TIRC Does Not Endorse the Underground

I wasn’t able to make it out to the Nevermores/Thee Fine Lines show at the Underground at the Red Sea last Friday night, but I did ask John of the Nevermores about the show and he was nice enough to write a little review, which is posted here. I’ve read of other not-so-nice reports of how bands are treated at the Underground before (this topic came up once before on the GaragePunk Forums message board), but this really takes the cake. To actually tell a band they’re “headlining” and then to flat-out STIFF them, after forcing them to follow another band that wasn’t originally scheduled to even play (and not only plays way too long, but is so BAD that they run everyone out of the club)? Come on! How or why do places like the Underground think this is somehow cool or acceptable? What makes this bozo think ANY band will want to play this shithole once word spreads that they’re stiffing bands (not to mention fucking with lineups)? I’m sorry but this sort of thing is just unacceptable, and you may not read it anywhere else in St. Louis, but FUCK the Underground. Don’t play the damned place. I don’t care HOW desperate you are for shows, that sorta shit doesn’t help anyone, especially yourselves if you’re trying to actually make a few bucks to cover gas money (in the very least). There are plenty of decent venues in St. Louis that you can play these days… Lemmons, the Way Out, the Bluebird, Off Broadway, 2 Cents Plain (admittedly still wet behind the ears but learning), and more. But if you care about integrity don’t play the Underground. Thank you.