October 21, 2004
One venue opens and another one closes — that really seems to be the mantra for Spokane's all-ages music scene. So as we bid a final farewell to the short life of the Detour, we see another venue open up not far from there. This time, it's the Big Dipper — a venue that's flickered on the all-ages spectrum over the years.
As a part of the Dipper's plan to be another spot where local bands can plug in and pump out the jams, a coffeehouse-style night will be hosted each week on Thursday nights. The weekly event is the result of a partnership between the Dipper, RAWK the Inland Northwest, TINCAN and the Chase Youth Commission. And here's the best part: It's all free.
Thursday nights, says Dale Strom of RAWK, "are meant to provide something new in the music scene here. We'd rather not charge the cover charge, because then kids would have a place to go for free."
In fact, in order for bands to play the Thursday night teen-oriented event, they have to shell out 50 bucks, which goes toward covering the costs of the event. Bands can't make money off the night unless they sell merchandise — which they are free to do.
"We think it's worth it to the bands," Strom says. "There are a lot of bands out there that aren't that well-known, and they need the exposure. They are renting the room — but they are renting the crowd, too, because we promote this on a weekly basis."
Strom points out that Thursday nights are intended to have more of a local focus, but to celebrate the beginning of the weekly music event, RAWK and the other sponsoring groups are bringing in four national touring acts.
Next Thursday, Oct. 28, the Dipper will host Armor for Sleep with Days Away, Number One Fan and The Snake The Cross The Crown opening. The members of Armor for Sleep, a four-piece New Jersey emo "dream rock" band, describe their sound as reminiscent of early Sunny Day Real Estate. Their songs are catchy and infectious, they say, without making their music poppy or generic. Armor for Sleep was born after singer Ben Jorgenson spent a summer of isolation between his last year in high school and his first year of college. He wrote and recorded two songs on his own — even being so ambitious as to play all of the instruments. He wanted to continue recording, but he knew he couldn't do it alone. That's when two of his cousins (drummer Nash Breen and guitarist PJ DeCicco) and a friend came in. A deal came quickly with Equal Vision Records of Albany, N.Y., and the band's debut, Dream to Make Believe came out in 2002.
Armor for Sleep's gig at the Big Dipper was spur-of-the-moment, Strom says, but he thinks it's a great way to kick off the Thursday night events.
"This was an opportunity to make a big splash — because this is an outstanding show," he says.
Strom and his cohorts are just hoping that the splash is big enough to keep the Big Dipper's light shining on the Spokane scene. — Leah Sottile
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