Downtown Springfield

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by talastan

Yes and No.

While I am glad they that Springfield has upgraded a lot of the dilapidated buildings and new business is moving in, I don't like the fact that the local rock clubs that had been the original draw downtown originally. (ie: The Regency, Juke Joint, Rockwell, etc.)

As a musician I've been fortunate to still find shows at clubs that haven't had their buildings sold out from under them yet to developers who are putting up loft apartments up like there is no tomorrow.

Also the fact that city officals have been openly hostile towards the local rock scene still makes me upset. Jack Merritt the Greene County Sheriff has been quoted as saying if he had his way this would be a dry county and therefore get rid of the undesirables that hang out downtown. I support cultural growth but would like all cultures to be allowed to grow in this wonderful town.

I thought Commerical Street was where the live music places was suppose to go?

[talastan]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I thought Commerical Street was where the live music places was suppose to go?

Yes till the Assemblies of God National Headquarters started complaining. They are located just south of Commercial on Boonville and of course several of the city officals are influenced by them and the money they put towards the city. They were IIRC trying to pass a law where no two businesses selling alcohol could operate within two hundred feet of each other on Commercial St. Of course this was within a two block area that they were allowing the businesses operate. No much space for live entertainment to take place.

Not to mention that they had already killed the live music crowd by completing the bar ban. I don't believe in underage drinking, but I also don't believe in punishing those who aren't responsible. The current bar ban allows for minors to attend shows if alcohol sales account for less than 60% of total business revenue. So ticket sales with inflated minor surcharges are the only way they can attend shows. The rumor going around now is that the city is looking to remove that clause now. So if that happens anyone under 21 will not be able to attend a concert that sells alcohol. So with the lack of ticket sales from this you can kiss any large venue touring acts goodbye as there will not be enough money to bring them in.