I seriously do not believe the Bowery bouncer story. There must be more to it. If he did get knocked down, he must have been doing something wrong like blocking the entrance.

So sad that his envy makes him make false accusations.

pickles is the man

pickles is the man

@ Anon 10:28:

So sad that your envy makes you player hate in the comments section of a music blog.

I would very much like to makeout with Todd. He says all the right things.

everything he said is so much more clear, well thought-out and positive than all of the hateful garbage that gets thrown around here about todd and the bands he books.

haters should take note that he actually DID SOMETHING important with a scene he saw problems with and didn't just passively bitch from his keyboard.

ps high places forever

Anon 10:28 AM, envious much?

is that bouncer story true? for a bouncer to "throw someone to the ground" it would take a serious incident or a physical altercation. i'd call bullshit on it too - sounds like some kid got knocked over by the wind. i'm all for the diy world of todd p and think it is necessary to growth of the scene, but at the same time a place like bowery ballroom - a very respectable nyc establishment - is paramount in the "career" of an artist. they are both necessary to the growth and continuation of the shit we love - that shit being music.

Great interview and he's good and honest and fair-handed about his opinions about other clubs, but that bouncer story just does not sound believable as is, at all.

he still sucks. pickelz is tha man.

"Anon 10:28 AM, envious much?"

Why would I be envious? It sounds like Todd P is envious of me:

"If you have a new lease in Manhattan now you better have a serious job or be independently wealthy or you can’t afford it."

I can afford Manhattan, without roommates, so it sounds like Todd is the one hating. BTW, I still choose to live in Brooklyn.

I go to many ToddP shows, I just don't believe the bouncer story. There are three sides to every story.

The bouncer story is true. It sucked. I was, in fact, just handing out fliers next to the subway entrance. I wasn't seriously hurt in any way but I did stay pretty angry about it for a long time.

But - it was also 2001. Six years ago. Bowery security used to be really aggressive back then, but they cleaned up their act in that respect years ago. Nowadays they're by-and-large respectful and appropriate.

Um, I guess I'm flattered? And nervous.

Thanks for the link, BV... I have to say Todd's bouncer experience sounds completely unsurprising to me. I've personally witnessed bouncers aggressively get in the faces of people distributing fliers outside venues. There was a really ugly incident while filing into a summerstage show, I think it was MIA, where one of the summerstage security guards was screaming and threatening a kid handing out fliers to those us on the massive line. My guess is that some venues routinely instruct their security to intimidate people handing out fliers for other events. Putting aside my impression of Todd as a sincere, trustworthy guy, is it really so hard to believe that some power-drunk bouncer went agro and shoved somebody around?

I have to agree with Max Power. I've head several run-ins with Bowery Presents bouncers, esp. at the music hall of Williamsburg in which they skip the diplomacy and go directly to intimidation. In my case, I wasn't doing anything wrong at all. The management are known as tools, too. I wish I could just boycott these clubs, but I like alot of the music they book. Sigh...

10:28

dear peabrain, shut the fuck up. no one cares to hear your myopic opinions. if you want to question something, then do it with facts, not your idiocy.

todd's story is more than plausible - i too was roughed up one night in 2001 when i got caught taping a show. security at the bowery in the last three or four years is VASTLY different than it was back then.

my question for todd p. that wasn't asked in the interview (seems obvious but maybe it was edited) is: who's going to fill the vacuum? will there be an heir apparent or will this gradually be assumed by many people at the various venues you've worked with?

speaking of 2001 - i'm still reeling at the loss of brownies.

thanks todd. you're the best.

Northsix did so much more for the DIY scene than Todd P. They were DIY and they actually pulled off making the place legal too. I've been to a lot of Todd's shows and practically all of the bands that Todd booked, I saw at Northsix and was much more comfortable than at some shithole loft.

Northsix wasn't the best venue in the world, but it was DIY.

I like the "idea" of Cake Shop. But I also like to be able to see the bands playing. I'll continue to see shows there, but it makes me grumpy.

Glasslands, Don Pedro's... those are ok, though.

Don Pedro's shows without Todd P are terrible. Those guys are about as douchebagy and incompetent as they come.

Hey, Max Power is MY handle! Back off sucka!

TODD P NYC DIY 'TIL I DIE!!!!!

viva todd p forever. i love you so much. (from a distance)

when i think about todd p my heart overflows with love.
"you rock don't ever change"

Todd P says, "I don’t exactly make money off shows; that’s never been my goal. I do sometimes make an income but sometimes I don’t. I need to set up a way to make an income that doesn’t involve putting on shows."

I'd say Todd P is quite naive to put these shows without making money from them. He shouldn't have to work a day job, a part-time job, or whatever to support himself. I don't think many people involved in the shows--from bands to audiences--would complain if he earned a living from staging and promoting concerts. It's hard work--no wonder he feels a little burned out. His altruism may be commendable in the indie world, but is foolish otherwise.

Don't get me wrong. In my college town I had a large enough house to put on shows myself about once a month--both local groups and out of town bands. I got the bands, promoted the show, bought the keg, and cleaned up after. And I did it because it was fun. But the amount of hustle Todd gives for doing what he does in New York should reward him financially.

what time does high places go on?