Now this is an interesting development, it seems as though the long-standing NYC concert venue has been sold. I’ve cited the breaking news from a Billboard.com posting since they would have the most up to date insight on the matter.
According to Billboard.com “After 27 years of operating Webster Hall, the Ballinger family is selling the 131-year-old Manhattan concert hall to AEG Presents and Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment. The two firms will assume operating rights, assets and the long-term lease from building owner Unity Gallega while Bowery Presents will take over booking and talent buying.” The rest of the article can be examined HERE.
PiercingMetal Thoughts: Well, my Dad always says that “the only constant is change” and this is never more apparent than in a city like this one. The readers of this website have been to Webster Hall almost religiously over the recent years since so many of “our” shows have been happening there in either the Grand Ballroom (which is the biggest space for you faraway readers), in the Marlin Room (middle sized space) or the smaller and more intimate space The Studio. I know that there is even a fourth space where performances can happen but I’ve only been in it once and I have no idea how I even found myself there at the time. It’s here that we’ve seen bands that might not have been able to even do a gig in our metropolis since they were not “in demand” enough for the larger venues around the city. Regional promoters were usually able to set up successful gigs of their own and not only help their own pockets but also the cause of the talent they booked. Speaking personally, I’ve always wanted to set up some kind of “PiercingMetal Presents” event in either The Studio or The Marlin Room but the timing was never there for me to properly set this up. My thoughts are that this kind of idea will be all but impossible now that there is going to be a larger, more corporate ownership. One has to wonder if the sort of live music programming that they were known for will be able to continue. If not, the Metal Scene’s vibrant underground will surely suffer and leave them with very few options in Manhattan. One has to also wonder if the later evening dance hall events of all shapes and formats will continue as well. There was some truly off the hook stuff going on at those if I can gauge it by the posts that my friends make on Facebook. The upside to the new ownership is the chance that a little cosmetic sprucing up can be done since that never hurts but I do fear a lot more sterility and corporate nature to what we will all experience and that will take some getting used to. Let’s hope for the best.
Let me know your thoughts on this shocking news down in the comments section below.
Official Website: http://www.websterhall.com
