers in, or the original venues.

As far as Columbus goes, it's a lot of the same. There are tons of little joints that still like to run live bands. The money is fair, the crowds average, but you can book every week-end without a lot of trouble. We've got places like Carabar, Oldfield's on High, The Thirsty Whale, Whiskey Dick's, Skully's, and a lot of smaller rooms. We're going into a local place in February that I'm looking forward to. It's Peddler's Lounge in Grove City - nestled in the middle of 6 motels, it almost always has a good crowd.

[nysbob]

Thanks for the backup, Gary.

Our band was originally from Toledo, but Toledo would never support original music. We've managed pretty well in Cincy.

Sure gigs are tougher & tougher, but if you've got the goods you can get booked.

That list of places you mentioned didn't include any venues I was that crazy about anyway...and I think I've played them all.

All in all I'd say the best places for original music are Cincy & Cleveland. Columbus has a few rooms that are receptive, but if you play covers you're OK there.

[gweimer]

For blues, we have The Thirsty Ear in Columbus, which has some great acts coming through, both local and national. They run jam nights that are usually first rate, and they have food. Also, about 100 different beers. I saw David Lindley there not too long ago, and they book Commander Cody and Savoy Brown every now and then.

[giglawyer]

My experience has been that both Columbus and Cleveland have pretty good music scenes. I haven't spent much time in Cincy.

***Minor Threadjack*** I used to spend a lot of time in Columbus several years ago. There was a great group of guys that played in two blues bands - Smoking Section and Men of Leisure. Are they still playing?

[John Wentzien]

POMEROY!
Big Bend Blues Bash.
I played bass on Pat Ramsey's "Live at the Big Bend Blues Bash" in Pomeroy.
Pat just died this past month.
It was his last recording.
Pat played all of the harp on Johnny Winter's White,Hot & Blue Album.
Check out my myspace below..

[John Wentzien]

The first cut on my myspace has a bass solo on it from the PaT Ramsey CD.