zwan

[marshallnesta]

yeah, everybody knows zwan's coming. i'm sure there are plenty o folks who won't be going. i'm wondering if anyone on these boards is going? also, i'm a lil pube who's never been outta dayton for a show( cept once at the newport. bitchin.) bogarts always has some great acts, but something always comes up. what can i expect from bogarts ( crowd, size of the place and the like)?

[DogStarMan]

Originally posted by marshallnesta
bogarts always has some great acts, but something always comes up. what can i expect from bogarts ( crowd, size of the place and the like)?
Expect crappy sound, rat infested bathrooms and the biggest dick-heads ever to walk the Earth as your security for the night. Other than that, the place is o.k. :D

[trintdog]

i second the security problem...they need a nice slap. Can't forget the occassional urine smell! And for the most part, the sound can be horrible...remember a few times the sound was acually good, but i also might have been drunk. Sorry to crush ya marshallnesta...sure you will have a good time anyway if you like the band, only way i would go is if i won tickets

[mattsledge]

Say what you will about the security at Bogart's, but realize this:

The majority of the guys who work there are at the venue at 12 Noon (sometimes earlier) helping with load-in and other event preperations, and dealing with egotistical artists. By the time the doors open up, they've already been working a solid 6 hours. Then they have to help with the show, and then load out after the show.

So basically, if you're an asshole to them, they'll be assholes back. if you do what they say, no problems. and if you're nice to them, heaven forbid -- they'll smile back!

In my experiences, I have had no problems with the staff there.

Just giving you another perspective.

[alternachild]

My only bitterness against Bogart's is who owns them. That's about it. Other than that, I'm fine with the place. They could use better sound though. Sometimes shows sound quite good there and sometimes shows sound terrible. I am sure it depends who is doing soundcheck for the bands too.

[mattsledge]

If it matters, Bogart's is booked by Clear Channel, but not owned by them.

Same with Riverbend and the other venues they book around town.

[alternachild]

That's what I meant. Oops, my mistake.

Does the sound just have to do with the venue itself (acoustics and all) or does it have anything to do with how the sound equipment is set up? Top Cats has impecable sound and so does 20th Century Theatre, but they are totally different venues.

Oh, and I guess a place like Bogarts signs a contract with who books their acts. Is it up to the venue whether or not they stick with SFX, or does CC have more power over that?

[trintdog]

from what i remember someone saying, when it comes down to venues (like bogarts) bands either bring their own sound equipment and sound guy (hence the good sound) or option for the house sound and sound person (which is usually shite).....I could have been drunk during this conversation also...I don't know.

[kcneon]

So aside from where Zwan will be playing....isn't there anyone excited about this show? C'mon WOXY is giving away a chance to even get to meet the band. How fun is that? If I was closer, I'd roadtrip! It's bound to be a fun show. Hope you enjoy it, marshallnesta!

[Steele]

I'm goin, and I'm pretty psyched about it. I never got to see the Pumpkins, but I liked there music. And I like Zwan, so I figured if I see them NOW, I can be making up for all of my past transgressions.

And to fix the sound crappiness at Bogarts, all you need is a cheap pair of earplugs. It takes out all the overwhelmingly loud treble, or bass, it depends on what the band is heavy on, and just gives you a nice median. Its so fucking loud in there that the earplugs don't actually lower the volume that much.

And, if your a non-smoker....it can be a little harsh on the lungs.

[marshallnesta]

Originally posted by Steele
I never got to see the Pumpkins, but I liked there music. And I like Zwan, so I figured if I see them NOW, I can be making up for all of my past transgressions.


ditto.

[Steele]

LOVED the show! It was great! I especially loved the Cooper cover on the THIRD encore. Damn. I was worried that Corgan had lost his ability to really "rock". But he was as loud as ever! Anybody who didn't go, you missed a good show.

[Orestes]

Originally posted by mattsledge
Say what you will about the security at Bogart's, but realize this:

The majority of the guys who work there are at the venue at 12 Noon (sometimes earlier) helping with load-in and other event preperations, and dealing with egotistical artists. By the time the doors open up, they've already been working a solid 6 hours. Then they have to help with the show, and then load out after the show.

So basically, if you're an asshole to them, they'll be assholes back. if you do what they say, no problems. and if you're nice to them, heaven forbid -- they'll smile back!

In my experiences, I have had no problems with the staff there.

Just giving you another perspective.

the only problem i have with bogart's security is the whole not letting someone who's left return. in the past when i've wanted to leave before my friends, none of them can walk me to my car because the staff at bogarts won't let them back in.

any of you that know me know i'm kind of little, and while i like to think i could defend myself, the reality is that i really probably couldn't.

in an area that's not very safe, i have a real problem with them not allowing guests to walk someone to their car and then return. they need to be encouraging people to walk others to their cars instead of making it nearly impossible.

[marshallnesta]

Originally posted by Steele
LOVED the show! It was great! I especially loved the Cooper cover on the THIRD encore. Damn. I was worried that Corgan had lost his ability to really "rock". But he was as loud as ever! Anybody who didn't go, you missed a good show.

my ears still feel funny. the cooper cover was the shit. and the encores. and billy. and sweeney. and the whole damned show. highlight of my day? i go into goldstar to piss and see paz deep throating a coney, sweeny eating a 3-way and chamberlin sitting there looking kind of sad and haggard. sweeney just kept telling me and my friend how great the chili was...

