Two events that took place in February are now impacting how Buffalonians get their late-night entertainment.
After 99 people died at a Great White show in Warwick, R.I., and 21 died - with many more injured - trying to escape a fight at a Chicago, Ill., nightclub, increased governmental regulation has impacted nightly entertainment spots across the country.
While this may seem like a beneficial thing for the safety of the partygoers, it has led to difficulties for the owners of the clubs.
Soundlab, a non-profit cultural space that has been hosting innovative performances for over a year, was prematurely forced to close its doors to the public on Sunday due, indirectly, to the new and harsh codes being enforced by the government.
"An average show hosts about 60 to 100 people with a ton of space to spare, therefore very few shows would have been impacted by a new capacity requirement," said Soundlab's director, Craig Reynolds.
Reynolds said city officials never ordered Soundlab to shut down, but there were some problems the club would have had to address.
"We just gave up before the pressure got worse and we had to implicate the landlord. It was like a domino effect and we were in the line," said Reynolds. "No one pushed us, but the pressure was enough to push us out before things got messy. We can't afford messiness because we plan to continue somewhere else."
Many UB students regarded Soundlab as a great treasure. John Long, a performer at Soundlab and a graduate student of English literature and media studies said the impact on him has been significant.
"I am upset to see the venue close. Soundlab brought in acts that Buffalo would not have had the opportunity to see. I know that for myself, as well as other people that frequented Soundlab," he said. "The events brought to Buffalo have definitely changed my musical appetite."
The loss of Soundlab and the new restrictions that are being imposed on venues raises the question of where the responsibility of safety lies.
"Anyone who is running a public assembly space has to be responsible, I don't challenge that. But at the same token, you have to be a responsible patron as well. For Soundlab, it was less a complete capacity issue but more minute things and pressures that all added up."
Fans of the venue will be glad to know that all is not necessarily lost for Soundlab. Reynolds said that although the closing was very sudden and unexpected, Soundlab is going to look for a new space over the summer and hopefully move in by next spring.
"We know we have to work very quickly to stay up and running so we are looking now and hope to be back up and rolling in October," he said.
"As the Pearl Street venue for Soundlab is laid to rest, so is a very wonderful moment in Buffalo experimental music," said Long. "Fortunately, the curators of Soundlab are looking for a new space. If this happens, I hope more people will go out of their way and out of their normal bar or weekend habits and see some of the events."
