Friday, February 15, 2008
Cream Calendar The Magic Number: 3 Reasons to Go to The End on Sunday Night
Posted by Steve Haruch on Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 8:09 AM
1. Evangelicals are playing and their song "Skeleton Man" is pretty rad.
2. Headlights are also playing, and their song "TV" is also (see above).
3. Bruce.
Comments (39)
Showing 1-39 of 39
Bruce is the LAST reason to go to the End. I find him extremely odd and wonder how much longer the public and artists will tolerate his attitude. As an artist, I find him extremely difficult to communicate with. I am not saying the man should bow down or give artists any kind of special treatment. I do think he could be a little friendlier though. How many times does a person have to ask the man to be paid at the end of the night? He gives the person what, two drinks or something of shit beer for playing? The best part of playing the End, (if there is one) is Brad. He is kind and fun to work with.
Someone please give me and others a reason to like this man. I know I know, he can't hear right? That's why he looks at you with a blank stare everytime you ask him a question. Give me more reasons to like this man.
Somebody, anyone?
I've noticed there arent many good shows there anymore either.
like
dislike
Bruce is a completely wonderful and absurd character. Yeah he's a jerk, but most bands are filled with idiots and he's probably dealt with his fair share. I've involved in enough shows (from high school talent shows to arena functions) to know that you shouldn't expect most bands to keep it professional, so why should he?
Everyone has a good Bruce story, it's a little rite of passage, if you will, to deal with him. If you take yourself so seriously that you play a show at a place like the End and expect pro-level treatment, then you're not understanding the reality of your situation.
I think you should start with not referring to yourself as an artist. That would be a giant leap towards developing a sense of humor.
Bruce is a really cool guy and has been in this town booking bands way longer than you've even been playing. He's a cool guy if you're cool to him, but if you're giving him attitude don't expect him to just sit back and take it, he will set you straight. Anyway, Bruce is a great guy and really has his ear to the ground on finding interesting new bands and music from here and out of town. Props to Bruce.
Shuck and Jive-
I will always refer to myself as an artist. That's what I am. I am not saying I've ever requested special treatment, just humane treatment would be nice. I've played smaller venues where the staff have been pleasant and a pleasure to work with. I not requesting a ryder, I am not requesting anything except a "hello" and ive rarely had that from Bruce. I have actually lived in Nashville all my life and Ive been playing around town for 15 years. Please do not assume anything about me. Believe me, I really want to find some positive about the venue and about Bruce because Ive heard both sides. I have my opinion and I'm entitled to that. Please artists, bands, wankers, what have you, debate me on this, I want to like Bruce, I really , really do. I know the man has seen and been thru it all, still, can't he say hello to the people who come to play at his establishment and help keep the doors open? How bout a glass o water?
I have NEVER given any sort of "attitude" to Bruce. Only southern hospitality. You dont have to criticize me, You dont know me- how about stating your points without the negative bullsht - can we debate coridally?
I always thought Bruce was one of the true gentleman of the Nashville rock scene, and one of its heroes and true characters. I've been around him since he was almost young, and I've hardly ever heard him have a cross word with anyone. He is laconic, but that relaxed attitude is part of his charm.
But whatever you think of his personality, he's always booked bands few others would touch, and for the most part he's booked them because he listens and likes them. He's brought in bands from down the street and from different continents simply because he dug them. For someone who's booked and worked through as many shows as he had, that's as rare as it is cool. There also was a time when Bruce was one of the only guys who'd book original rock bands in town, even when he'd have made more money booking cover bands and frat bands.
And even if you had to ask twice, he did pay you, right? The nightclub business is full of hustlers and scammers, but Bruce is not one of them. The last 20-some years of the Nashville rock scene wouldn't have been the same without him.
Agreed. Bruce is a good guy, always treats the bands fair, brings in great bands, is a true a fan of music—you can count on him. It sounds like whoever has the problem with Bruce really has a problem with themselves. He's not hard to get along with.
ive been a big fan of b. fitzpatrick for years. solid fella. great bookings, beer's always cold, always get paid at the end of the night. the end is a great club.
Thank you for trying to shed some light on this situation Perhaps I just am not familiar enough with him and the way he works, even though Ive played The End many many times over the years. Perhaps I just never gave him a chance. I do not have a "problem" with myself. I simply wanted to air my frustration about dealing with him to possibly see if others felt the same way. Clearly, it is not. I know what he has brought to the table over the years. I do, I just wish i understood him more.
Maybe Bruce can step aside and bring back for a month the legend that was and is Tommy Smith. Just for the sake of contrast, you know? Tommy certainly was never at a loss of words when it came to talking to, um, artists.
maybe you and Bruce could go across the street to La Fiesta, share a plate of fajitas, and get to know each other better.
Because it's a pretentious tag. It's what managers and labels call their clients to make them feel important.
Me, I was just channeling what Tommy Smith would have thought of someone walking into the End under his watch (although it was known as Elliston Square when he opened it) and calling themselves an artist to his face.
Personally, I think anyone who wants to call themselves an artist has every right to do so. It won't have much affect what people think of what you do, unless you say it too often and too loud.
actually it's not pretentious at all. It is what it is. a noun . get over it. I am also a dancer, a painter, a cookie baker and a candlestick maker.
