Bye-bye local music

Yet another concert venue has closed in Pittsburgh, dealing one more crushing blow to the… Yet another concert venue has closed in Pittsburgh, dealing one more crushing blow to the music scene in the ‘Burgh.

Rosebud, one of the best venues to take in a show since it opened in 1991, unexpectedly announced that it will close its doors after Joe Grushecky’s Jan. 31 performance.

It’s a dismal announcement — especially with Metropol being turned into a dance club in December and Club Laga set to close March 31 — that leaves little hope for the local music scene as well as the music scene in general.

Sure, there are still a few venues to hold shows; Nick’s Fat City and The Rex Theatre in the South Side are a start. But Nick’s is rather small, and when a large crowd is pulled in for a show — much like the last time The Clarks played there a couple months back — it tends to get a bit obnoxious, with everyone trying to get the best spot they can to see the show.

The Rex is starting to position itself in the market for more shows; it has agreed to hold the shows that were originally planned to play Rosebud. But unfortunately it has fewer seats than Rosebud — currently 150 fewer seats, though they do plan on installing a balcony that would add 100 more seats.

But where else is there to get the concert fix in the ‘Burgh?

Mr. Small’s Theatre in Millvale is working its way up the ladder as well, but it’s a trek to take in a show there, especially if you are a car-less citizen of Pittsburgh. You have to pull a two-bus transfer to make it to the show, and if one of those buses is running slightly behind, you have a better chance catching a cold than a show.

The A.J. Palumbo Center holds national acts like O.A.R., which is playing there Tuesday night, the White Stripes, Nickelback and 3 Doors Down.

But where’s the love for the local scene?

Of the venues mentioned, Palumbo gives the least love to the local scene. And with more venues like Palumbo and fewer like Rosebud, local music is essentially on its deathbed. Bands are being cut off at the knees with nowhere to spread the word about their music. A lot of local talent is being forced to play basement parties, most often in South Oakland. The logic is that some of these bands would have a struggle filling a large venue anyway, but maybe some of them just might be able to pull their own weight. But without the venues to hold them, no one may ever know if they can or not.

Local bands like The Clarks and Rusted Root were lucky. They were starting out in the music scene when the venues were plentiful. Graffiti and The Beehive were still open, and people were more interested in the local scene.

Now there is nowhere for a band to get started, and no, you can’t work your way from a South Oakland basement to a national headlining tour. That is, unless your houseguests are some pretty important people.

So what’s the solution?

Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Venues are having a hard time keeping their doors open because rent prices continue to rise, and when shows aren’t pulling in the people that they should, it hurts even more.

Frankly, the music scene in Pittsburgh is dying, and a lot of the blame lies with the population of the city. Most of the people who live in the city are old. They aren’t going to support local music because they don’t listen to that type of music. It’s too loud. It’s not Elvis, I know, but some of it is good music.

The powers that be are trying to keep young people from leaving Pittsburgh after they are finished with their schooling. But why shouldn’t they? Without the opportunity for good jobs, and a chance to make a future for themselves, there is no reason to stay here. And if music continues to be rubbed out and scratched out of the image of the city, then young people are most certainly not going to stay because they are being deprived of something that they enjoy.

People need to be aware of what is out there. Spread the word about a band that you may have heard about, use the technology that we hold at our hands and burn some copies of that new local band’s CD that everyone should listen to. Expose your friends to a group that you caught in a dirty basement at a random house party.

Open your eyes and ears and go into it with an open mind; take a chance. Who knows; you might actually leave having found a new favorite band.

Brian Palmer wants you to get off your butt and support local music. Send him your thoughts at mailto:bkp8@pitt.edu.