The concert going experience is one that has grown and changed throughout time, with new and old venues alike tailoring themselves for their audiences. Music always has a community to go along with it.
One struggle that seems to pervade the music scene regardless of where you go is the difficulties of maintaining underground and local venues. Places that have been host to the industry for years and have seen the rise and fall of every kind of band at every level of success are facing the threat of closure due to a multitude of issues. Whether it be from high turnover rates in ownership, lawsuits, or real-estate developers encroaching on their territory, these smaller venues face a multitude of obstacles to keep them on their toes.
One such place that’s been hit with a recent wave of bad luck is Mohawk Place. This iconic music venue in downtown Buffalo has hosted nearly every measure of musician and genre for over 30 years. The venue has seen names such as The White Stripes and Twenty One Pilots before they blew up, and more common local talents like Nine Layers Deep and Pine Fever. The venue is settled in an old 1896 building with its own rich history that lends a tight-knit and cozy vibe to this place, giving it a truly one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
On Jan. 31, they hosted night two of their farewell show; one last hurrah before their closing. There was laughter, talking, head-banging and most importantly the palpable energy of a crowd coming together for the end of an era. Fans gathered to say goodbye to a place that had been home for so many years. Among the crowd was long-time patron Mike Conner.
“It's a space, and all spaces hold value. It's been a part of our lives for years,” Conner said. Adam Hesketh, another long time goer, aptly concluded, “Long live rock and roll.”
Marty Boratin, the booking coordinator, was a great resource in both understanding the place and what it means to the community, as well as some of the reasons for its closure. Namely personal issues for the owner causing a backlog in managing finances, as well as the changing landscape of the surrounding area, with developers buying up businesses and making it harder for long standing ones to remain.
It certainly didn’t help that just over a month ago, the venue faced a lawsuit after an unfortunate incident where a performer’s failed attempt at crowd surfing left a woman paralyzed.
Boratin has mentioned the possibility of the venue reopening under new owners, with several interested parties including the Preservation Society. Boratin left us with a summation of the situation that expresses what a lot of patrons are feeling right now, saying it’s “obviously sad but hopeful.”
While the future of the establishment is unknown, one thing is certain: where there is music there will be music lovers and those willing to do anything to support the arts. Music isn’t going anywhere and neither are the underground artists that define genres, pave roads, and exemplify what it means to create art just for the love of it.
Marina Noack is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at marina.noack@ubspectrum.com