So youre saying all the people who play at The End arent qualified to call themselves artists? I just don't understand the stigma - why is it such a big deal to call yourself an artist if that's what you do?
one who creates art= artist.
Just for the sake of argument, or clarity, dancer, painter, baker and candlestick maker are all creative endeavors, but more descriptive as nouns than "artist." Why artist instead of musician?
I know I'm splitting mighty fine hairs. But your comment begged the question.
The funny thing is , I do call myself a musician. When someone asks me what I do, I dont usually reply with "artist". I say musician. So when I started this debate, so what, I used artist. Didnt think too much about it, till the dis comments came , to which I think why the hell cant I call myself an artist?
This is ridiculous.
It's disheartning that people will bash someone for calling themselves an artist.
Would the same be true if my artform was painting or sculpting?
Bruce is Bruce. What you see is what you get. He generally is great about giving bands a chance, and he'll put you on a bill opening for a touring band from time to time if you're cool and ask nicely. This is someone/something that is very valuable to the local scene.
Settling up with Bruce is a different story. I remember very few times when my bands got paid a fair share at the end of the night . Its no secret that the end's 'production fee' varies from night to night. But, thats just par for the course there. You kinda have to play there knowing ahead of time that the $'s aren't going to add up. If you want a guarantee and more free beer, get yourself a booking agent.
and 'artist' lol....dude most musicians stop calling themselves 'artists' at like 19. unless you're on the row, of course. it just makes you sound like a self-important asshole
Ok Luke you're not an artist.
whatever floats your boat.
and for the record.
why are you "Luke from character" and not
"Luke from Lylas"
or
"Luke from Cortney Tidwell"
?
i've worked with numerous talented and inspiring sandwich artists over the years.
I think the fact that you're debating the fact that you call yourself an artist makes you a douche.
The real problem with the End is the money situation, And it isn't just Bruce. Stacy(I believe that is has name), the door guy, allows anyone to come inside for free that looks familiar to him. I am not even joking. If you want to get in free to the End for life, just strike up a conversation with the guy for a while. There used to be this door guy that would try out karate moves before the shows started, he was much better at making people pay. Don't know what happened to him. The last time Of Montreal played the End, they sent somebody to the front to make sure Stacy actually charged people. I am sure resulting from past encounters with Bruce at the end of the night.
This lineup would have been great for a Friday or Saturday, but a four band bill on Sunday night is a terrible idea.
I would openly challenge anyone to put in as many years as Bruce has running a club and providing a stage for 800+ bands a year and see what it does to YOUR personality. I did it for about 8 years and it very nearly sucked my soul completely dry.
Nashville is lucky to have a guy like Bruce around and there will be a huge hole in the scene when he's gone.
Where is Tommy Smith these days? I always loved that guy, what a character!
ah you kids with your crazy ideas about love and freedom, i can't help but chime in on this,
there's a subtle shift in meanings there:
artist would be some one involved in the arts
Artist would be someone involved with Art, Art has only existed for around 160 years or so and refers to a way of thinking about the arts.
pretense is not neccesarily pretentious,
artist/musicians/sandwich artist always have some level of pretense when creating a piece,i.e "im gonna write a love song, so i can get laid"
the problem is when the execution of the idea falls short of the idea i.e Dark side of the moon vs. the wall. one could successfully argue musically dark side stands up better than the wall, even though the concept behind the wall is more sophisticated.
i wish more musicians would think themselves as Artists, thinking critically about one's work is just as important as skinny jeans and big muff's and whatever trendy tropes are around
sandwich artists make sandwiches so they can get laid.
wiggle puppy is v. v. smart.
if you paint of draw or play music, you are an artist. almost everyone is an artist, especially here in nashville. casio cassanova is an artist. caldwell (spanish bombs) is an artist. hands down eugene is an artist. the girl from the frolics is an artist. the mattoid is artist. rich from ghostfinger is an artist. everyone (except the drummer) from eureka gold is an artist. dave cloud is an old artist. glossary is an artist. cortney tidwell is an artist and still is. jared micah and hats are not artists they are garbage. wax fang are artists not from here though. umbrella tree are artists but they just have a bad name. american bang are for sure, not artists, they are bro's. if you play at springwater you stink. paramore are artists but they make bad, bad art. hands off cuba aren't artists they are background noise in the damp, dingey cellar of life. the ocelots are artists. paul burtch is an artist albeit boring. turbo fruits are too young to be artists, same goes for be your own pet. also i am not an artist i'm just commenting on these ideas everyone seems to be throwing around. thanks.
springwater is a good good place to perform. if youre an artist, or even if youre not. still a good place to be after all these yearss
i cant believe i just said that.
Your opinions are garbage. Quit trying to categorize local bands and quit trying to stray people from liking bands that are awesome just because you don't understand it. You're not commenting on ideas, you're just pissed all those bands you hate get more attention than yours. You're so in a band dude...don't deny it.
And if you're not, then a big "FUCK YOU " is in order.
Vote here for best Band of the Week
Slideshows
Top Commenters
