The End Of The Venue.

For my friend James Wood.

So, ever since I moved back to Mexico I've been mainly writing (if at all) in Spanish. Of course, I'm in Mexico. I wasn't aware that some of my friends (I don't even know why I say "some" since I am only aware of one of them) back in the States still read this blog. Thank you. And since my good ole' brit friend James isn't going to learn to speak or read Spanish in the short term, this one goes out in Shakespeare’s own.

Quick Note>> I'm listening to the Kinks as I write this.

Due to a quick rush of brit pop fever I had this morning I remembered the time when I lived back in London for a few months in the summer of 2005. I had only been to London once before and it was as a tourist, which is never the same. London's a unique place, though quite expensive, it's a great city to live in, for many reasons you could find in either a BBC documentary or by taking a trip. Hence, no details about that.
London has one thing though, that maybe and arguably, no other city in the world has. Hell, not even New York or for that matter none of its boroughs and districts in particular (LES, Williamsburg). London breathes music. From the 60's feel of Soho, Carnaby and Denmark St. to the years of Camden and today's Whitechapel. I had never experienced a city that experiences music the way London does. People might argue that Britain and London's music scene is not what it once was, taking that bands from other scenes (Williamsburg, Montreal...) and the scenes themselves have grown bigger. Maybe. But London still has a great scene, and even if it didn't, the bands from other scenes have to stop here. Because this is London town. This is the place to make it, at least when it comes to critics. British bands have always faced the huge deal of making it in America for commercial purposes. But the whole world wants to make it in the UK, because we regard them as the ultimate connoisseurs. Them Brits.

All this comes due to the fact that this morning I found out old news that came new to me. After 8 months of happening I found out that the old Victoria Theater has been demolished. Gone. Adios. In January. And I found out today.
I went to the Astoria once. And I cared more about the fact that I was going to the Astoria than listening to the band. It was a good gig, though. The Dears.
I felt it was important going to one of London's most important venues. If I wanted to experience London's music scene, the Astoria was the place to be.
Half legendary rock venue and half gay club, the Astoria saw many acts, old and new perform epic nights for intimate crowds. Is there any better way to enjoy music?
There isn't. What there is less of every day are venues like the Astoria. We've already seen CBGB go down, now this one. There will be more. The problem is that in many cases they're not being replaced by venues like their predecessors, but by newer, bigger venues. Arenas and the like.

As with the CBGB, the former Astoria owners have claimed a new location will open in the near future. The new location won't breathe the same air Hendrix exhaled no more than a new CBGB will feature original Ramones handwriting on its walls.
We're losing cathedrals of music by losing venues that have seen the Stones, Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys. Generations of music and diversity of genres represented. They all fit these places and these places are built from the spirit of music. They're not arenas that will host U2 one day and a sporting event the next one. (And even U2 played the Astoria). Those venues have no personality. The ones that do, are those you'll be willing to go to no matter the band, because the venue itself is worth it. Because it is alive.