I hear it's still open but badly needs repair It ought to be fixed (esp. now)

It IS still open, but needs repair in more ways than one...

First Ave has always been a bit of a 'dirty bar.' The place for indie/punk bands to play. For most of my life it was also THE destination for city hipsters to go clubbing.

Well, now, it is still a 'dirty bar' only their booking of shows is growing more sporadic and their club nites are embarrasing. With the exception of their Salsa nite, few people go there to hang-out and dance.

First Ave has gone through cycles of popularity in the past. This downturn, though, has lasted longer than any other I've seen.

The MPLS night life has changed a lot in the past few years. Downtown has been overrun by new fancy, high-end clubs that charge $20 covers. They are clean and flashy and, well, kinda boring. But, 1st Ave has just been completely unable to compete.

I would never want 1st Ave to upgrade all the way and lose it's 'dirty' feel, but they need to put some money and time into that club before it's lost forever.

endorphin74 said:

exactly! it may be kinna grody and smoke-filled whenever there's a dance night goin on, but that's one of the main reasons why i love first ave. fuck all of these newer clubs that are poppin up all the sudden, what's the point of 'em bein there, it's just basically to attract all the suburbanites that come into town on the weekends.


the new clubs!

Wow. I'm sorry to hear this. I've only been there twice but I thought it was THE coolest rock club I've ever been in. Granted I'm from Nebraska so it not like I've ever been to the Whisky or CBGB or any other famous club, but I though the First Ave was just awesome. It had the best stage, sound, and lighting of any club I've ever been in. I would seriously be saddened if anything happened to it.

As for it being in disrepair... I was never there in the past so I have nothing to compare it to. It seemed like a dirty rockn' roll club. Which is what I like!!

When was the last time Prince played First Ave.?

okaypimpn said:

yeeeeears ago, man....

I saw Liz Phair at First Ave last week and it was the same dingy, dirty, smoky place it always has been. I loved it! I hope it never changes!!!!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

SOTT days or earlier than that?

okaypimpn said:

heck if i know, i'm not originally from mpls. i've only lived here for 2 years. the locals and first ave. veterans here will definitely know more than i do.

okaypimpn said:

The last shows I know about were around Sign O' The Times. Specifically the widely bootlegged preview show for that CD. He may have played after that, but I'm not aware of any performances after that time...

One thing I just DONT undertstand is why, why W-H-Y doesnt P step in, and buy the place out 2 keep it open etc (not, god-willing!) turning it in2 his latest whimsical fantasy-land.

He SO could do this, and 2 be honest, I think he should - he and that place are inextricably linked - 4ever. Im glad I got 2 go there back in '91 (saw Firehose's perform, which was awesome).

It'd be a damned shame 4 this place 2 fall in2 such a state of disrepair, or 4 the owners 2 be so unable 2 compete that they had 2 sell up. That place (in many ways) IS MPLS. At the very least, it represents the heart of it's music scene/history.

Yeah, First Ave. is a gritty club. It's sad to see it so empty and lame lately. It's the kind of place I end up going to if I know I'm going to be up all night and partying hard. But I've been going there since I was thirteen, so of course I have many fond memories of it and the Entry.

bananacologne said:

Frankly, I think it would be destroyed if he bought it. I think Prince has about as much business sense as a watermelon. And while world-wide it's known for being Prince's place from the Purple Rain era, around these parts, it's so much more than that.

But it is sad. It's been rumoured to be going out of business for about as long as I've been hanging out there (13 years or so?). It has it's hey-days and then it's downturns. It's still one of the best live music venues in the city. One of the biggest problems is their concert booker left to work for The Quest and Clear Channel.

minneapolisgenius said:

I hear ya girl, I started at 15....them's a lot of years to give to a place and slowly watch it crumble

CarrieMpls said:

co-sign

what I would like to see him do is a 'benefit' or 2 for the Ave...LIke do his Xcel show in June and then a couple of gigs at 1st Ave, with proceeds returned to the club...that'd be sweet!

But yeah, if 1st Ave ain't dead yet, it surely would be once Prince took it over!

endorphin74 said:

Hmm... aftershows?

NCC2012 said:

THAT WOULD BE PERFECT!!!

and besides, if we are all in St Paul, ain't no sense in having us haul way on down to Paisley!

endorphin74 said:

Heh... traffic jam on I-94 West!

NCC2012 said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

The traffic copter shows it on the news....hundresd of cars backed-up with the faint sound of "Pussy Control" heard all around

endorphin74 said:

endorphin74 said:

Think u both misunderstood me, or are missing my point - that's EXACTLY what I meant.

He's WELL within his power/ability 2 get off his ass and save it - or at least help out.

And hell no, I'd hate 2 see him buy that place, cuz he'd spray it purple, have some tacky gold furniture (that he 'designed' natch,) and have 'love4oneanother' nites there every nite o' the week. no thanx!

What I meant was it needs 2 be kept ALIVE as a LIVE venue. I Loved that place - and seeing Firehose play there that nite was a trip.

bananacologne said:

I understood you perfectly! You want Prince to take over the whole world

bananacologne said:

I get you now.

endorphin74 said:

princey world order!!!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

endorphin74 said:

I would miss the sticky floors, the crappy drinks, the sweaty mob of people standing around the bathroom entrances, the 7th Street Entry where you'll get a panic attack thinking about the fire code violations , the disgusting bathrooms with the doors that don't lock and the crazy stall at the end of the women's bathroom that has the huge window so everyone outside can see you peeing or doing whatever it is that you're doing in the toilet , and the desperate, horny stragglers that hang around the dance floor at the end of the evening trying to pick up anyone or anything so maybe they can get some after 3 a.m.

minneapolisgenius said:

minneapolisgenius said:

I LOVE FIRST AVENUE!!!!!