Official El-N-Gee Statement Regarding Concerns in the ISL interview:
7/16/06
Official El-N-Gee Statement Regarding Concerns in the ISL interview:
Well you will be pleasantly surprised to know that we are working our hardest to bring back the national acts, the themed nights, rockabilly night, drink specials, 80's night, fetish night, and the all important calendar!
There is indeed a new group of people that are working at the Gee right now, people that started working here after the ISL interview took place. We are musicians ourselves and we are doing our best to make this building the sacred institution it once was. We will transform this musty nostalgic attitude to create something new and fresh again for everyone. It takes time. The scene has changed. The genres of touring bands have changed.
Somewhere in those rock-show crowds kids will be inspired. It may not be exactly the exact bands you saw the first time you visited the club, but that's the nature of the beast. There is an army of booking agents and promoters eager to get their bands back into the club again. It's been my job to talk to them and bring everyone back on board. The tour circuit still exists, folks. Why drive an hour to the Webster to see a band behind a 4 foot barricade amongst 1200 people when you can be right up front, no barricade, touching the bands, 300 people packed in a small sweaty room?
I can't make any official statements about the staff, cuz’ I really don't know who is staying and who is going.
Joaquin is one of the head honchos. He has a recording studio in New Britain, a CD distro of CT punk bands, and has been booking in western CT for the last few years at least. He is also the lead singer of Second Class Citizen.
I've been booking hall shows in southeastern CT for the past 5 years as an independent promoter(remember Leftover Crack, MDC, Graves) and I booked at the El'n'gee as well as the Pogo. My previous band, Under Investigation, rented a practice spot from Scott for close to 3 years. We were at the Gee several times a week just hanging out. I'm still in a band, Stressbomb, whom has a grueling tour schedule at times.
In fact a lot of the newer staff are in bands themselves.
I think I speak for all of us working at the club right now when I say, we are going to have the warm inviting atmosphere once again. What bands and patrons liked most about going to the club, was you could spot the booker, the owner, the sound guy, the owners parents...it really felt like family.
Note: To anybody that feels the need to boycott the club, I have confidence once you see the fall schedule you will wake up and realize we are into doing great shows again. There isn't a "re-opening" in the works, we are gradually changing over.
And yes, Shaun, you will get your precious calendar.
Sincerely,
-Chris Jones
El-N-Gee Club Talent Buyer
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