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Local metal and hardcore heads will remember that, back around June of last year, El Torreon closed its doors following a liquor license issue with the city; then came the rise and subsequent relocation (or two) of the Icehouse, or American Ice, followed by the melding of that venture with the El Torreon building (Wayward Son, June 29, 2006). Followed by a mysterious, biblical rain of Every Time I Die band merch from the sky.
Most of that was Beat Oven's doing (except for the rain, which was an act of the Holy Spirit). Label honcho Drew Burasco and company took up where original El Torreon owner Abe Haddad left off, eventually re-opening El Torreon late last year. And that's when the floods really did come, forcing an eventual departure.
"The main reason we moved out of that place was that it leaks like a sieve. It rains indoors. I had 10 buckets on the floor during one show," Burasco recalls.
Beat Oven's new home is a beautiful place. The theater books weddings and receptions several times a month, so the inside of the 350-capacity venue is nuptially appropriate: White fabric sheets hide walls and undulate across the ceiling. A hardwood dance floor supplies an unusually classy mosh surface. Most important, a well-stocked bar sits at the back, facing the stage. "The way the place is licensed as a theater, we can book all-ages shows and keep the bar open," Burasco says.
A temple!
But what kind of rogues stand upon this altar? When I went last Tuesday and Thursday nights, I saw one good band and two that were wretched. On Tuesday, the PowerPlant, a math-thrash band from Fern, Iowa, thrilled with a fusion of experimental improv and hardcore. The local bands I saw aren't worth naming.
"Super Sonic" by Beat Oven band Six II Chaos:
What's more interesting — and crucial to the venue's future — is Beat Oven. Operated by half a dozen earnest scene supporters and backed by an eccentric investor named Jeanne Bojarski, a transplanted East Coaster who in '92 ran for the U.S. Senate on the libertarian bill. (This gal's a whole other story.) Burasco operates the label's studio, Hyde Park Recording, in the top floor of his house, and Beat Oven has basically churned out an album a month over the past year. With 14 bands on the roster — locals you've likely never heard of — Beat Oven will sign anyone. Burasco claims that he doesn't charge a band to produce an album. All he asks for is 50 percent of the album-sale royalties.
"I want to be to Kansas City what Sub Pop was to Seattle," Burasco explains. "They signed every band in Seattle. Then, when Nirvana took off, suddenly everyone in the country was crazy for anything plaid."
But he doesn't want to lose money. That's probably why you won't see too many El Torreon-style, all-ages shows (metal, emo, Underoath, Senses Fail, etc.). Those shows require guarantees that Beat Oven can't afford.
"Instead of trying to bring big bands," he says, "how about making the bands here big?"
How about picking better bands, Drew? The bands on Beat Oven's roster that Burasco describes as "growing" are pretty awful. Even the bands Beat Oven is proudest of — Six II Chaos, Rockesh and Burasco's own Tripp Algiers — are not, well, there yet. (Note to bassists: Fellas, you wouldn't slap a girl. Don't slap a motherfuckin' bass!)
But that's the asshole critic in me talking. As a genuine fan of the local scene, I watch with interest this Beat Oven experiment, and I do hope all goes well for them. That they make money, put on good shows, bring in good bands from out of town (despite the voiced strategy not to), and grow into something great. After all, the Mission Theatre's sosonice.
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"We watched pretty much every band in town come and go through the El Torreon and Icehouse"
Exaggeration... all the shitty bands did play regularly because no one else wanted to play there. it's a small community, word gets around quick
"we obviously have very different tastes in music, as do a lot of people these days,"
captain obvious, Harper is a paid music critic who actually goes to shows of all types of music. You.. what do you have on regular rotation? How often do you go to shows not at your own venue? Harper is more in touch with the music industry than you'll ever be. He's aware of trends and he's aware of tastes. You are unaware. New music disgusts you, it's a reaction to not being able to keep up with "the times." It's a side effect of aging. You lost track of what's cool so you pretend that everything is cool to feel cool.
"KC scene should be more about KC bands, I know who the "favorites" are around here, I know who's "in the clique"."
and this statement proves my point.
