Memories from the people, part 2
I just became aware of the imminent demise of the continuance of not just a place, but a kind of ideal or ethic that has informed my life here in Columbus.
It all started at Stache's. I was in high school and had just fallen out of love with pop radio, having been introduced to SXE hardcore music. It was about 1989 or maybe 1990 and the first hardcore show I went to was an Endpoint show where I remember bursting out of my mom's blue Subaru hatchback, embarrassed as all hell, screaming about how I would NOT wear elbow pads and a helmet and I wouldn't get hurt- these are all my friends for chrissakes- "I'm fourteen mom, I can take care of myself! GOD!"
right underneath the marquis. I left that night covered in bruises and full of rage and hope.
Stache's was always like going to a friend's house. Like it was someone's overblown finished basement (and I really do mean that as a compliment) where we were lucky enough to have secret shows. I saw Kim Deal there at a Sleater-Kinney show and almost crapped my pants. I sat on the walls and cried over stupid boys multiple times. I missed the Nirvana show and have kicked myself over it ever since. I snuck into sold-out shows (sorry, but not really sorry). I watched my friends branch out into many different musical incarnations on that stage, one of my favorites being the Mudflap Girls From Venus. Sometimes I left elated, sometimes pissed or saddened, but I always went home…or to another bar…feeling ALIVE. So thank you for that.
I remember the public outcry when Stache's closed its doors. And the sense of relief when Little Brother's was born. I can't even tell you how many times I've been through life changes in that place, whether it be from revelatory freakin' mystical experiences from the music I heard (Devotchka, Blonde Redhead, The Dirtbombs, Del, Melt Banana, and many more), from the interactions I've had with other folks within those walls…or just from staring at that Gacy clown painting above the bar and contemplating the nature of evil. What are you going to do with the mural of Delvis (Dead + Elvis = Delvis)? Where shall I take my lusty drunken photographs of me and my best girlfriends if not at the bunny-slippered feet of the King? I digress.
I think it's a fucking shame. A shame, I say…that such a place would be thrown over in the interest of its supposed yearly potential for rent increases as part of a steadily gentrifying area, rather than being recognized for the wealth of humanity it contains on a nightly basis.
Anyway, thanks for all those years of music. Thanks for being like the cool big brother whose room I'd go to and listen to records; only they were live bands. The little hairs on the back of my neck have stood on end a thousand times over inside your venue; my heart has raced with excitement and anxiety; my mind has been blown; my spirit revived at Little Brother's.
I'll miss it.
With love,
Helyn
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Best of luck with everything, brother. It's a tough time in the entertainment world right now. If you do have to close, just remember that you fought the good fight and put on some great shows. I'll always remember the hospitality and good vibes that I received from you and the staff at little Brother's after a 12 hour drive from NYC to do my solo show and how well that show was received.
Thanks so much for everything,
larry kirwan
black 47
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I’m sorry to hear this news; unfortunately we have had only one visit to Little Brother’s. It was just this past March that we sat on the sidewalk at 1100 N High St for 4 ½ hours (on a beautiful day!) to see Daughtry, Cinder Road, and Eve to Adam. We had a blast and it was probably one of the best shows I will see in my life. I had never been to a concert so loud and “in your face” before. It was very hot and sweaty, but that made it even better! We were right in the front next to the speaker!!! (actually I was on the “ledge”). I would love to see more shows at smaller clubs like this. We had an awesome time at your club and the staff was cool too. Thanks to the staff member that gave me the guitar picks and set list!!
Thanks for the great experience and good luck to you!
Jaime and BJ
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Where do I begin? Little Brother's feels like a second home to me. Over the past five and a half years, I've spent so much time in that building. I've been in almost every hidden corner - backstage, in the basement, in the sound booth, behind the bar, everywhere but the men's bathroom. I've duct taped cardboard trees to the stage, tacked posters on the walls and even tagged a merch table with a little graffiti.
The first time I stepped foot in Little Brother's was November 4, 2001. The Sheila Divine was playing, and I was a new fan. I'd never even heard of Little Brother's before that show was announced, and living in Athens at the time, I didn't spend much time in Columbus. My then-boyfriend and two of my roommates came up for the show and we put our elbows on the stage and waited for the opening band.
It was Miranda Sound. Back in their pre-"Engaged in Labor", pre-"Western Reserve", pre-"Dan Bell on drums" stage. All it took was Dan Gerken singing into the pickups on his guitar and I was hooked. The first introduction to my favorite band.
Little Brother's was one of the few joints in town that I could see Miranda Sound until my 21st birthday in September 2002. And when that fall rolled around, I found myself newly single and lonely during Miranda Sound's release show for "Engaged in Labor." A few days after the show I e-mailed the band to tell them how much I enjoyed it, and they told me I could check out some additional photos at a website: donewaiting.com.
Little Brother's led me to Miranda Sound, and Miranda Sound led me to Robert Duffy and donewaiting.com, which in turn led me into the whole Columbus indie rock scene, where I have never felt so much at home.
Today when I heard the news, I realized that a big part of my life will be disappearing. The one club in town where I feel completely comfortable, where the bar staff knows me, where the booking agent will slyly let me in early to hand deliver a poster to Ted Leo and then let me stick around for his sound check, where I lord over the merch table with an iron fist, will be gone.
Local music won't be the same. Columbus won't be the same.
Thanks for everything you've done Dan. I am too young to have ever stepped foot inside Stache's, but Little Brother's is MY Stache's. I will never forget it.
-Kiesha
•••••••
Yeah I've been there.. more times than I can count. Little Brother's
(formerly Staches) along with Used Kids provided me with the soundtrack for my twenties. In Used Kids case, hopefully many more. It greatly saddens me that Lil' Brothers will be closing up this summer. In my opinion, it was the rock which cemented the Columbus music scene. Other music fests, clubs and whatnot came and went but Lil' Brothers was there.
I didn't have much in my life except art and music. Some of the best shows I've ever seen in this town were at Staches and Little Brothers. Guided by Voices was always memorable. Soundtrack of Our Lives, Brainiac's last show at Staches, Pretty Girls Make Graves w/ Blood Brothers, New Bomb Turks, Sleater Kinney, Built to Spill, Mike Watt... the list goes on. So much so that I have a tough time pinpointing a standout night. I've even been to
some really dead nights where I was one of maybe 30 folks in the club. This venue, this Dan Dougan housed many a fine show. I really hope Dan continues on as a promoter because this town really needs a Little Brothers. Culturally and perhaps spiritually, I think Columbus would be an empty wasteland of mini malls without a Dan Dougan. And I hope this landlord falls on his ass.. hard. Pulling this stunt. All the best to Mr. Dougan and the
staff of Little Brothers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- Thomas
•••••••
What a huge loss to Columbus.
Thank you for everything LB's did for thecommunity, as well as for all the great music. Nobody who enjoyed the place you made
for independent music and politics will ever forget it, or your hard work to make it so. Greed only wins in the short run -- in the
long run, you've done a tremendous service to help defeat greed.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
-Mimi & Michael
We have over 150 emails documenting your thoughts & memories.
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