With so many bands, groups, troupes, and DJs at IndieArts Fest 2008, The Agenda saw an opportunity to ask the entertainers some questions about the City of Providence.
- Is there a lack of diversity in music venues in Providence?
The ‘Mericans: No - you just have to go to places you don't usually go to
Nick de Paris: Needs more electronic but getting there.
Ty Jesso: There is plenty of musical diversity in Providence if you like DJs, but where has all the live music gone to? There are too few live venues, too few bands, and the live music audiences that you used to see out and about would rather sit, drink and listen to DJs in their fave local bars. Not a complaint, I guess.
Swiss Chemistry Club: Safari Lounge; the old Green Room (before it started trying to look all up-scale-y); Fort Thunder; One Up; I liked the Liquid Lounge until it started looking like it was trying to be an upscale Hooters.
Providence Roller Derby: No, there seems to be a variety of great acts around the city.
Diamond Dan White: I think the real problem isn't the lack of diversity in the music clubs, but the lack of interest in live music. Why risk going to see a band that might suck when you can simply tap into the matrix and download music that you already know you like?
401 Rockerz: Yes, most definitely.
- What are some of your favorite bar/music venues that have gone, and why do you miss it/them?
Area C: I miss the Met and the Last Call and the old Lupo's. Has anyone else noticed that smaller touring bands have been bypassing Providence for years now? That didn't used to be the case. It’s hard to believe that this city couldn't support another medium sized venue for up-and-coming nationally touring bands. Maybe it's due to the “gentrification” and subsequent rising rents downtown. In other cities live music is as popular as ever, maybe even more so. Many, many bands are touring these days, but they're not stopping here. That's bad for the fans who live here, and for the local bands and music scene, since everything becomes too insular.
DJ C: Fort Thunder. I played at a few shows there back in the day, and I miss it.
Ty Jesso: The Met, The Custom House, The Old Green Room, The Last Call, The Century Lounge, The Church House Inn, Safari Lounge, Club Babyhead. I heard, DJed and/or played music in all of these great and sadly departed venues.
FreshKills: We're not from Providence. I was at Club Babyhead once. Had a nice time. Thanks.
Danger Danger Birds: The Custom House, missed for its charm and spot-on service to patrons and performers.
Double Shift Dance Theatre: The Met cafe. Dirt Floor; I got to see the Dandy Warhols in 1999, right up close, and you could sneak into Lupo's and see what was going on in there if the show you were at sucked.
Badman: When we first moved to Providence, the Met had just closed down. That looked like a fun place to play. We had some good times at the Safari. Once the P.A. speaker caught on fire. That was also a good time.
Mahi Mahi: The One Up ruled.
401 Rockerz: The Black Rep, circa 1997-2000. And raw chemistry and positive hip hop jams. the Living Room back in the 90s.
- Do you think gentrification is a real problem in Providence?
Poorly Drawn People: We don't so much think as we do feel, to conserve our logic reserves.
Nick de Paris: Nah. We need more people, in general
Swiss Chemistry Club: It may become a problem. As the expense of living increases, the people that keep this city interesting may be forced out. If this question is directed at the new condominiums being built, I'm not sure if they will be easily filled. There could be a high turnover rate once our fresh, new, professional residents take a walk down Washington Street on a Friday or Saturday night in the spring, summer, or fall. (See query #6: “If you could ask the mayor one question…”)
Bella Minx Burly Q: YES. This place will become a bedroom community for Boston if we don’t start focusing on sustainable housing, public transit, and economic opportunities for the people who live here. We should be doing everything we can to re-route the current ‘brain drain’ patterns.
Double Shift Dance Theatre: Can't we all just get along??
Badman: It's a bit disingenuous for me to decry gentrification. I'd say we're more part of the problem, being sort of the halfway mark between what a neighborhood used to be and what, by our presence, it will eventually become.
Providence Roller Derby: No.
401 Rockerz: You know it.
- What are the essentials to making a city culturally viable?
MakeUpBreakUp: Apply what goes on in Providence to your city, and you're all set
Poorly Drawn People: Larger culture receptacles. Less places without these.
