quote:

maybe bands inside AND outside or alternating

Yes

Downtown already complains enough about the band volume levels. Nice to dream, though...

quote:

Originally posted by JoeAnderson:
Hey guys.

Here's the scoop:

No one knows how the fire started. Fire investigators are on site now. AFD is flying someone in from Dallas to take a look at it.

We have not been allowed access to the Launchpad so I truly have no idea how great the damage is. Definitely more than just water and smoke. Our west wall is damaged to some degree, but regardless, that wall must come down at some point. Our bathrooms are anchored to that wall. So, looks like a new west wall and new bathrooms must be constructed. From what I've been told, the PA is damaged. I would imagine our amp rack and stage left mains are wasted.

We have insurance. We are already filing a claim.

Luis and I have been working diligently to relocate as many shows as possible. Some will undoubtedly be canceled. Sorry about that. For instance: Immolation will not be performing due to fire damage. Har.

Thanks for all the well wishing! We appreciate all of it. Once we know what exactly needs to be done, we'll let everyone know.

I feel horrible about this, regardless of the effect on my own business. Golden West was an awesome room and I will always have some amazing memories. I have fallen off that stage at least a dozen times.

I'll keep everyone updated as I learn more.

well on a lighter note... at least there will be new bathrooms now... i know there was some discussion about the bathrooms here at some point. i dunno. find the good amongst shit, right?

quote:

Originally posted by justJon:
OK, I don't know how to go about this kind of stuff, but I just heard whatshername from the GW say that someone set up one of those funds for her/GW at a local bank that anyone can contribute to. Anyone know how to do the same for LP? I know Joe said he's insured, but there's got to be stuff that's neede, that ins won't pay for.

Any Ideas?

you can just go into any bank or credit union and tell them you want to set up an account and what it's for and they'll guide you through the rest. But you have to have someone designated to be responsible for the money.

Okay, here's a plan. Somehow LP acquires the lot that GW was on and instead of rebuilding, turn it into a beer garden for LP where the smokers can go. I would say pipe in the stage music, but with the rich yuppies that live down there now, that could never happen. But maybe early evening acoustic sets. Happy hour for us non-frat types.

Sorry, I'm not quite as sentimental as you all. I had a lot of good times there - put on shows, saw shows, and even met my husband there - but you have to keep moving forward. And the fact that Kathy wants the community to help rebuild it because they weren't willing to spend money on insurance just irritates me. Thank god no one was injured there. If the fire hadn't brought it down, a lawsuit was sure to.

Disclaimer: My comments about the lack of insurance come from comments made by Kathy, but are in no way proven fact to my knowledge.

quote:

Originally posted by Jenny Tonic:
Sorry, I'm not quite as sentimental as you all. I had a lot of good times there, but you have to keep moving forward. And the fact that Kathy wants the community to help rebuild it because they weren't willing to spend money on insurance just irritates me.

sorry but there are a lot of memories there. For me, my band and everyone else that I know. We were one of those bands that couldn't get a show any where else at the time. We all have bitched and complained, including me, about the management there, but come on, it was in the national registry of historic places, it's been there almost 90 years. I am proud to have been able to played there more the 20 odd times. The place just as much of a landmark as the Kimo. This is a true loss for the entire city. I even talked to my grandma and my mother, and both of them couldn't believe that place is now gone.

I understand that you don't have the "sentiments" that most of us have here. But this isn't about kathy, this isn't about the management, this is about a great historic building that meant a lot to all of us in this community. It's a hard thing to take in that now its all gone. I don't have an idea of what could be a good thing to do with the area, you can't replace a landmark like that. But the ideas here are a great start. You are right, we gotta move on, but the loss of the Golden West will leave a scar in the heart of downtown that could never heal. We must at least give it the respect for what it was, and the great memories we all had there.


RIP Golden West. . . You Will Be Missed

Pretty much every thought I've had today has been mentioned here. It's terribly sad that the place wasn't taken better care of (icch!! sorry bout the grammar!). Maybe if better business decisions had been made, the necessary electrical, plumbing, heating, etc. adjustments could have been made to make the building worthy of a historic landmark. It's really too bad, especially since it was just starting to maybe get better there, what with the no cover nights and free drinks for band members.

I don't remember who said it up there--maybe it was Brett--but I too fear the business that will buy up that property. I imagine Kathy doesn't give a shit about who picks it up. Looks like we'll have some new overpriced cheaply-made lofts up at Central and 7th!!

And you know, a Launchpad expansion would be cool, but I always deep in my nacho-cheesy heart wanted to have the same kind of symbiotic relationship between the GW and the LP as Burts and Atomic have. What a cool room that was. Wood floors, chandeliers, scarlet walls, tiled cieling, and a stage by the window (that was my favorite part). It's really a shame. A shame on the ownership and a shame on the management.

