My last article on the Lakewood music scene was written with impartiality in mind, but it was still hindered by being the viewpoint of only one person. So, I decided to try to get the bigger picture by soliciting other people’s opinions on live music in Lakewood .  My goal was to get as varied a sample as possible, with a focus on the thoughts of people who travel in a different musical circle than I do.

My questions were: What are the disadvantages/advantages of Lakewood over other suburbs and/or Cleveland itself, scene-wise? What clubs do you come to in Lakewood ? Where do you think is the best place to play/see a show in Lakewood ?  I also encouraged the participants to go beyond the limits of these questions and express whatever was on their minds.

Unfortunately, despite posting my questions in a number of local-music-related online forums, I only received four responses.  Three of these are from people who I know and who like much of the same music that I do, which leads to some similarity in the responses.  The other response is from someone unknown to me, which brings in some diversity. Obviously, I would have liked to have obtained a larger and more varied sample.  I have many theories about why I didn’t get much of a response, but the simplest explanation is that getting people to respond to a survey without offering any form of compensation is always difficult.

Without further ado, here are the answers I received to my survey...

Amanda, member of DPI/Dead Peasant Insurance, guitarist, and “fan of quality nonmusic and music and other quality things,” from the Edgewater Park area of Cleveland writes:

“I love the density of Lakewood , but it feels like so much should be going on and isn't.  I drive through at night and peer into little sportsbars all in a row.  I hated the Rockwood and Symposium and loved the Green Room and was just beginning to really like the Capsule, but those places are all closed now.  I like Bela Dubby although I haven't been there much.  I don't really have a place to hang out now and I miss it.  The Mahall's was pretty cool, but I guess they've gone back to the bread and butter of bowling.  I've never been to the Winchester .  I don't really get into all that stuff down by 117th and Detroit , with the Goth disco (the Chamber) and the ‘80’s metal diva-bar (the Hi-Fi) although the buildings are cool, so it's a waste of space, I guess.  I hope there's more out there that I don't know about.  I'm sure there's a lot going on spread throughout the rest of Cleveland , little tiny spots in raggedy grey old buildings, basements full of special activities and musical stuff.  But right now, I have nowhere to go.

I used to love going to The Beachland and the Grog Shop, although I hardly ever go anymore unless something specific is going on, I guess I just got wrapped up in the westside -- that old Cleveland thing. I always liked Pat's although I did have a pretty significant problem once, so I wouldn't book shows there, at least, not if I didn't want an out of town band and ten other musicians waiting out in the snow for the owner who never showed up, and never called me.  But, that happens a lot, too with flaky little promoters getting in over their heads.  So, big news, whatever.  I love Cleveland and Lakewood and bands and shows and buildings and art.  We just need some places run by people who dig those things too and who aren’t just trying to weasel out some money, because there isn't any money.”

Wyatt of DPI, Dead Club, Fall Before the Almighty Tarrasque, and (sometimes) Iron Oxide, a Lakewood resident, writes:

“The best places to play are DIY venues.  The problem is that they usually don't make enough money to keep themselves going, so it is important to support them.”

Jeff, “musician, complainer, and faux label mogul” and member of Iron Oxide, also from Lakewood , responded to these questions:

What are the disadvantages/advantages of Lakewood over other suburbs and/or Cleveland itself, scene-wise?

“One of the advantages that I think Lakewood could have over the rest of Cleveland , but which it seems reluctant to exploit, is the sheer vast quantity of potential venues in Lakewood for music.  There are dozens and dozens of bars in Lakewood, not to mention a good number of coffee shops and other kinds of spaces where music could be performed, giving the discriminating music enthusiast a wide choice of kinds of music to enjoy.  However, it seems like the main music clubs in Lakewood are all concentrated around the east end of town on Detroit Ave, with the Phantasy complex and the Hi-Fi club, and up on Madison at the Winchester, all of whom seem to be rather limited in the kinds of music programming they do.”

What clubs do you come to in Lakewood ?

“I had been attending shows at Mahall's 20 Lanes, and before that, at the Capsule; however, each of those places has stopped putting on shows for various reasons.  I'm currently waiting for either some other venue in town to start having shows which interest me, or else for the existing clubs to stop having such uninteresting shows.”

Where do you think is the best place to play/see a show in Lakewood ?

“Currently it would be hard for me to endorse any Lakewood venue for either playing or attending.  I have in earlier times played shows at the Hi-Fi (when it was the Blind Lemon) and the Phantasy.  Unfortunately, I don't think any of those venues are particularly great places to see a show, although the Phantasy Theater isn't a bad place to see a large concert.

I have seen a couple of pretty good shows at The Winchester, but due to the kind of music my band performs, I have small hope of ever performing there myself.  However, it has proven to be a comfortable and decent place to see a show, if they happen to have a band you're interested in seeing.

“I think the best thing about Lakewood is that it has a high concentration of residents both old and young who appreciate different and interesting musics, and I think there is a really big potential for a very colorful, interesting music scene.  Unfortunately, it has proven very difficult to get a viable, thriving, sustaining 'scene' going, whether due to a lack of appropriate friendly venues, or just due to general malaise or indifference among the people of Lakewood who could potentially benefit greatly from supporting and participating in such a scene.”

Michele, a music fan who has lived in Lakewood for 14 years and previously lived exclusively on the westside of Cleveland , writes:

“I have been actively seeing live shows in the Cleveland area for 30 years.  I'm getting to where I have forgotten more shows than I can remember.  I started attending shows as a teenager at places like the Richfield Coliseum, Music Hall, Public Hall, and many, many Party in the Park Concerts.  When I was old enough I started going to club shows.  I was introduced to college radio and started going to see obscure, up-and-coming bands.  I have always frequented venues in Cleveland and on the eastside; I was one of the first of my friends to cross the river to see a show.  The original Agora and Pirates Cove, the Euclid Tavern, Peabody 's on Taylor and the Phantasy Night Club and Theatre are places that I frequented.  Still, to this day, when I have a free night, the first thing I do is look to see what bands are playing around town.

“These days I tend to go to the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, or the Grog Shop.  I have not been to the Odeon or the Agora since the House of Blues opened.  The bands that I like to see have been playing the HOB.  I've been to the HOB once and don't go there more often, mostly because of the price of tickets and I'd rather support a local business.  There are several other small clubs around town that I will go to see a band that I am familiar with.

“I seldom see bands in Lakewood anymore.  Mostly because the kinds of bands I like don't play in Lakewood .  I think Lakewood is a great place for nurturing new local bands.  I have seen many of my friends and family play shows in Lakewood , often with crowds as big as 20, excluding the bands.  I think there are niches where original bands play and they do fine, Hi-Fi, Phantasy, Manja type places.  I don't think we have a place in Lakewood that can support shows with bands that draw a couple hundred people except the Phantasy, and even there we don't have parking, which is an issue all around town.  Even if a new place opened in Lakewood where parking was available, they would just be sucking bands away from other clubs.  If Mark and Cindy opened a westside annex of the Beachland, I'd probably be there every night.  In the mean time I'm willing to drive a little bit farther to support their established club that has a history of putting on quality shows.”

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