Got some catching up to do… Over the last month + I went through a CD release sequence with some interesting experiences. One of them was a concert at Natasha’s in Lexington, Kentucky. The Natasha’s story is probably worth telling, in the context of trying to figure out what still works for live music these days. Gene, Natasha’s owner/manager, started out in a strip mall in a former service station, with a gift shop and an improvised performance area. My Lexington family musicians who play out as Tall, Dark and Handsome, remember starting there when Gene would push aside some of the scarf racks and break out the folding chairs on music nights.
The next move was to downtown Lexington, in a large space that was no doubt available because the area, like many downtowns, was a mix of commercial success and failure. Gene kept the gift shop going, but started some reasonably serious food and beverage service. The music was still more or less in the gift shop and the space was divided in half.
When Gene did the next major renovation, Natasha’s took a quantum leap as a performance space, as he unified the space, installed a stage and a quality sound system and sound booth, and stage lighting. The bar/restaurant side of things also went upscale, roughly from Moosewood to Silver Palate. Gene started getting enquiries from national touring acts, and took some of them in, while keeping an eclectic mix of local music, theatre, jazz, lectures and benefits in the performance space, based on his personal taste and that of his wife Natasha.
It’s not likely that Gene and Natasha are getting rich; the business arrangements for music are definitely musician friendly, with pretty much the whole door going to the performers. On the other hand, the place is a personal expression for them both and retains a community feel while offering a first-rate gathering place for all sorts of events, musical and otherwise. The CD release event, as you can see, started in the daylight, with all ages present. A good listening environment, without it being straight concert or impossible to get a beer during the music.
So why don’t more places like this exist? Hours, I would guess. Gene probably puts in his 80 or so hours a week, similar to those of a dairy farmer or someone running a convenience store, or a French baker (those croissants start at about 3 AM). Most of us aren’t up to that. Luckily Gene is…
