When news got out last week about the closing of Minneapolis' oldest jazz haven, the Times Bar and Cafe, nobody had to ask why. Even my 6-year-old niece knows how badly the economy is tanking (which didn't stop her from hitting me up for tickets to the Jonas Brothers concert movie).
But there were still some questions raised in the wake of the Times, which relocated across the river to E. Hennepin Avenue in 1999 after a couple of successful decades near Orchestra Hall. Regulars wanted to know if it might reopen, and what could be done to help ensure its revival. Others had a bleaker query: Who might be next?
The Times is still billing its closing as temporary, but at press time there were no indications it will be reopened. Owner Dan Lessard has not returned repeated phone calls about its prospects. Guitarist Robert Bell, who played the Times every Sunday with the Twin Cities Hot Club, said Lessard has a couple weeks to find new financing. Or else.
Fortunately, the Times' situation cannot be seen as a strong indicator of more bad news to come. A way-informal poll of nine local venue owners and bookers this week found that -- all things considered -- most of them are getting by just fine.
"It's been an especially cold winter," said one club owner whose business slightly slipped from last winter. "I have to think the weather is as much to blame as the economy."
The venues that host touring acts are generally finding it harder to sell advance tickets, but crowds often still show up in the end -- especially for shows with college-age fans.
Old-fart gigs are still packing them in, if they're beloved acts at a reasonable price. Proof was in last weekend's sold-out shows by the Pretenders and Gary Louris and Mark Olson, both of which were worth the $22-$35 ticket prices (whereas anyone who paid $49.50-$95 for last week's Mötley Crüe show had extra reason to wake up feeling guilty).
Of course, clubs rely most on alcohol sales. It appears that music lovers haven't stopped drinking, but they are lowering their standards. One club's rep reports selling Pabst tall-boy cans by the pallet while struggling to sell higher-end craft beer on tap. Tsk, tsk, I say.
