Comments on: Live Music at ClubTSI

By: Danraf

Danraf — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:25:08 +0000

i thinks you made i great web resource
thanks

By: Chris B.

Chris B. — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:23:27 +0000

Musically, I HAVE seen a lot of diversity at TSI–from lo-fi local no-name singer-songwriters to hipster-blog wet-dream bands. I don’t go there much because I’m not into people trying so hard to embody an image which I think they think is elitist. To me, TSI culture is to Fuel/Hot Topic what Banana Republic is to Old Navy–same sweatshop, different price. But even the most organic DIY culture quickly gets appropriated and becomes a scene, a spectacle.

Brendan is a nice guy and provides a great service for the white-belt tight-pant crowd (assuming that’s still cool) just like Joshtank is a nice guy and serves the vegan-belt tight-pant crowd. As elitist as it sounds, as I am, I’m just happy we have people like them and (a few) places like TSI–otherwise we’d all be left with Club Paris and The Pit (not Tim Massett’s original Pit, I mean The Non-pit, The Cheese-Pit, on Beach blvd).

PS–I agree, though, that “popular” was a vague and/or poor word choice; “popular” for Brendan might mean the new, obscure indie band that he or his favorite blogs heard of before you, as opposed to the “popular” hard-core DIY band that someone else heard first (or the latest hit-single from Lindsey Lohan, which I’m sure is very “popular”).

By: skink

skink — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 03:48:15 +0000

My impressions of TSI, after my only visit, seem validated by the commentary on this thread.
I’m sure that the negative perception can be partially attributed to my age and my creeping domestication. (..Gonna Find You…)

Evaluating a scene or a club with a perspective cultivated in exclusivly southeastern cities is hardly cosmopolitan, perhaps irrelevant. I am far from the target demographic.

However, in this city, concerning the culture and history of our clubs and streets, I can speak with some measure of confidence.

I came up at Einstein’s-a-Go-Go, mostly on the sidewalk out front. Experiences on that corner define my expectations of a scene. Friends (and enemies) I encountered there helped to challenge and define my adult sensibilties. Every spot since, (be it Fusion, Milk Bar, Moto,the myriad incarnations at Club 5 and 17 South, LFP in Atl, Ybor City, etc…) has been measured against that unconventional oasis.

Looking back, I am able to appreciate the unique circumstances and personalities that coalesced there. I have yet to encounter an enviroment that cultivated such creative experimentation and yet somehow minimalized overt judgement and ostracization. I am not asserting that we were without puerile melodrama. There was plenty. But the musical, racial, social,and economic distinctions somehow enhanced the experience. The rag tag throng assembled nightly, alternately encouraging and attacking the Other’s aesthetic.

This outpost of youth, music, diversity, and weirdness, situated as it was in the oppressive culture of our Bold New City, demanded a minimum solidarity. It was a reaction against the apathy and elitism that pervades our city.
Had it become overly pretentious, insular, elitist, it would not have survived. How could it?

And had Einsteins not survived..well…the ground would have been found fallow for spots like TSI.

Maybe it is unfair to gauge the relevancy and viabilty of a professedly narrow young set against an august local institution.

My recollection is surely clouded by nostalgia…
Has our city has changed more than I think.

By: jerrycornwell(porgie)

jerrycornwell(porgie) — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:35:10 +0000

pretty uptight, coming off like a major asshole. Sounds like a performer who “takes himself tooooo seriously” ;-) sorry i couldnt resist.

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:22:37 +0000

I only caught Roargan and Dan Deacon, but the show was awesome. And I agree with you, Adam, Dan Deacon seemed pretty uptight, but I guess you have to be as a performer. The stuff I did get to hear was so fun. I’d totally see him again.

I guess not too many people think TSI is elitist because the show was pretty packed. That says something, I think.

By: Adam Beaugh

Adam Beaugh — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:02:41 +0000

so what was up with dan deacon last night. i stayed for about the first 20 minutes of it, but he kept stopping and bitching about the sound. when he played music, it sounded good, and it was really fun, but he kept stopping and came off as a major asshole.

By: Brendon

Brendon — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:59:38 +0000

With every business there is (or at least should be) a balance between concept and actual business profit. I, along with the owners, know plenty of things we could do to make that business become total profit. But with that, we lose integrity. It will no longer be the TSI everyone knows. And by then, you really won’t appreciate the crowds or the music.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that the original interview along with the me responses were pertaining to the bands that play there and how their perception of this town relates to mine.

You will never be personally criticized for your taste at TSI by a TSI employee for your personal tastes, you will always be served and asked to come back. This most certainly doesn’t happen in NYC, one lost patron doesn’t mean a thing. That void will be filled instantly.

I may have a certain standard and expectation concerning the live music format, but it doesn’t mean we’re chasing you out the doors if you don’t like it. The term ‘elitist’ is very exclusionary, and when it comes down to business and our patrons, we are far from it.

Time will eventually take it’s toll, but time in Jacksonville is really slow, so we’re in the clear. Comparing TSI now to TSI a year ago, we’re definitely on the up and up.

By: jerrycornwell(porgie)

jerrycornwell(porgie) — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:50:48 +0000

ive relocated from nyc after almost 20years of music based in manhattan. noli (my wife) and i were signed to a german indie, spv. we did 2 european tours one opening for fishbone. this really doesnt
mean much, maybe we’re old farts, but just in telling my own personal experience, the bigger cities arnt really happening. nyc in particular is just too damn expensive for artists like you all to live. i like to think this explanation of the success of the seattle scene in the late 90s.
i do find jacksonvilles artistic scene pretty exciting and vibrant, i know i may hear some hard sighs out there, but ive just experienced watching the wind fall out of nyc scene and find the music and vibracy (sic) so refreshing down here.
brendans comments are well meant and directed— if ones taste are not met at tsi there are many others in town (not an option IN NYC!!!)
but ultimately brendan needs to bring patrons to tsi to make money so ryan can keep his business running on that level. thats not even considering those other elements public outcry, aggravation, when the novelity wears out, ect which inevitably will
close down tsi— i do believe clubs should have a (very) limited life, from which others will arise.

By: Austin Cassidy

Austin Cassidy — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:42:47 +0000

Ditto to what Mike said. Calling the population’s taste in music bad is just kind of lazy.

I’ve been to TSI a couple of times and enjoyed the location more than the crowds or the music. I guess it’s just my bad taste in music, though. Hopefully my money didn’t offend anyone when I was there. :)

The Burrito Gallery shouldn’t serve prime rib, and no one is saying it should. This is more like the operators of the Burrito Gallery calling anyone who doesn’t enjoy their burritos an idiot with bad taste in food. It is elitist.

Furthermore, I’m extraordinarily tired of the mentality of “this town’s (ART SCENE, RESTAURANTS, NIGHTLIFE, WHATEVER) sucks, it should be more like other places… they are real cities.” I’m not talking just about this interview, but it’s something I hear recurring quite a bit locally and it’s just boring.

To quote Henry Rollins:

“Life is full of choices, if you have the guts to go for it. That’s why I get immediately bored with anyone’s complaining about how boring their life is, or how bad their town is. Fucking leave and go somewhere else. Or don’t.”

By: Prince Rainier

Prince Rainier — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:41:10 +0000

tsi has really expanded on their range of musical offerings. hip hop a la The Royal Treatment on thursdays and even a monthly d&b/techno/electronic night. consider your other options. for the record, tsi is the smartest nightclub in the city. shouts to brendon. dude knows what’s up.

DJ CAZ aka Prince Rainier
(The Royal Treatment)