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To do: Support Fresno's Bel-Tower punk club
- Feb 06 2012
- 2
This is somewhat of an update to a recent post about the Bel-Tower, the all-ages DIY venue on Belmont Avenue. It got raided and shut down this weekend, which is somewhat predictable given that the place was operating without a business license or proper permits (whatever those might be).
I say predictable. What I mean is that this was truly a do-it-yourself club and it worked mostly by flying under the radar. The shows tended to be small and catered to a niche group that no one else really cared to cater to or even notice. So, the place didn't cause any problems (really) and no one gave it much hassle (or thought, even). But anyone who did give it some thought had to know that someday the club would be forced to either A.) shut down or B.) go legit (permits/business lisence/building codes). I always assumed it would be option A.
I totally underestimated the power of the scene.
Today, volunteers from the club had a meeting with the ABC to determine what permits they might need and formulate a path forward. They've also started an online petition to save the place, as well as a fundraising campaign, because this stuff is going to cost money (money the place used to make, you know, having shows and stuff).
My band has played a bunch of shows at the Bel-Tower, shows put on by a group of dedicated and motivated bands and promoters, shows that could not (or would not) have happened any place else. All this is to say: Support, if you can. The Bel-Tower, yes for sure. But not JUST the Bel-Tower. Support all local venues, especially those that are independently run and all-ages (the Chinatown Youth Center always has a full slate of shows).
2 Comment(s) for "To do: Support Fresno's Bel-Tower punk club"
Agreed. The attention is a double-edged sword. In one respect you want to get the word out there because that helps grow the scene (the entire music scene), but then something like this happens, where obviously someone tipped off the authorities and ... bottom line is it will get figured out and either the place will shit down (in which case another venue will spring up in some other part of town no one cares about), or it will get at least the minimal requisite permits and continue on. Hoping for the second one, but we will see.
Well done post, sir.
Here's the thing, like you're saying; sure they don't have whatever proper permits the city deems relevant. But really, in a spot like that, doing the shows they are doing, nobody is getting hurt. Sure if they're putting on show that Audie's or Fulton 55 would put on, then yes, they should play by the same rules. But they don't. They put on shows that would be in somebody's house while the parents are gone.
They provide a spot for musicians to cut their teeth so they one day could play Audie's or something. The reason you see a experienced band (like It'll Grow Back) is because they're a cool band that don't give a shit how much they make or how nice the venue, they just want to support the place.
All this makes me think twice about posting these kind of shows at these kind of venues. Maybe we put too much of a spotlight on it and they need to stay more underground. Not saying we make a huge impact (or I should say The Fresnan) but I know folks that work for the city and bigger venues, do read The Fresnan and Beehive and Fresno Famous. I can see somebody saying "Check on those kids permits, they're starting to annoy me."