Hey I don't know much about business law etc, but doesn't a building HAVE to be insured in order to run a business in it?? Can you imagine if this had happened during biz hours, with people inside (ha!), a band on stage, gear and all... Jesus Kathy, what would you have done then? I'm seriously getting pissed about this..time to stop by the Whatcha Drinkin thread.

quote:

you can't replace a landmark like that

Actually, I do absolutely agree with that aspect of the loss. I hate to see landmark go. I felt the same way with the burning of the railroad building a few years back. Living in an area of such an ecletic past, it's a real shame to have such unique representations of the past disappear.

quote:

Hey I don't know much about business law etc, but doesn't a building HAVE to be insured in order to run a business in it?? Can you imagine if this had happened during biz hours, with people inside (ha!), a band on stage, gear and all... Jesus Kathy, what would you have done then?

I have been wondering the same thing tonight. Maybe they have to have liability insurance but not insurance on the property itself.

Funny how when all the news came out about how the LP might be affected my husband and I both said, "Well, you know Joe is insured like fuck." It's weird that the guy I knew back so many years ago would instill so much confidence in me. (not that he was a fuck up, but that ANYONE who would make my acquaintance back then would have a brain cell left.)

I see some good ideas here about helping the LP, I just wanted to add that although I don't know them personally, I'm guessing the (ex)staff of Golden West would appreciate help paying bills and finding other jobs.

quote:

Originally posted by JoeAnderson:
Hey guys.

Here's the scoop:

No one knows how the fire started. Fire investigators are on site now. AFD is flying someone in from Dallas to take a look at it.

We have not been allowed access to the Launchpad so I truly have no idea how great the damage is. Definitely more than just water and smoke. Our west wall is damaged to some degree, but regardless, that wall must come down at some point. Our bathrooms are anchored to that wall. So, looks like a new west wall and new bathrooms must be constructed. From what I've been told, the PA is damaged. I would imagine our amp rack and stage left mains are wasted.

We have insurance. We are already filing a claim.

Luis and I have been working diligently to relocate as many shows as possible. Some will undoubtedly be canceled. Sorry about that. For instance: Immolation will not be performing due to fire damage. Har.

Thanks for all the well wishing! We appreciate all of it. Once we know what exactly needs to be done, we'll let everyone know.

I feel horrible about this, regardless of the effect on my own business. Golden West was an awesome room and I will always have some amazing memories. I have fallen off that stage at least a dozen times.

I'll keep everyone updated as I learn more.

Well if you need us to wrangle up some subcontractors to help rebuild... let us know. Chris and I are construction plumbers as well... I think that might be some assistance with your bathrooms.

Email me if you still don't have my number Joe.

Channel 4 said the Launchpad will be closed for four months now.

I, personally, am more concerned for the Launchpad. While I know the Golden West was historical the Launchpad is still making history.

The West wall of Launchpad is structurally unsafe from what I just heard.

The Launchpads Myspace page has a bunch of photos from the fire.

Yeah, it's all a complete mess. I'm getting e-mails from touring bands that were trying to get booked at the GW/Launchpad, or any venue for that matter. It's making things difficult because we are now out 2 more venues!

I say we start booking shows at The Library.

I'm anxious to find out what sparked the blaze. the speculation is interesting, so far;


electrical
arson (to make more condos)
insurance fraud
transient
angry musicians (haha)
Mayor McCheese, er... Chavez


I'm guessing electrical. but interesting to think about.

I'm just glad the GW fire didn't turn into a Great White Nightclub Tragedy.

I just can't imagine the 1000's of hours in hard work it is going to take for the Launchpad to get back on track. Finding new venues for all the shows that are booked. Adjusting all of the production advances by having to move to new venues. Dealing with the insurance companies, which is always a pain in the ass, dealing with the city and permits and construction, which is always a pain in the ass. All the lost wages for the bartenders, sound people, waitresses, door guys etc.

damn.......

I am very saddened by this loss. The Golden West Saloon was the coolest thing about downtown not to mention the Historic EL Rey. They have both been big supporters of everything Hyperactive, we had our launch party at the El Rey. I didn't know when I saw Vast a few weeks back it would be the last time seeing the GW, I hope something good can come of all this.

No shit....I think that even though it's a loss to our community, We have got to keep our sight on the prize! That is... making music,Giving back to our community and fucken never stop rocking!!! EVERYTHING els will fall into place eventually....

"Together we are stronger" Sid-FROSTBITE

If anything, it’ll give Joe an opportunity to consider possible redesign alternatives. To rethink his business strategies with The Launchpad. I just hope that the land doesn't get gobbled up by those evil condominium moguls due to the renovation costs of the GW/Rey/Pad.

SuperJoel posted a blog on the SuperGiant myspace page with amazing photos of the GW fire from his apartment window.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&...969&blogID=362569184