Re: [Harp-L] Hippest Musician's Towns

[Steve Merola <srmerola@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Harp-l
Aside from brief stints living in LA and Burlington VT, I've been a life 
long resident of NYC and over the last 35 years I've experienced the 
live music scene go from a waterfall to a trickle. In the 70s there was 
work in clubs throughout the tri-state area for equitable pay. No day 
jobs were necessary until disco. During the Giuliani administration, 
policemen would sit and wait outside clubs with a volume meter and once 
the meter went above a certain setting, would write a $1200 ticket for 
the club. This was a one man vendetta against live music in my town. I 
was a personal witness to this farce. The cops weren't happy with the 
assignment. Manny's Car Wash, and Tramps, two of the best clubs in 
Manhattan, among many many others were closed during this and the 
current administration. Why pay a band $600 when all you'll get is a 
$1200 ticket? Giuliani's desire to make NYC "like any other city in 
America" destroyed a cultural asset. The current administration also 
buys into this and now you can't even dance to the jukebox in a bar.  
Power, control, and the real estate market all have an amazing effect on 
working musicians and their audience. A good example is this: Former 
Johnny Winter sideman, Jon Paris, plays B.B. Kings (one of the only 
"blues" clubs left)....but in "Lucille's Lounge", while the Ozzie 
tribute band plays the main room......Ozzie in a blues club? Sorry B.B., 
but BB Kings is not a blues club. The culture police did their job and 
the audience is missing out even if they don't yet know it. There are 
many factors involved in making and breaking up a music scene.
If you really want to get scared, go to a wedding and watch two guys 
with a PA system pick up $3500. Giuliani will be dancing. In the 
meantime I'm looking into the San Francisco/Sacramento area.
Peace
Steve Merola