Michelle Markowitz is the owner and proprietor of Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club, a Midtown entertainment institution. From Alejandro Escovedo and Freedy Johnston to goth DJs and burlesque shows, this family-owned operation has continued to host diverse local and touring acts and pour stiff drinks through the digital music explosion, a literal building explosion and the threat of a light rail running past the front door. Yesterday, to the sounds of the Grateful Dead, Michelle and I talked about iPods, Maker's Mark vs. Old Fitzgerald and what it takes to stay ahead of the game.
The Pitch: What are your KC roots?
Michelle Markowitz: Born and raised in Kansas City. My family's had the bar since Prohibition. It was at the location where Café Trio is on Broadway. Now we're here at 34th and Main and relocated here after the explosion in '49. My father bought the Bow and Arrow Rambler's Club #2 which is what we currently call Davey's Uptown Rambler's Club.
What's the best local show you've ever seen?
That's really hard. Let me think. In this decade? Can we pick a decade, let's pick a decade. In the 2000s?
How about the last 30 days or so?
The Chickenhoof reunion with Hearts of Darkness would have to be the top, tied with this last Saturday's show, which was Olympic Size, American Catastrophe and Expassionates, You don't have enough paper in the book to write down all the ones I've seen in the last decade, because there's been tons. A lot of great music comes through here ... our doors and elsewhere. I don't get out much, I have kids, so I don't get to go to other places much, but I have to say in the 2000s, the Republic Tigers at the Brick [11-27-07]. Apocalypse Meow was last year, so I can't put that in as my recent 30 day favorites. I would have to say that is clearly the most organized and locally talented music benefit that's ever been done here. I would have to say that for sure. It was a truly memorable show and one of my top tops. As well as the one at the Record Bar the following day that had Sister Mary Rottencrotch and the Pedaljets, I thought that was stellar as well.
What advice to you have for bands?
Practice. Practice. The second suggestion is practice, practice, practice and then get out and play. If you do a recording, do it well. Get a great engineer and make sure your material is stellar before you walk through the door. As far as file sharing goes, good luck. Live playing seems to be what the thing is now and selling discs is great and it's very important, but the single most important thing is live play.
What advice to you have for Kansas City?
Get off the corporate bandwagon and dance with the one that brought ya. Pretty much, the council and the mayor need to put more of their eggs in the baskets of the small businesses that have built this town and made it great. They are the backbone of the city. They will always be the backbone of this city, regardless of how much help they give to the corporate chains that want to come through, that they give their tax abatements to and favor in every way. Because we are paying their salaries -- the small person in their own bookstores, taquerias, furniture shops and antique shops, not just the bar and the food industry. The small businesses are really the ones that are paying the nut, and they are the ones that will weather the storm because they work hard to do so and they love their business and they love their town, not the corporate interests that get things handed to them on a silver platter. They really don't care. Profits are their bottom line, as well as with small businesses, but we have more of a stake in it. It's our town.
Why should people come here?
Friendly. Cheap drink specials, good music, nice people. They are good people.
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I had the best monitors in my life on that stage last Saturday. Always a pleasure when I walk in Davey's. Keep Punching!
Davey's is one of the gems of KC. I recently moved away and I can't believe how much I miss Michelle and everyone there. Great place, great venue, incredible shows, and just the complete opposite of corporate schlock.
I'll second everything Michelle stated.
Appocalypse Meow was one of the greatest experiences this ol' dude has partaken.
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