It's Raining Music Boxes aka The Best Venue in L.A.

[crazzz2007]

Club Nokia is almost twice the size though, and it also blows.

Club Nokia is hands down the worst venue I have ever been to. I'd rather see a show in the parking lot of a suburban walmart.

[juloxx]

I cant get jiggy to this shit

[JorgeC]

They're just going to have to insist that bands play 2-night residencies at the El Rey from now on. There's no other way.

In regards to already scheduled shows

If a show was underselling at the Music Box, then a move to the El Rey makes sense (bonus for the attendees since it'll be a more intimate show).

If a show was close to sold out or sold out (i.e. Angels and Airwaves), then a move to Club Nokia makes sense because now GV can sell more tickets.

This is assuming El Rey and Club Nokia are available on those nights. There's probably an emergency meeting at the GV offices right now...oh to be a fly on that wall.

[markinetic]

Blessed to have seen Buckethead here..




I blame Angels & Airwaves.

[fatbastard]

Has The Music Box at The Henry Fonda Closed?!?!



Music Box marquee in March 2011 (Photo by Lucyrk in LA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)It seems this might be one of those tales of mysterious things that happen in the night: The Music Box theatre at The Henry Fonda appears to have cleared out and shut down out of nowhere.

LA Slush has the story about the abrupt shut-down of a beloved local music venue, noting that there is a "Closed for Inventory" sign on the door, and unspecified people "proceeded to dismantle the amazing sound system, astounding in house lighting and bar. Then remove them from the building." Reportedly, promoters and venue employees had not been warned this was going to happen. An image posted to Facebook shows the marquee reads "OUT OF ORDER."

A look at the venue's January events calendar shows only a recurring Wednesday club night booking, but no individual nightly events. However, on Facebook, The Music Box has recently posted a listing for a March event, with tickets on sale via Ticketmaster, and tickets for ATB, promoted by Insomniac (yep, the Electric Daisy folks) are slated to go onsale today.

Right now the speculation is that the current owners are done, but that doesn't mean the venue is kaput, there would just be some issue with reinstating permits for operation. LA Slush addresses this:

After speaking with our sources, they seem to agree that in hindsight there were a couple red flags [about current problems with ownership], but nothing any rational person would have taken to mean the club was closing. The staff had been told that the venue was working on a new agreement with the landlord and it would be settled soon - not uncommon for venues in LA.
Stay tuned...

[Ardentbiscuit]

LA is truly becoming a live music wasteland!!!

Edit:

That post was posting as I was writing, hopefully it will reopen soon!!!

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

In the interim, they could go back to leasing the Avalon or the Mayan. Highly unlikely but those are GA venues.

Avalon has an exclusive contract with livenation I thought.

[tmac]

fuck. where am i going to see all my shows now. trentemoller wasn't a bad last show to see at the music box tho

[SoulDischarge]

LA is truly becoming a live music wasteland!!!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha.

http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity....leveland,%20oh

http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity....0angeles,%20ca


Anyway, this sucks and is totally out of the blue and also reminds me of the Knitting Factory closing. Hollywood Blvd venues are doomed I guess. I feel like I've seen more, but the only two shows I can recall seeing here was Justice and Psychic TV.

EDIT: Oh yeah. Also. Melvins performing Houdini, Mudhoney performing Superfuzz Bigmuff and Flipper. Fucking awesome show.

[fatbastard]

Just got off the phone with Supre. He just climbed over the venue owner's back yard fence and is speaking spanish to the maid to let him in.

[fetuspiniata]

Ladytron/Datarock/Modwheelmood 2008(one of the only tripple headers I've been to where I was a fan of all 3 bands!)

Bat for Lashes 2009

NIN/Health 2009(favorite show of all time!)

R.I.P.

[ThomThom]

Just got off the phone with Supre. He just climbed over the venue owner's back yard fence and is speaking spanish to the maid to let him in.

JAJAJAJAJAJAJA!!! Is he turning red? He turns red when he has to speak his broken spanish.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

A statement by Goldenvoice:Goldenvoice

For Immediate Release

January 6th, 2012

At this time, it is our understanding that the closing of The Music Box is a short term closure, please be patient with us as we work out the details as they pertain to our previously scheduled shows.

This makes me more optimistic.

[Mr. Dylanja]

Paul T should buy it.

[blazin]

Skinny Puppy
Peaches
NIN
Concrete Blonde
Hole
Empire of the Sun
Gang of Four
Paul Simon
Psychedelic Furs
Amon Tobin
The Rapture
Naked & Famous
tUnE-yArDs
M83
Digitalism

Truly a sad day. Even if it reopens soon, it sounds like it will not be with the same amazing sound system. Heartbreaking.
Fuck Club Nokia. I've seen almost as many shows there, and it's not even in the same realm as Music Box.

[kitt kat]

Yeah, I hope this really is temporary. I really only see shows here and at smaller venues scattered around the Eastside.

I hate the El Rey. I hate the Wiltern. I hate the Nokias. Fonda was perfect for midsized bands.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Well, seems like they really did lose the lease, and Goldenvoice is really just doing damage control. What this means for the long-term i don't know.

Blue Palms just posted this (I didn't realize they were subletting from the Music Box - hopefully they can work shit out).

We are trying everything in our power to remain open so that we may continue providing the community with great food and beer. Thank you all for the support.

To all our Fans, In light of our landlord losing their lease, we are in middle of the fallout. WE are working very hard to work directly with the owner to resolve. The Blue Palms is a small company and in the world of sterile business, we are pawns. Please stay tuned, we love you guys and we are doing our best to convince the owners of our worth. Please help us in posting your support and we hope to keep you posted. from BP

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Yeah, I hope this really is temporary. I really only see shows here and at smaller venues scattered around the Eastside.

I hate the El Rey. I hate the Wiltern. I hate the Nokias. Fonda was perfect for midsized bands.

Why do you hate the El Rey and The Wiltern? While I prefer the Music Box, those are both great venues too.

[JustSteve]

This makes me more optimistic.

just checked with my friend and he said they are working on it but that it is not looking very promising.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

As soon as I saw the Blue Palms posting about it I was no longer optimistic, and am now very worried about my favorite fucking bar closing too.

[hawkingvsreeve]

Why do you hate the El Rey and The Wiltern? While I prefer the Music Box, those are both great venues too.

Those are my two favorites. Whatev.

[spence]

My favorite venue....this came out of nowhere.

[Chillzzz]

So sad... RIP Music Box. Thanks for the memories.

[juloxx]

Just saw Nero there.... such a fun venue.... sad day

feel you on that. It was a good show, I got to chill on stage for that set. Not really the artist I would like too see as a final huzzah at the music box, but hey, thats as good of a send off as I could have asked for.

[chunk]

Sleater-Kinney/Black Keys.

Good to hear its probably staying. Reading this entire thread in one shot was such a roller coaster.

edit: I didnt notice the bleakness of the last update. Still possible. Fingers still crossed.

[IceyHotshot]

The Music Box is my favorite venue too. This sucks big time.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Good to hear its probably staying. Reading this entire thread in one shot was such a roller coaster.

Huh? How did you derive "probably staying" by the end of this thread? The outcome of this thread was pretty negative.

[chunk]

Yeah, I just edited that last part in. I originally thought it was just a numbers thing that would eventually get worked out.

Didnt notice negative outlook with the last update. I was wrong.

[Pixiessp]

Very bummed to hear this.

[gaypalmsprings]

Very sad. I have great memories. R.I.P.