Ramblings
In the vast world of art and entertainment, changes occur on a daily basis. There are intricate balances of knowledge, power and public taste that can easily shift and inevitably shape what happens around us. These shifts are currently right below our feet in this fine city we call Madison. Unfortunately many of these changes go unnoticed, simply because of a lack of attention or a lack of coverage. This semester my column aims to investigate these shifts and changes and to discover who has a voice in the Madison art world.
That said, let's dive on into the ever-mutating topic of entertainment venues. As many UW-Madison students (especially football fans) know, Monroe Street houses several restaurants and bars, which mainly reap their profits during sporting seasons. However, some of these establishments strive to serve a broader purpose of general involvement and entertainment for the entire university community. One such place is the Grid Iron, 1509 Monroe St. (formerly the Copper Grid). Since the restaurant was revamped it has become what's described by general manager Chad Gehin as an 'upscale, full-menu restaurant and bar with a live performance space.' Gehin explained that the Copper Grid was known as a strictly bluegrass music venue, and the new management of the Grid Iron wanted to expand its horizons by offering all types of live performances, from comedy to amplified rock bands.
Seems simple enough, doesn't it? Enter the Monroe Street neighbors. As one can imagine, going from bluegrass to badass overnight can raise a few eyebrows and a few ears. The amplified music escaping from the Grid Iron's walls until bar time was causing many neighbors to loose sleep'literally. The Monroe Neighborhood Association agreed that something needed to be done to end the disturbance, so it took its concern to Madison's Alcohol License Review Committee. From there it was decided if no action was taken to silence the Grid Iron's amplified entertainers, the club would loose its liquor license.
With this serious action pending, the Grid Iron decided to limit its acts to acoustic only. It would seem that the Grid Iron has no choice but to remain unplugged, but Gehin along with other management have decided to make amends.
'We have been trying to work with the neighbors and come to an agreement about our acts,' Gehin said. 'So far everyone has been very cooperative, and we hope to bring this issue back to the Madison City Council and either be allowed to feature amplified acts right away or be put in a trial period so we can find out if having louder acts is possible.'
Until then the club will continue to operate with acoustic entertainment to keep its liquor license.
Now, I know what you're expecting me to do. You think I'm going to take a side and fight for its interests while completely dismissing the other side's actions. If this were a different situation, I might do that. But in this case I can only empathize with both parties. As someone with deep interests in arts and entertainment, I want Madison to have as many venues as possible, offer a diverse spectrum of performers. However, the neighbors' concerns are valid since sleep is something I value in the highest regard. The only thing I'm left wondering about is the noise itself.
Monroe Street residents must be used to noise by now with a certain Camp Randall Stadium as the center of its stomping grounds. But I guess if you had to deal with such chaos during the day, the desire for a peaceful night is understandable.
Hopefully the Grid Iron and the Monroe area residents can come to an agreement so Madison can continue to feature a wide range of acts for the sake of the most important downtown neighbors'the students.
In Chad Gehin's words, 'As a mid-20-year-old living in Madison myself, I understand the importance of having a wide range of live entertainment. We will continue to work for further variety on our stage.'
