Peter, Bjorn and John and Dr. Dog Open Gargoyle's 2009 Season

• What Dean said. Also, unless you're right up front at the Gargoyle, you can't see anything. Maybe if you're 6 feet tall, but if you're 5'3" like me...forget it. Dean's right; most people who go to shows at the Gargoyle aren't there for the music. I saw people doing ring-around-the-rosy and all sorts of crap at Ted Leo. Just general obnoxiousness.

• You're right, Off Broadway and The Firebird DO do a great job, with decent atmosphere and sound. Gargoyle however, does not, unless you like your "charm" to include overly drunk college kids who are only there because tix were free, and treat the venue as a real-life chatroom. Oh, and one more note on sound: Loudness and proximity to speakers does not equal quality.

• I love the gargoyle. How can you complain about the sound when your 20 feet away. The charm of a small venue has been lost, the Gargoyle, Off Broadway, and Firebird do a great job of hosting shows in this atmosphere. I can't wait to go back to the garg for Dr. Dog. You venue elitist have fun sitting at home.

• also.. Sea Wolf has already been confirmed at the Billiken club for friday October 2nd.. should be a great show. While I would agree with the general consensus that the Gargoyle is one of the worst venues in town.. I have enjoyed my last few experiences at the Billiken Club.. The shows are free.. The beer is cheap.. It is non-smoking.. its easy to get close to the stage.. and the sounds is usually decent. My only issue is that the shows tend to run rather late.. I saw Margot & the Nuclear So & So's and Ra Ra Riot at the Bill Club last year, and both were excellent shows..

• To say The Gargoyle is the worst concert venue in STL is an understatement. I've been to house parties with better sound systems and atmosphere.

• Bands keep playing at the Gargoyle/Billikin Club because colleges can pay a guarantee, whereas many clubs can't pull that off, and prefer to pay out a percentage of the door. When I booked shows at my college, we often had first dibs on bands coming through for that reason.

• I don't think any band at this point is special enough to get me back into the Gargoyle. And sadly, I wouldn't call Billiken Club 'superior'. I start to get hot, very sleepy, faint and sick to my stomach every time I've been there (and so I won't be going there again). Other friends have had the same problem. I wonder if there is something in their air ducts. Kudos to both places for booking such awesome acts, though. I just wish the Duck Room, Pageant, Off Broadway, et al were booking at least some of these bands.

• If only the superior Billiken Club had the booking power of the awful Gargoyle...

• Oh, super. We can go pass out with the Wash-U kids from heat exhaustion. After Wolf Parade last year, it will take a truly special show to get me back into the Gargoyle.

TotalComments: 9