Oot & Aboot
Greets, peeps! Thanks, Andy, for fixing my comment problem. Now I can await problem comments (Dino?).
So I was oot and aboot a wee bit this weekend in downtown Wau. Naturally, took in a Nutcracker performance at the Grand … with my daughter carrying several roles in the production. Indeed, it’s a fine show every year, a tradition our town can be proud of.
But it’s a couple of new things I want to zero in on here: Malarkey’s Pub and the Filmore. On Saturday night … after the big snow blow … Jane and I visited Malarkey’s, the new watering hole in the erstwhile and short-lived III space (post-Kelly’s Martini Bar). Pleased to see that, even with nearly a foot of new snow, blowing into drifts and accompanied by falling sleet, there was life in Malarkey’s. A guy (sorry, didn’t catch his name … anybody help me?) was singing and playing amplified acoustic guitar on the stage, and the bar was home to a nice handful of customers. We ordered martinis, shaken not stirred. The first thing you’ll notice at Makarkey’s, if you’d experienced its predecessor III, is a redone decor scheme: nicely worked wooden back bar area and deep red walls gives the pub a look of having been there for awhile, and a more inviting atmosphere than the previous chilly cement/techno approach. But, beyond the physical trappings, the friendly treatment patrons receive at the hands of co-owners Tyler Vogt, Todd Link and Bruce Johnson makes a big difference. These guys seem genuinely happy to serve you, appreciative of your business; I heard more than one “Thanks for coming in!” And really, it’s that sort of touch that will bring people back, and too often the sort of thing lacking at other establishments. So, welcome Malarkey’s, and good luck! Thanks for providing a live music venue downtown; we needed it. Next time, I’m going for a drawn pint of Guinness.
Elsewhere on the downtown live music scene, earlier Saturday just as the snow was starting to fall, I dropped into the construction zone that is “The Filmore” and met brothers Dan and Bill Miller for the first time. I strode into the space unannounced and Bill walked in to find me nosing about … sorry, Bill, didn’t mean to freak you out! I’m sure Bill at first thought I might be a vandal, street freak or pilferous felon. But, soon Bill, his brother Dan and I were chatting at the edge of the sizable stage. The interior of the Filmore has a ways to go, but it’s not hard to envision what a cool environ it will be. A large bar area will greet you as you enter, then the room opens up to an airy, high-ceilinged auditorium that will accommodate around 500 people standing. A separate, secondary bar will occupy a corner to the right of the stage. Did I say the stage was sizable? It will easily handle a fully equipped band and allow plenty of room for skinny front men to run about like Mick. The Filmore (I keep saying “Filmore North” in my head; shows my age) has the potential to be an important regional venue and vital element to help complete Wausau’s entertainment picture. The brothers intend to pull in touring acts representing various musical styles, while providing a performance space for local and regional entertainers. Dan says that, while they’re realizing a dream of their own (musing, “what a long strange trip it’s been”), the brothers are also focused on giving back to the community and they hope to help present benefit shows.
Good stuff downtown … Petula Clark would approve.
erik said:
Always good to hear updates on the Fillmore. I have really high hopes for that place. Thanks, Neal.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:43 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
I think that the Filmore could be great, or it could get sucked into someething really bad.
But that is my cynicism coming through.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:54 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Dino … expand on your fears; what do you envision?
December 5th, 2007 at 3:05 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
I fear that local radio will throw buckets of money at them, and we will end up with a lame calvacade of bands like tesla or jackyll.
It will take real sand to stand up and do real original music suport.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:58 pm #
anonemoose said:
Tom and Dino,
This Fillmore place sounds like it has lots of potential. What do each of you, in turn, think the best case scenario for the place would be. In other words, “in an ideal world, the Fillmore would have …….. music.” I would even challenge both of you to set an imaginary schedule. What would be the genre on Monday? Would there be something different on Tuesday?
I don’t know if this is making any sense. I’m tired and it feels like it is much later than the clock actually says. I’ll pitch one ball here and see what happens.
moose
December 7th, 2007 at 7:13 pm #
Tom Neal said:
I believe Dan and Bill (the owners) are planning a sort of day-of-the-week scenario, but not sure of how that’s shaping up. But, what would I look for? Well, I’m of another era I’m afraid; I’d hope to see musicians who explore hybrid musical potentials, as they work with a toolbox that contains rock, blues, folk, baroque, classical, jazz, poetry and theatre. Personally, I’m easily bored by straight-line genre-huggers, like “blues bands” and “metal rockers” and “swing jazz combos” and “world music groups.” Give me an eclectic lineup with people who are channeling the attitude of Miles Davis or the energy of James Brown, who know how words and guitars work together like Hendrix, who explore textures and power like Zeppelin, who approach song structure like John and Paul, who can drift like the Dead, who exhibit the excruciating honesty of Janice and who understand and accept the responsibility of commanding a stage like Mick.
So, my hopes for the Filmore: that it will be able to consistently host worthy, compelling artists and that the community displays a sensitivity to what is art, and that this town becomes a haven for those seeking something above the pap served liberally to the masses. At the same time, I hope the Millers make money and are happy in this worthy venture.