Music scenes have a place for all bands, shitty ones and good ones. Once the shitty bands break up or reform to be unshitty, they stop playing your venues and listening to your bags of lies because someone who hands them money can tell better lies and book them at venues where people know they'll see semiquality music (Band Wars). The good ones stay clear of all the shitty venues and only play the venues you call "cliques." I think it's great to help out kids who want to experience playing in front of people, hell, school probably won't let them play in front of their peers. But trying to book professionals with the conflict of interest that is live venue + recording studio + label is dumb. It's not a winning combination and it's obvious no one running the shit has experience with successful business ventures or tasteful, talented musicians.
The most successful all ages venues were the ones in which the bands kept 100% of the money. It's reality. Give up and join the already successful venues so you can see how it works.... or don't and just live off the talentless hacks.
"We watched pretty much every band in town come and go through the El Torreon and Icehouse" Exaggeration... all the shitty bands did play regularly because no one else wanted to play there. it's a small community, word gets around quick "we obviously have very different tastes in music, as do a lot of people these days," captain obvious, Harper is a paid music critic who actually goes to shows of all types of music. You.. what do you have on regular rotation? How often do you go to shows not at your own venue? Harper is more in touch with the music industry than you'll ever be. He's aware of trends and he's aware of tastes. You are unaware. New music disgusts you, it's a reaction to not being able to keep up with "the times." It's a side effect of aging. You lost track of what's cool so you pretend that everything is cool to feel cool. "KC scene should be more about KC bands, I know who the "favorites" are around here, I know who's "in the clique"." and this statement proves my point. Music scenes have a place for all bands, shitty ones and good ones. Once the shitty bands break up or reform to be unshitty, they stop playing your venues and listening to your bags of lies because someone who hands them money can tell better lies and book them at venues where people know they'll see semiquality music (Band Wars). The good ones stay clear of all the shitty venues and only play the venues you call "cliques." I think it's great to help out kids who want to experience playing in front of people, hell, school probably won't let them play in front of their peers. But trying to book professionals with the conflict of interest that is live venue + recording studio + label is dumb. It's not a winning combination and it's obvious no one running the shit has experience with successful business ventures or tasteful, talented musicians. The most successful all ages venues were the ones in which the bands kept 100% of the money. It's reality. Give up and join the already successful venues so you can see how it works.... or don't and just live off the talentless hacks.
Cool Jason, we obviously have very different tastes in music, as do a lot of people these days,I REALLY hated the band from Iowa, you liked, but I know some people dig that stuff..
I think I like being a good hearted label, I pick bands I like, for whatever reason, but mostly based on seeing them live several times, I know you like Metal, have you listened to Count Thy Days?? They're on our label.. starting the second album soon..
I know you're a critic, I expect that, I just think The KC scene should be more about KC bands, I know who the "favorites" are around here, I know who's "in the clique".
Cool Jason, we obviously have very different tastes in music, as do a lot of people these days,I REALLY hated the band from Iowa, you liked, but I know some people dig that stuff.. I think I like being a good hearted label, I pick bands I like, for whatever reason, but mostly based on seeing them live several times, I know you like Metal, have you listened to Count Thy Days?? They're on our label.. starting the second album soon.. I know you're a critic, I expect that, I just think The KC scene should be more about KC bands, I know who the "favorites" are around here, I know who's "in the clique".
Drew, thanks for the feedback. I understand your philosophy and am interested to see how it works out. I think it's noble that you are building a community of fledgling bands in whom you see promise. The question is whether the live-music scene can sustain the experiment. Most people, when they go out, want to invest in an experience that will pay off in terms of entertainment. They want their money's worth, in other words. Will Beat Oven develop a reputation as a deliverer of quality entertainment or merely become known as a good-hearted little label that insists on putting mediocre bands on stage? Time will tell. I wish you all the luck in the world, but my job as a critic keeps me from being a total cheerleader. I have to call bands like I see 'em.
In the case of Six II Chaos, no, I haven't seen them live. From the video Aaron mentions and the songs on their MySpace, I judged that they still have a ways to go. On "Super Sonic," the singer's voice is more often sour than sweet (that applies to most songs I've heard), and the guitar solo near the beginning is pretty laughable. They may put on a phenomenal live show, but as Beat Oven is foremost a label and recording studio, the recorded product is the main concern, I would think. Don't dismiss MySpace, either. When it comes to going to shows for pleasure, I've gone to see bands I'd never heard of because of the quality of songs on their MySpace. And I've chosen not to see others on the same basis.
Beautiful venue, noble experiment -- but don't forget that it's all about the music.