Morgan Louis: Investment from people with money and power into the aspirations of forward thinking individuals seeking to do more to expand the art and culture of their respective passions in the city. I've poured my entire heart and meager earnings at my 9 to 5 job to try and create something that's honest and has value. You can look at it from the outside and say well, it's just house music and kids dancing. But it's expression and feelings and I have bitter resentment of the fact I have no really respectful way to convey my own passions.
Nick de Paris: More than one museum would be a start.
DJ C: A vibrant downtown with mixed-use space; the ability to walk to green space; shopping; recreation; nightlife, etc. Strong support for artists and arts institutions. Allow artists to take their work outside the boundaries.
Ty Jesso: More affordable living; more and better job opportunities; more free indoor/outdoor music events year round; more block parties & arts/music festivals; a waterfront boardwalk with nightlife; cheaper drink prices; affordable rehearsal spaces; 4 a.m. bar closing; 24-hour inner city public transit; and getting artists, musicians and people to move to Providence.
Swiss Chemistry Club: Schools that support the arts; diverse restaurants; local and live music venues; festivals. The willingness of the city to embrace and encourage participation in the city's progress.
Bella Minx Burly Q: We need more venues for performance! Also, an effort on the artists’ part to share and discuss their work across scene lines. So many artistic microcosms exist in Providence – expanding and sharing across scenes would challenge and improve our work as artists tremendously.
Double Shift Dance Theatre: Making the arts affordable and accessible to everyone. Not just consuming them, but creating them, too. It takes resources to make art.
Badman: People willing to make art, people willing to experience art, places to do so, and an administration that encourages the above.
401 Rockerz: Let the talents reign. Allow more positive jams, stop letting the state control and be one sided to the events they want. Hip Hop events are not all negative: let me show you how to throw a jam of peace, unity, love and having fun!
- Do you think that Providence is the "arts city" that it promotes?
MakeUpBreakUp: Yes
Morgan Louis: No, not at all. Art to me means embracing technology and introducing new methods of creative effort. Also completely exploiting the status quo of perceived art value and then destroying it so as to refresh the senses; and promoting people doing things such as this, and pushing the limits of what's defined as art makes an "arts city," in my opinion. The real art achievements of the city are built deep underground in outside communities where they can peacefully exist. How does that equal “arts city”? AS220 has made great advances on its own but that doesn't equal “arts city”—that equals AS220. The city really needs to be vibrant with various types of art and culture promoted by the city itself.
Double Shift Dance Theatre: Yes
Ty Jesso: If it were, there'd be arts and music classes in every Public School (not one or the other). If it were, there would be music "in the streets" every night and every weekend. If it were, there'd be better promotion and coverage of local art and music EVERY week in The ProJo and Phoenix, not once in awhile. People have forgotten about Providence's supposed "renaissance". We need a "nouvelle renaissance" to replace the "renaissance city" that never happened!
Swiss Chemistry Club: No. Unfortunately. There is a small percentage of people that even know it exists, and those that know are the ones who are actually involved and driving the city’s life. People from outside this city don’t really know the arts in Providence (well, not anymore in my opinion) unless they are artists themselves contributing.
Bella Minx Burly Q: Yup! This place is infested with us!
Providence Roller Derby: Yes. Thanks to organizations like IndieArts.
Mahi Mahi: Yes. It's very elite.
- If you could ask the Mayor a question, what would it be?
Poorly Drawn People: How often does he wear that Storm Davis t-shirt his aide bought at SoundSession last year?
Nick de Paris: This parting ticket is absurd! No, seriously, my question would be: Have sound session go longer than 2 a.m.
DJ C: Why don't the clubs go all night?
Joe Beats: Mayor, whats your favorite month: May or........ June????
Swiss Chemistry Club: Why do I see an average of five fights in the street every given Friday or Saturday night? But the concept of staying open an extra hour with the liquor shut off at 2 a.m., in order to let people sober up and not spill into the streets in our small city ALL AT THE SAME TIME, which would control the insanity that ensues every week at 2 a.m.” isn't an option? I travel quite a bit within the nightclub industry outside of Providence in much bigger cityies and don't see the same amount of chaos you see here on any given weekend.
Bella Minx Burly Q: How can you justify gutting all of the city's libraries – especially the ones in poorer neighborhoods?
Double Shift Dance Theatre: What do you think about our dance, White Bred Waltz?
Joél: Why Providence?
