Dear Delta Ballroom,
So there I am, rocking out to Hey Rosetta! It’s a million degrees in the crowd of sweaty, cheering, beer-drinking fans. It’s everything a rock show should be. Except when I move my step is cushioned. Carpet. I’m at a rock show standing on carpet. What?
The crowd loves them some Hey Rosetta!
This was the third night in a row I was in the Delta Ballroom watching live music as part of Ruckus on the Edge, the Juno-tag-a-long music week. Rock Night Blast Off, featuring Hey Rosetta!, The Novaks and The Idlers was a grand time with a great crowd. But the entire night I couldn’t help but think it all should’ve been happening somewhere else.
Tim Baker playing at the Delta Ballroom
It’s not your fault, Ballroom, we’ve all had an identity crisis at some point in our lives. I once wanted to be an accountant. But it’s important to be true to yourself. Hosting the The Navigators and Shannyganock, as you did this week for the Our Music – Our Heritage event is very out of character for you. As much as I enjoy seeing someone rock out on a tin whistle, it worried me. I certainly didn’t like seeing beer cups scattered across your floor at the end of the night.
More tin whistle!
And you’re not even done. This weekend you’re having Metric and Alexisonfire over to cap off your week of rebellion.
If you really feel you need to expand your horizons, I don’t mind when you host a songwriter’s circle, like Ruckus in the Round. A seated audience watching songwriters discussing their craft doesn’t seem as out of place. Especially when you have hosts like Mike MacDonald and Ron Hynes who keep the crowd laughing all night.
Ron Hynes in the round
So I guess what I’m asking is that you to leave the traditional music to the pubs. Leave the rock to clubs and arenas. Because the fact is, we don’t want to party in the same place regional sales managers get together to discuss synergy. We don’t want to see bright light flooding in from the hallways every time a side door is opened. And we don’t want to drink in a room referred to as a ‘salon’.
Please know I say these things only because I care about you. And because one day when I’m older and attend conferences wearing a suit and polished shoes, I want those shoes to walk across your clean, unsoiled carpet.
Yours with ringing ears,
Angus
April 16th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Seen a bunch of bands there. I like the room.
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April 17th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Dear Angus,
Let the regional sales managers worry about the friggin’ carpet. There are few enough venues with good sound in this town, the floor could be hot coals for all I care.
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April 19th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I was at the Rick Night at the Delta. I thought the stage set-up was fantastic and that the carpet saved my back. Really, do people have to complain about everything?
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