Drew, thanks for the feedback. I understand your philosophy and am interested to see how it works out. I think it's noble that you are building a community of fledgling bands in whom you see promise. The question is whether the live-music scene can sustain the experiment. Most people, when they go out, want to invest in an experience that will pay off in terms of entertainment. They want their money's worth, in other words. Will Beat Oven develop a reputation as a deliverer of quality entertainment or merely become known as a good-hearted little label that insists on putting mediocre bands on stage? Time will tell. I wish you all the luck in the world, but my job as a critic keeps me from being a total cheerleader. I have to call bands like I see 'em. In the case of Six II Chaos, no, I haven't seen them live. From the video Aaron mentions and the songs on their MySpace, I judged that they still have a ways to go. On "Super Sonic," the singer's voice is more often sour than sweet (that applies to most songs I've heard), and the guitar solo near the beginning is pretty laughable. They may put on a phenomenal live show, but as Beat Oven is foremost a label and recording studio, the recorded product is the main concern, I would think. Don't dismiss MySpace, either. When it comes to going to shows for pleasure, I've gone to see bands I'd never heard of because of the quality of songs on their MySpace. And I've chosen not to see others on the same basis. Beautiful venue, noble experiment -- but don't forget that it's all about the music.
Not sure if you actually stuck around to see Six II Chaos, but I did. For once, there is a band out there that puts on an amazing live show, actually better than the song I had heard on the music video I must say, I was surprised and delighted. I can't deny the fact that some of the acts were pretty shitty.
If anyone knows about the importance of a live show and stage presence, i'd imagine it would be you.
On another note, that is one hell of a good venue. It's in it's infancy, so you have to give it time. Good sound, good lights, now all it'll take is the couple of months to actually book the good shows. I think it has the potential to be one of the best venues in KC.
You also missed Chronic while you were there Thursday night. Had a chance to actually see his long hair before it was all chopped off at the BBQ next weekend. You coming out to that?
Not sure if you actually stuck around to see Six II Chaos, but I did. For once, there is a band out there that puts on an amazing live show, actually better than the song I had heard on the music video I must say, I was surprised and delighted. I can't deny the fact that some of the acts were pretty shitty. If anyone knows about the importance of a live show and stage presence, i'd imagine it would be you. On another note, that is one hell of a good venue. It's in it's infancy, so you have to give it time. Good sound, good lights, now all it'll take is the couple of months to actually book the good shows. I think it has the potential to be one of the best venues in KC. You also missed Chronic while you were there Thursday night. Had a chance to actually see his long hair before it was all chopped off at the BBQ next weekend. You coming out to that?
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Thanks for the article Jason, I agree the locals on the one show you weatched were anything but the cream of the crop... That was like I told you then a "leftover" El Torreon Show that we moved instead of canceling. At El Torreon we gave a lot of bands a chance to play that would never have gotten a gig at the hipper clubs.. What you have to remember about us is we recognize that bands don't START great they must be worked with and nurtured and helped out along the way.. So we sign bands that aren't in your opinion "there yet" of course we do, thats our philosophy, we get em when they're new and still developing, and try to boost them up a bit, the "BIG" bands don't need our help, they have it all figured out, Theres so much more to the music business than merely recognizing whats already popular. The key to us is finding bands with potential. We watched pretty much every band in town come and go through the El Torreon and Icehouse and watched who came to see them, and listened, and we tried to pick the bands we think WILL do something.. thats the gamble in this business, not what IS but what WILL BE..
Thanks for the article Jason, I agree the locals on the one show you weatched were anything but the cream of the crop... That was like I told you then a "leftover" El Torreon Show that we moved instead of canceling. At El Torreon we gave a lot of bands a chance to play that would never have gotten a gig at the hipper clubs.. What you have to remember about us is we recognize that bands don't START great they must be worked with and nurtured and helped out along the way.. So we sign bands that aren't in your opinion "there yet" of course we do, thats our philosophy, we get em when they're new and still developing, and try to boost them up a bit, the "BIG" bands don't need our help, they have it all figured out, Theres so much more to the music business than merely recognizing whats already popular. The key to us is finding bands with potential. We watched pretty much every band in town come and go through the El Torreon and Icehouse and watched who came to see them, and listened, and we tried to pick the bands we think WILL do something.. thats the gamble in this business, not what IS but what WILL BE..
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