[Steele]

NO!!!! I wanted to goto Gold Star, but the people that I was with don't like there chili.

[sadgirlseven]

i met billy on friday. excerpts from my livejournal:

so on friday i was talking to brandon, the med student, and in walks someone with a very familiar face. i squinted at him and he smiled and then i realised it was billy corgan! so i walked around the bar and said, "hi, how's zwan?" he replied that they are going over better in europe than here. then i made him some peppermint tea. we chatted for a bit and he asked if i was going to the show. i said that i hadn't planned on it, that i had a date and i was supposed to go to kim's show for fear of being fired. he said, "well, i'm sure you could get out of that." he had me write down my name and he told me he'd put aside tickets for me. we chatted for another minute or two, then he shook my hand and took off. when he got to the door, he said, "come say hi to me tomorrow night!" and i said, "well, i'm sure that you won't be out in the crowd, billy," and laughed. he smiled and said, "i'll put aside passes for you, you can just come back and say hi."

so then i thanked him and he left. brandon hadn't noticed that it was billy corgan. he thought i was just talking to some local musician i know. so we both freaked out a bit about it. billy and a couple of crew people were sitting outside the shop, waiting on a cab. so a few minutes later, one of them came in and asked if i could call them a cab, which i did. then i went outside to smoke. i stood away from them on purpose, so as not to bother billy. but he saw me light up and came over and put his hand on my shoulder and said, "you know, you really shouldn't smoke. it's bad for you. i'm the anti-smoking angel!" so he stayed there and talked to me for about 20 minutes. we talked about chicago and basketball and cars and guitars. he told me he's tired of being in the public eye and having everything dissected. brandon came out and said hi and shook billy's hand. billy put him on the list, too. a fan came up and was freaking out and got an autograph. he was very gracious and gave her a hug. he reminded me to say hi and got into his cab and left.

it was the most random thing ever. it was really nice, though. billy was very different than how he comes across in his press, i think. it reminds you that your notions of how people are supposed to be aren't always accurate.

---

we got to bogart's around 8:30p and met up with brandon. my tickets were listed as: "karen whyte...3...artist comp...billy corgan." and indeed, there were three tickets and three backstage passes. so we gave brandon his ticket and he took off for buzz to study before zwan.

zwan was good. they rocked....they played three (!!) encores and then we started towards the backstage door. but we were told no one was allowed back and to wait for the band in the bar area.

so we hung out with brandon and chilled for a bit. i talked with the british sound engineer, who was quite unhappy about the leaking ceiling mere feet from what was probably a million dollar desk. he was really sweet, very smiley. the band came out fairly promptly one by one. billy came out with the same hooded jacket from the coffeeshop and started working the line. phil went to get some stuff signed and pointed me out to billy, who waved and smiled and said, "hi karen!" he kind of worked his way over to where i was leaning against the wall with john and we kind of chatted while he was signing for people. i intro'ed him to john and john got his ticket signed. then he signed mine. i asked him how his friday night off was and he said they went to rock bottom to watch basketball, but there was a shooting and the bullet hit a column about 20 feet from his table. i was shocked! he looked a bit tired, but he was very open as usual. i suggested zwan play southgate when they return, but he didn't really respond to that. i'm not sure if he knows about it at all. he needed to move on to other people, so he gave me a hug and i thanked him again and he smiled a lot. he shook john's hand and we let him be. john talked to matt sweeney, who called the co-owner of matador on his cell phone to find out why his old band's cd wasn't in stores for john to buy. heh. i tried to talk to paz (who was also in a perfect circle), but she was completely unresponsive and sort of moping about.

---

and that was it. billy was sooo nice and i really enjoyed the show, especially 'cos it was on his dime. ;)

[DudeMan]

Wow, SG7, what a cool story. I saw him on this local Chicago sports-reporter type show a few years ago and remember thinking how he seemed like a regular sort of guy who likes sports and sharing opinions on various things. Thanks for posting.

[Wally]

I remember when the weekly radio show, Modern Rock Live, was around. During some show, they had the Smashing Pumpkins on there, and Billy did come across as being a very down to earth, intelligent individual. With some musicians, you can just tell that the drugs are rotting away their brain, but from listening to Billy, I remember thinking, wow- Billy can actually carry on an intelligent conversation.

[alternachild]

I want to cry. :(

[marshallnesta]

I had a freind in the dayton area who was playing a pick up game of basketball, and billy walks up and joins. he said billy was pretty good, and seemed reallyinto sports. the only wierd part of the story is that he cametoplay in ass shorts, chucks and knee highs.

[Steele]

Damn. That would be pretty damn sweet to just be going about your daily life, and BILLY CORGAN walks up.

Anybody know what that last song that Zwan played was? It was my fave of the night, and I have no idea what it was!

[marshallnesta]

couldn't say. songs i remember beign in one of the three encores were 18, mary star of the sea, lyric, and i think baby let's rock. who cares, though, it was all good shit. I would've def. bought an " instant live" cd, even three days after the show.