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Posted in music | venues on October 25, 2007
Roseland, Hammerstein Ballroom, few shows, Moonies
(not) Rodrigo y Gabriela @ Roseland Ballroom, NYC - Oct 19, 2007 (CRED)
Spoon (and friends) @ Roseland Ballroom, NYC - Oct 20, 2007 (CRED)
Back in August I asked, "why do Hammerstein and Roseland have so few shows a year?". In response, I received the following letter (from someone who would like to stay anonymous)....
From "Anonymous":
Hey there,Down play Roseland Ballroom tonight.
SO I used to occasionally work at both of these venues. Here's what I do know, and it may not be much, as to why neither Roseland or Hammerstein regularly schedule things.
Apparently Roseland's owners are HUGE flakes. They're very mysterious with their staff, always hesitant to make schedules in advance. It just seemed really poorly managed. They were cheap bastards, and rather than committing even nominal amounts of money towards simple upgrades, they'd just constantly threaten and toy with the idea of selling it. I don't know why they just didn't give up. Apparently they've been doing this for YEARS--when it comes time to book some consecutive shows, they get cold feet and want to sell. Then when it's in "prime" show season and all their competition (see Hammerstein) are pumping out show after show, they get the spirit in them to start booking. They do however do a bunch of private corporate events that are not publicized.
Hammerstein is owned by the Moonies, who also own the New Yorker hotel that the venue is attached to. From what I can tell, the Ballroom just doesn't seem to be a huge priority to management. I guess it doesn't gross as much revenue as the hotel...DUH, they never book regularly. But again, it seems like once a year or so they do battle with Roseland with several shows in consecutive weeks.
Both places suck for different reasons. I think the sound quality at Hammerstein is awful. Also, the bathrooms are very inconveniently located downstairs. Because of the nightmare it is of getting from the front of the venue, pushing all the way to the back, I've taken to just drinking straight Jack when I'm there. Beer or "on the rocks" lead to wasted bladder space. One of the last times I was there was for a Black Crowes show, and they "fans" there were total assholes. I was by myself, and have never had problems making "friends" at shows, until that night. And I'm NO mutant.
Roseland's sound quality is better, but only if you're centered. If you can sit in the "VIP" section upstairs, you're in great shape. Maybe I'm just nostalgic, as the first time I saw Radiohead was there on the Bends tour.
Posted on October 25, 2007 1:55 PM
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Comments (24)
is that hung from top chef?
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:01 PM
I can sum this thread up pretty quickly: Unless you're talking about Bowery Ballroom, it sucks.
Posted by Drugs Delaney | October 25, 2007 2:04 PM
DD, im glad someone reached this conclusion (as is always reached) before 30 commenters bickering with each other.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:14 PM
not too informative..
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:16 PM
"Apparently Roseland's owners are HUGE flakes. They're very mysterious with their staff, always hesitant to make schedules in advance."
My friend has bartended at Roseland for well over 10 years, so I have come to known some of the staff. It's always the regular staff most of the time. Nice guys. Sound at Roseland is decent if you are up front.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:16 PM
both places blow. how many times do we have to go over this?
i simply don't see shows at either place. saves me a lot of grumbling
Posted by jules | October 25, 2007 2:22 PM
how were rod and gab?
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:24 PM
Off-thread: Lesson learned at CMJ: All LES clubs should rid themselves of stages, and force/let bands play on floor for maximum sweat impact. That seems to be the prevailing trend anyway this year. How long before any indie band playing a 'stage' will be considered 'old'?
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:27 PM
"is that hung from top chef?"
looks like Brian P. from the Street Syndicate to me.
Posted by D.D.D.Dave | October 25, 2007 2:36 PM
knitting factory is not bad at all.. havent been to that new grammercy theatre, but havent heard too many complaints about that one. bowery ballroom does blow everyone else out of the water, but there are some other decent places to see a relatively small show in the city.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:39 PM
She is so cool for seeing Radiohead at Roseland during The Bends tour.
Posted by Matt | October 25, 2007 2:40 PM
omg guyz!!! dat is my email dat bv used!! lol.
Posted by ex employee | October 25, 2007 2:46 PM
Mercury Lounge is cool, except for the same group of asshiles who are there every night in the back talking and laughing so loud that everyone in the joint can hear them over the band. one super annoying loud chick is always there.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 2:49 PM
Cam Diaz.
Posted by Cam. | October 25, 2007 3:00 PM
Anonymous 2:01
I'm still trying to get over the fact that he won
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 3:03 PM
Anonymous letter writer:
I really appreciate your bringing to our attention that Hammerstein Ballroom is owned by the Moonies. This is disturbing news and I'm glad I know it, I will certainly keep it in mind as I plan my concerts.
As for the Black Crowes concert, I went to the 2005 Easter show and had the opposite experience, it was one of the friendliest crowds I have ever known at a New York show. We must have been in different parts of the venue.
Posted by hipster replacement | October 25, 2007 3:12 PM
Both shows were surprisingly good, and sounded very good, which was shocking. RodGab played for about 1:45, and included all the "hits", and even covered Slayer, which drove all the metalheads in the crowd (myself included) wild.
This was the fourth time I've seen Spoon live, and this was by far the best set that I've ever seen them play. It was tight, Britt appeared to be having fun (unlike most of his live shows), and they had a nice sampling of stuff from their entire career - though it mostly focused on Ga*5.
Posted by Robert | October 25, 2007 3:19 PM
wow....i never knew that Beast from X-Men was into the Smiths & friends with that tool singer from Spoon
Posted by hipster poseur | October 25, 2007 3:31 PM
Spoon is the most boring band on the planet.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 3:33 PM
hahahahahahaha BRIAN
Posted by rkb | October 25, 2007 3:39 PM
But that neanderthal guy with the Smiths shirt rocks.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 3:42 PM
Roseland sucks. Hammerstein rocks. Another band with a horrible name. Douches.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 5:37 PM
Coin Under Toungue's short set before Spoon & The Ponys was pretty amazing.
Posted by Anonymous | October 25, 2007 10:33 PM
Coin Under Tongue was indeed the only reason to be that show. They had more heart than the other two corporate bands. Spoon may have put out a great album, but, live, they were about as exciting as watching lead paint dry. The Ponys were scarcely better. A shoegazing band that could have used the tall Nordic-looking singer's lumbering physical presence more effectively. Instead, he simply stood there and played, like a little boy performing at a family reunion. Plus, the crowd at the Roseland didn't appear to be having any fun whatsoever. About six other people and myself were bouncing up and down to the Ponys, trying to get the crowd kick-started, only to get dirty looks from a bunch of stiffs who wouldn't know fun if it bit them on the ass. Fuck the Roseland B&Ters. They're a bunch of uptight assholes bringing the place down. The sound was at least okay.
Posted by ed | October 27, 2007 1:33 PM