First Avenue...

The famed club First Avenue closed it doors this week. This was a surprising (although not entirely unexpected) blow to live music in the Twin Cities area. I fondly remember seeing quite a few shows there, Hum (who were filling in for The Verve), Wilco, The Jayhawks, Zwan, Tragically Hip, etc... I was even roped into going to a few "Danceteria" nights with friends that mostly consisted of trying to look cool and stay away from the dance floor, (which we always failed at miserably, we never danced, but we ALWAYS did not look cool). This was the venue Prince made famous by filming the concert scenes of "Purple Rain" at. I will miss this place immensely. It holds some good memories of youth which I'm desperately trying to cling to. This closing doesn't help. People are hoping that somehow it will find a way to re-open but that looks like a long shot. What I'm praying for is that the cold, soulless monstrosity called Block E doesn't purchase it up and bulldoze it to smithereens to build a new ESPN zone or some crap like that. In my opinion this place is a historical landmark to the state and should be kept open anyway possible. The state gives money to the theater district, we should be able to keep this place open somehow. When you think of all the bands that have gone through the place, Prince, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Husker Du, Sugar, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Black Crowes, Cheap Trick, the list is literally endless. If you were a up and coming band, you played the entry and when you sold a couple records you played the main room. This was THE place for bands to play in the cities. There's a few more now and that's what has hurt "First Ave", but it's a shame to see it's doors close. If you liked music in this town, you no doubt have been to a few shows there. I'm sure everyone has a story about stumbling out of there around midnight looking for a party. It's a sad day for music in the cities.