Diamond Dan White: Do you really think that anyone will vote for you for governor when you still haven't given the fucking firefighters a contract?
Mahi Mahi: Do you think you are doing a good job?
Triangle Forest: Why does the city close down at 1 a.m.?
- If you could add one new state department to city government what would it be and what would it do?
Area C: Task force on Corruption. Corruption stinks. This department would wage a War Against Corruption. And it would win.
Poorly Drawn People: If I don't answer this seriously, my girlfriend will punch me in the Netherlands. To promote continued peace with that great nation, I abstain from the question.
Joe Beats: A cool new department would be a "RENAMING COMMITTEE". It will be a star, chamber-like room in the Statehouse run by my man DJ Culture Vulture. He and his associates would sit there twelve hours a day and officially change the names of things within the bounds of the state. The city? Provi-DANCE. The Mayor? Mayor DANCER Cicilline. Trinity Rep? Trinity DANCE Rep DANCE!! YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes, the "yeah!!!!!" is part of the new "Trinity" title)
Bella Minx Burly Q: Department of Experiential Education! It would set up a city-wide system of mentors and apprenticeships across the arts and business communities.
Double Shift Dance Theatre: The Green Building Department, which would come up with subsidies and tax rebates for local businesses to install solar panels on the tops of their buildings to reduce reliance on external energy sources.
401 Rockerz: Hip Hop Academy: to enrich youth and adults on positive forms of expressions.
Triangle Forest: Police Oversight Commission, to investigate corruption in the police department.
- How do you think the music scene today compares to six years ago?
MakeUpBreakUp: Music six years ago was way cooler and better than today (in Providence that is, everywhere else it has pretty much stayed the same).
Poorly Drawn People: More technology, less techno.
The ‘Mericans: Music scenes always change because people come and go, so what can you do, other than embrace it?
Ty Jesso: Six years ago, you could: (1) Start at the Custom House, sit with Buddy, and listen to the DJs (2) Walk over to the Red Fez and hear an eclectic mix of tunes amongst wild animals (3) Saunter over to the Safari and see some local band's first ever gig. (4) Run over to The Met and see a choice Mike D national/international booking, or (5) Stop by AS220 to hear something esoteric and unjuried (6) Later, stumble over to Club Babyhead, The Century Lounge, The Call or The Green Room and catch your fave local band's monthly gig, and finally (7) Close out the night at either Nick-a-Nee's or Jake's. I did this Downtown Crawl many times. I kid you not. These days I do my crawling in the West End and occasionally, I end my night downtown. And I almost never see live bands downtown anymore.
Swiss Chemistry Club: In 2001, there were a ton of venues for live music and experimentation with support by the owners. Now I prefer not to go Downtown as much. It's all a bunch of venues running the same hip hop/r&b/reggaeton night full of people that can't handle their alcohol. I understand the Club owners need to pay the bills and make a profit and these ‘themes’ draw numbers at the moment. I just think we’re in a quantity vs. quality battle right now.
Bella Minx Burly Q: Things are much harder due to the lack of venues. There’s also much more compartmentalization, which sucks balls.
Providence Roller Derby: There seems to be a shift from live bands to DJs.
Mahi Mahi: It's different.
401 Rockerz: The music scene is weak unless you let the real funky technicians do it.
Triangle Forest: It's different, but it's not bad. I think there used to be one scene, and now there are "scenes"
- Should new condos be developed on the waterfront in India Point Park and where the Old Shooters is, or should the waterfront be a public space?
MakeUpBreakUp: The city develops new condos for people to live in, yet they cut jobs in the state. I think there are enough condominiums in Providence that still need to be occupied before any new condos are developed. Yet, if they want to develop new condos, let them—they will be hurting in the next few years when no one buys them.
Poorly Drawn People: The hippie in me says “a public space,” but right now I'm more concerned with reporting that I just got roofied by a hippie to the authorities than about condo development.
DJ C: New condos aren't necessarily bad but waterfront should always be public space.
Joe Beats: The waterfront should be public. This is a blue collar city.
Swiss Chemistry Club: “Does the city need new condos?” Sure. Why not? As long as it doesn't get out of hand and close up the city's public space. Providence is only so big. I like the waterfront being a public space.
