By David Okamoto, KERA 90.1 Commentator
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-588247.mp3
Dallas, TX –
When it comes to tours by up-and-coming bands, Dallas has always been more of a rock 'n' roll rest stop than a true destination - we get a lot of cool shows, but we often get them just because the van needs to gas up on the way to Austin.
That reputation should improve with the House of Blues Dallas - the 11th link in a lucrative chain of nightclubs which opened last week in Victory Park with packed shows by Joss Stone, Erykah Badu and former co-owner Dan Aykroyd's latest incarnation of the Blues Brothers.
The 1,600-capacity House of Blues gives Dallas a much-needed landmark in the wake of the closings of the Bronco Bowl and the Gypsy Tea Room. It also solidifies a trend away from the poorly ventilated, punctuality-challenged Deep Ellum warehouses that once passed for concert venues. Anyone who suffered through shows at the aptly named Bomb Factory in the early '90s may mourn the epidemic of For Lease signs along Elm and Main streets - but they should relish the renovations that have transformed the Lakewood Theater and the Granada on Greenville into smoke-free, fan-friendly paradises.
Despite being owned by Live Nation, a corporate empire that runs amphitheaters and produces Super Bowl halftime shows, the House of Blues matches the fine acoustics and inviting appeal of those two homegrown halls. Whether you're standing among 1,200 people on the floor or reclining in one of the 400 balcony seats, you are surrounded by a carefully curated ambience that feels both rustic and royal. The walls, painted in shades of maroons, browns and blues, are accented by vintage blues photos and the vibrant colors of African-American folk art - even the stage curtain is a giant quilt. And a commitment to promoting unity and diversity is reflected in both the signage and the schedule: In Dallas, we rarely get to see Erykah Badu, George Clinton, Buddy Guy and Musiq Soulchild in the same month, let alone under the same roof.
The concert calendar underscores the impact of the House of Blues. True, the powerful chain can cherrypick artists and might lock out smaller promoters from entire tours - but in this era in which thousands of bands are winning fans through exposure on mp3 blogs and myspace, there is more than enough music to go around. More important, the ability to book multiple markets in a single pen stroke will result in visits by performers who might never otherwise make it to Dallas. We've benefited from chain clubs before: During the new wave era, when promoters were afraid of drawing spiky haired crowds wearing safety pins, Cleveland's Agora Ballroom delivered such then-unknowns as the B-52s, Squeeze and the Romantics to alternative-music-starved markets like Dallas, Tampa and Miami. The June House of Blues schedule already promises singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading's first local show in seven years and rare appearances by Norwegian death metal act Dimmu Borgir and even Chicago's Ralph's World, the critically acclaimed children's favorite that redefines what it means to be young and hip.
I still prefer the funky charm of the Granada, the beer-soaked, history-drenched tradition of Sons of Hermann Hall, and the cool college vibe of Hailey's in Denton. But I like what the House of Blues brings to Dallas - credibility, consistency and a conscientious effort to appeal to diverse tastes and ages. That makes it a house worth visiting.
David Okamoto is a content production manager at Yahoo in Dallas and a former contributor to Rolling Stone, the Dallas Morning News and ICE magazine.
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