December 11th, 2007 at 8:32 am #
anonemoose said:
Do you think they will make room for jazz in their lineup? This town has nothing going on in that genre. I ache to go to NYC where I have my choice of clubs and styles to listen to but that isn’t realistic.
I assume you have lived in Wausau for a while. What does this town have against jazz?
moose
December 15th, 2007 at 1:29 pm #
Tom Neal said:
I can’t say if there’s jazz in the Filmore’s future. I’m with you in the sense that there’s not much of a jazz scene in this area. John Greiner (bless him) is doing his best to counter that. He does regular gigs with his big band performing that WWII swing thing. And he fronts a smaller combo at local spots here and there. John Altenburgh, Paul Momentarily-Forget-His-last-Name-Forgive-Me and Syd Keiler show up for the occasional jazz gig around town. But I’m going to guess that you’re maybe looking for the bee-bop style ’50s / ’60s quartet a la Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Mingus, Monk, etc. I personally prefer their earthy, visceral improvisational approach over the more pristine offerings of schooled jazz musicians reading charts and delivering note-for-note pick-ups … generally too white bread for me.
I don’t know if Wausau has anything against jazz per se. But there’s little in the way of a jazz artist community or the tradition of a long-standing nightclub. What if somewhere like the Peking restaurant downtown transformed into a NYC-style jazz club / restaurant? Don’t know if it would fly. I don’t think Greiner, Altenburgh and the others are enough to make Wausau more of a jazz town, we need an infusion from outside. And I wonder if jazz is popular enough today anywhere but the largest population centers. It may be that in these instant-gratification days, people don’t have the patience to exert the listening discipline that jazz can command. Or maybe their ears, pummeled into a state of numbness by homogenized Kenny G “jazz” and popular music in general, just can’t “hear” good jazz. Maybe that stuff I like is fading away or maybe its cycle is coming around again. Let’s keep our fingers crossed .. and rattle a few cages when we can.
December 17th, 2007 at 7:18 am #
anonemoose said:
You paint a bleak picture about the jazz scene in Wausau and I’m afraid you might be right. Of the local artists you named above I think only Greiner and Paul Zopel (I think that is who you were referring to) are likely to play smaller gigs on a regular basis.
Your musing about jazz only being popular in larger cities is also an interesting one. Is it possible that Wausau just isn’t educated as far as jazz is concerned? Is there any way to change that or is it hopeless? The more I think about it, the more I think it is hopeless.
But like you said, we can always keep our fingers crossed and rattle cages then the opportunity arises.
Peace in the new year.
moose
December 30th, 2007 at 11:13 am #
the wheel said:
You know, I don’t revel in painting bleak pictures. And it is only conjecture on my part, mixed with observations. But, what if? What if a jazz club did open up downtown, let’s say. And the club featured the real thing (my definition) which would not be white bread, Kenny G, elevator shmazzz, but instead some dang down and dirty be-bop and progressive improvisational artists? The real scotch-and-soda article (I don’t like that drink, by the way). It just could be that the jazz fans would emerge from the woodwork in droves, like Texas cockroaches when you turn the lights off. I wonder …
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 am #
anonemoose said:
I’m sure you don’t revel in painting bleak pictures. However, there is probably a very good reason why we have a huge new country bar in the area and no jazz club.
For what it is worth, Kenny G is not my cup of tea either, nor does he really qualify in my book as a jazz musician.
I can still hope that something will pop up in the area, even if it isn’t too frequent, that will satisfy my appetite for good jazz in a smoke-free environment. Pigs will probably be flying much sooner.
moose
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm #
Tom Neal said:
I’ve been negligent in acknowledging your comment, moose. Sorry. Truth be told, I’m afraid there is an ongoing de-sophistication … or at least lack of en-sophistication … of the general populace. Things like jazz fall by the wayside as public tastes turn inexorably to more mundane, less challenging fare. It’s the age of vanilla via express-delivery channels. Boot scootin’ is easier to get behind than trying to absorb mixlodian or lydian scales or whatever those jazzsters use.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:28 pm #
rockerchick said:
What’s wrong with Tesla and Jackyl?
January 15th, 2008 at 10:37 am #
Tom Neal said:
Well, if Dino disapproves of them, it could mean one of three things: they’re very bad, they’re very good, or they’re boring/neutral. I’m clueless about them. Typically, though, I find Dino’s evaluations pretty valid. What’s not wrong about Tesla and Jackyl?
January 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm #
janeal said:
I would love to see the Filmor tap into some of the really good acoustic/alternative bands that are the staple of places like Clark Place in Point and occasionally appear over Amherst way. It seems like that would be an easy book, (catch them on either side of a Point gig) and even though Point is fairly close, it seems further when you are driving home at midnight and/or if the weather is crappy.
I REALLY think that is something they should investigate.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:45 am #
rockerchick said:
I could tell you what’s not wrong about Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Skynyrd, etc., if you would rather….
January 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am #