Bella Minx Burly Q: PUBLIC SPACE! NO NEW FREAKING CONDOS!
Double Shift Dance Theatre: No. And more affordable housing, please.
Providence Roller Derby: Would love to see a beautiful public space there.
Joél: the city needs a another decent supermarket for the people that don't live in those new condos
Mahi Mahi: Public Space.
401 Rockerz: Nah, no more condos. Who is gonna afford ‘em? This is the city, let’s think the city.
Triangle Forest: Come on, seriously?
- Graffiti:"art" or "malicious destruction of property"?
MakeUpBreakUp: Depends on what the "Graffiti" is saying or showing.
Poorly Drawn People: Malicious Property Art.
Joe Beats: Man oh man. This is a tough one. I mean, as long as it has the word DANCE in it, I guess its art. no?????
Swiss Chemistry Club: Art. (Depending on the writing style, I'm not a fan of tagging up every square inch of the city with a sharpy). Graph writers should be willing to let some financial analyst Pottery-Barn their houses too though, don't you think?
Providence Roller Derby: Depends on where and how it is done. I would love to see more graffiti murals throughout the city.
Joél: That can go either way. Graf has, over time, become a well respected and accepted form of art. With that said, it's all in the intentions of the artist.
Mahi Mahi: Both.
DJ C: Art! Especially if it's good.
401 Rockerz: Beautiful art form. How many artists can pick up a can and do work like the graffiti artists? It’s not vandalism; it’s a pure art on the walls of the city. Though it shouldn’t be on private property. Let’s let more artists do walls of permission and storefronts.
Triangle Forest: Dude, if your art sucks, don't tell everyone about it. and please, especially not on the walls of my house.
- Has Downtown changed for the better?
MakeUpBreakUp: Yes. Downtown offers a lot more than it did a few years ago.
Poorly Drawn People: Since when? The '80s? Hell yes. Since yesterday? Status quo.
The ‘Mericans: Those parking enforcers have got to go, but things are looking up.
Badman: Not for me.
Mahi Mahi: I like it.
- Preservationists: "stuck in the past" or "vital contributors to developments within of the city"?
Area C: A little of both: it's their job to be "stuck in the past," but their role will continue to be vital, since the city will always need to look after its built heritage. Providence has established a very vital and effective preservation movement and has successfully protected a large amount of its built environment; there is more to be done, but we can compliment them on their successes so far.
What Providence lacks is a strong, articulate and active promoter of quality contemporary, forward-looking design. The preservationists are the strongest and most audible voices promoting design in this city, but they are inherently focused on the past (which is necessary for the preservation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings). We cannot expect preservationists to be the strongest advocates for new design; that is not their mission. Unfortunately preservationists often end up being the voice for new design in this city since there are no other powerful, effective "voices" out there.
In an ideal situation, a similarly-positioned advocacy group for new design would co-exist and work in balance with the preservationists. The buildings being built in Providence today should represent the best of contemporary design, not mimic the existing designs of a past era in order to blend in. It will be unfortunate if after this recent building boom, we don't have anything good to represent us: a design that speaks for us at the beginning of the 21st Century.
The ‘Mericans: Totally vital but their hands are tied as great buildings are torn down and terrible new buildings litter our skyline.
DJ C: Developers should always take the environment into consideration. Building "green" is a no-brainer, but they should also take into account the history of the area and the surrounding architecture and develop accordingly. Seeing the big picture in urban planning is essential to constructing vibrant cities of the future.
Bella Minx Burly Q: Vital contributors! Our collective history is our most valuable asset. What other city can claim itself a homeland of religious tolerance AND the birthplace of the diner concept?
Badman: Vital to developing and maintaining the character of a city. A sense of the past is part of what makes a city interesting.
Diamond Dan White: Preservation of historic buildings and sights is one of the most important things any city can do. All these new buildings in down town, especially Waterplace, look like they're straight out of the Communist Bloc. No character, no soul, just rectangles of steel, brick, and glass. There was a park there once, I saw Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" there. But hey, screw us townies, we just live here.
Any business that can come to this city can easily utilize any one of our many existing buildings, and use local contractors to renovate, not raze.
Mahi Mahi: I'm all for architecture. Sometimes a modern building is better than a pathetic imitation of the past. Read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.
