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It ain't dead, it just sleepin

2009 was the year of empty promises. Most of us just thought, "Fuck it, let's just ride this shitsock garbagetrain called 'the aughts' out. We can always try again next decade." Well, it's a new decade and I'm throwing down the gauntlet. Let's get this Dead Venues party (re)started, right?

In a time before blogs roamed the Earth, Xeroxed zines were king.

Long before the days of high school suburbanite dance parties and “Hook your iPod up to the sound system and drink for free ‘DJ nights’” the Ottobar stood for something...I dunno, more honest? Surly bartenders slung dollar Bohs and saluted wholesome, family friendly topics, like porno and Satan. Little known bands like At the Drive-In and Death Cab for Cutie pulled grateful crowds that wrung every drop of air out of that cramped and flimsy main room. Hang around in the upstairs lounge long enough, and you might've found yourself being stalked by Otto, the namesake barcat. And if they gave out a “Best of Baltimore” award for nastiest men’s room, that one behind the stage would have been a lock. Rose tinted days-gone-by, I know. Still, back then Mike, Todd, Tecla and the others would go that extra mile to make sure you thought they didn’t give a fuck, even though you knew that deep down they really did. Case in point, Ottozine.

This little freebie mag, thrown together with loving carelessness, full of spite and vice, represents a moment in time and a venue in its prime. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the occasional trip to the current Ottobar, an even decade later...but while the name may be the same, that place is gone forever.

Click thumbnails to engorge

Some great fliers courtesy of Tim Kabera

....or is it Kim Tabera now ?

Anyway, keep an eye out for some great contributions from Tim in the near future.

Payan's Rugs

I only attended one show and a couple of DJ Bump dance parties at Payans but I remember it being a pretty cool space. If you have any photos or videos from Payan's rugs send them to me ! matt@morphius.com



Man, Stars of the Dogon really blew Explosions in the Sky off the stage at the above show.

Ink & Dagger at the Chop Shop ! December '98 (?)

One of my favorite bands of the era playing a great show at one of the best D.I.Y. venues of the era. R.I.P. Sean McCabe.





Thanks Scott Peters for the pics and Damon Pieri for the flyer !

Where are they now ? A view of some Dead Venues as they look today.

Ahh, probably the building where I have seen the most live music, 203E. Davis St served time under the flags of the Ottobar, The Talking Head Club and Chambers. From the late 1980's to early 2008 this little Tudor-style building has seen some legendary performances. Many of them didn't even happen inside the club. Lightning Bolt destroyed hundreds of kids in the back alley and the Bourbon Street Anti-Fest and Reverent Fog Fest were summertime traditions of drinking and music on the filthy little side street.

The former Reptilian Records space in Upper Fells Pt. is now a check cashing place serving the growing Latino community. Reptilian was not only the most important independent record store in Baltimore's history it also hosted many legendary show from the likes of The Melvins to the local metalcore legends Torn Apart.

The Polish National Hall in Fells Pt. hosted scores of punk and H.C. shows in the eighties. Today it is still a Polish social hall, not sure if they have any type of performances there anymore though.
The entrance to the building formerly known as the Congress Hotel on Franklin St. The basement housed perhaps Baltimore's most legendary club "The Marble Bar". I'm too young to have caught a show there but would like to hear from anyone who could tell me exactly where in the building the bar was and how people entered it (through the hotel or through a separate door).
The very first Talking Head Club was a very short lived spot in this building on Cathedral St. in MT. Vernon. From what I remember it seems like the space was an old speakeasy that had sat idle for many years and now it is silent once again.

The old American Revolution (The Rev) in the Station North neighborhood is now a jazz club with a pretty strict dress code .

The old Supreme Imperial / Chop Shop on Pearl St. Not sure if anyone lives there currently but it looks pretty dead.