This is a sad week for those who enjoy dancing to electronic music spun by a real live DJ in the Twin Cities. First Ave decided to do away with actual DJs and play top 40 because some “consultant” told them this would be the best way to make a buck. Saturday night marked their last night of electronic music with world-famous San Francisco DJ Mark Farina spinning two amazing hours of Mushroom Jazz and two hours of deep house. There were more than 1,000 eager fans in attendance, but unfortunately it won’t make much difference. By next week a track DJ will be playing 50 Cent in the main room. To make matters worse, city officials also shut down the house music parties that have been happening every weekend on the rooftop of Solera, apparently due to noise complaints. I’d like to know who is complaining, since there is loud music coming out of almost every bar downtown. Solera was one of the few places where the owners understood that not all people want to dance to the music they can hear on KDWB. Sadly there are not many clubs left that play anything else. (Solera’s movies on the rooftoop will continue on Sunday and Monday nights.)
The Death Of Dance
Aug 2 2005 — 2:00am
12 Reader Comments
3:55 pm
i spent most of the time in the vip room on saturday (friends’ going away party), but i’d like to see how 1st ave can pack people in like it did on a non-show night.
4:14 pm
I’m super fucking pissed that Solera closed the rooftop; the House of Om show was going to be awesome and now it’s at BARFLY.
4:17 pm
It’s actually at The Loft above BarFly, on the 4th floor. It’s pretty cool up there – nothing like BarFly! There is a patio and some loungey areas. We are the ones bringing Kaskade for the House of Om show. Since they just told us last night that we can’t do our show on the rooftop, we had to work quickly and this is prettymuch the venue for dance music right now, since all the other clubs won’t play anything but Top 40. Still come and check it out – we always get a great crowd at our Kaskade shows.
5:25 pm
Unfortunately, there is this thing with Minneapolis where whenever anything unique/hip comes our way, the city finds a way to ruin it or shut it down. We no doubt are starting to be a better city now then we were in the past culturally, but this shows me that we still have a long ways to go. It also really pains me that some
“consultant”/money hungry idiot is making First Ave of all places have a top 40 dance night. First Ave is the main spot in town for fresh/innovative music of all styles and that is what sets it aside from the other clubs and venues we have in Minneapolis. What was once a place for hard to find music, will now probably be looked at like any other clear channel club like The Quest.
10:29 am
I hate the downtown dwellers who come for the city livin’ yet can’t stand what happens in the city – like noise, sex clubs & other people! They’re addresses should be published so we can send them hate mail and tee-pee their mini balconies.
10:58 am
The First Ave probably wouldn’t change their dance night if they were making decent money with the old format. Capitalism can suck at times, but if the First Ave isn’t bringing in the receipts they need, they have to look what’s available besides unique/hip.
11:06 am
When did all the strong market capitalists join the site?
11:30 am
I’m pretty far on the left side of the spectrum. I want the First Ave to stick around. And it’s hard for them to do if they’re not making money. If they start raking money in hand over fist with this dance night thing, then maybe they can put it to use in some unique/hip ventures that aren’t as profitable.
I don’t like top 40 dance nights any more than the rest of the people here, but we can’t blame everything on “some
‘consultant’/money hungry idiot.”
11:41 am
I think the Farina show was a huge example of non-Top 40 night doing extremely well. It takes some effort and frankly there arent 1000 Farina’s around, but we some effort and creativity First Ave should be able to stay hip and make money.
But to be honest, if First Ave fails – so be it. I mean, clubs close down all the time in other cities – just because it had a great past, doesnt mean it deserves a future. Frankly, when the started doing the Kareoke nights the place should have been condemned.
from what i’ve gleamed from those who know the inner-workings of that place, its lacked any sorta vision for a long time. so, stay open, close the doors – either way. but for god sake dont start a top 40 night.
12:01 pm
I live about five blocks from Solera, and could never hear the music when I was at home. Outside we could hear it a little bit, but only the beats. Whoever is complaining must live directly across the street from the place, and they’re still idiots. I’d rather have the music reach my apartment than the screaming barhoppers we get below our windows instead.
11:28 pm
i dunno, how about a little outreach? find a way to bridge a top 40 night (minus the rock music) with a house night and i’d go…occasionally!
8:11 pm
If you want occassional house nights, then come to the VimLab shows. (www.vimlab.com) We just bring in our DJ friends from San Francisco who we know are amazing and always throw kick-ass parties. We only do them every few months. Join us at The Loft above BarFly this Saturday for DJ Kaskade’s record release party – you won’t be disappointed.
One other thing – I’ve learned that Solera didn’t have the right license for live music on the roof. Someone who didn’t like the house parties called the city and turned them in. They will have it for next year so we can pretend we’re like LA and NY and party on the rooftop. I wonder if Lindsay Lohan ever made it up there…