PAGE 5
INSIDE DIVEb DOGGY STYLE ... Bad-mouthed mongrel releases a great CD ... for me to poop on! PAGE 6 ACTING OVERBOARD ... Seafaring Russell Crowe takes the plunge in 'Commander' PAGE 7
Nowhere left to
Local venues struggle to find a balance
between making money and supporting
the vibrant music scene^_
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/f s a very
tough industry
to make
ends meet.
You’re always
walking the
line between
paying... bills
and closing
the doors.
DEREK POWERS, CAT'S CRADLE MANAGER
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DTH FILE PHOTO
Ben Folds Five got its start playing a
variety of local venues in Chapel Hill.
Diversions
www.dailytarheeLcom
BY NICOLE BOBITSKI
STAFF WRITER
hapel Hill and Carrboro always have been known for their
diverse music scene. Music experts predicted that the area
would be the next Detroit or Seattle, branding its own
name on the newest significant movement in music.
Earlier this year, Rolling Stone named Chapel Hill the fourth
best college music town in the United States, specifically noting
it as a source for the ’9os indie-rock movement.
But there have been signs that even the best of the best can face
problems.
Recently, some local music venues have suffered from a com
bination of factors that have them wondering if they will be in
business come next year.
Go! Room 4 must make $6,000 in earnings during the next
few months to stay in business as a result of back taxes, licensing
fees and money owed to publicity companies.
“It bums me out that this place might not be here in six
months,” said Go! manager Michael Triplett.
The entertainment industry is an ever-turbulent roller coast
er reasons for venue trouble range from high rent to a trend of
widespread disinterest in live music.
“It’s a very tough industry to make ends meet,” said Cat’s Cradle
manager Derek Powers. “You’re always walking a delicate line
between paying the bills and closing the doors.”
This appears to be a trend with most non-chain businesses.
“Small businesses have to work 10 times harder to make it
sometimes,” said Virginia Knapp, director of external affairs for
the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.
But local industry insiders say there isn’t a definite answer for
why some venues do well and some are scraping by from month
to month.
“If someone knew the answer, there wouldn't be as many clubs
SEE VENUES, PAGE 8
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DTH FILE PHOTO/KIMBERLY CRAVEN
Carbon Leaf often plays some of the
smaller venues in the Chapel Hill area.
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DTH/GARRETT HALL
Atmosphere, a hot name in hip-hop
circles, brought a crowd to the Cradle.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2003
(Above) Cat's Cradle has become a
premier venue for local and national acts.
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DTH FILE PHOTO/GARRETT HALL
Karen 0, wild singer of the Yeah Yeah
Yeahs, pours angst-driven emotion into
a recent performance at Cat's Cradle.
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DTH FILE PHOTO/BRIAN CASSELLA
The now-extinct local hip-hop group
Sankofa, fronted by Creem MC, was a
staple of the Chapel Hill scene for years.
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DTH FILE PHOTO
The rock group Superchunk has gained
national acclaim from its local roots.