Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / May 28, 1987, edition 1 / Page 5
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The Tar Heel Thursday. May 28, 19375 Feafaoires Raleigh sees opening of its largest music club cy jal:zs cur.nus Staff Writer On May 1 The Raleigh Pier opened its doors for the one-time reunion of The Fabulous Knobs and in the process opened another door for local music fans. The new music club is the largest in the area, with a capacity of 1 ,000 people. This large amount of space enables the club to bring in big name college radio artists that local music fans have not been able to see in the recent past. (The Raleigh Pier) is another step weVe needed in this market for a long time," said Harry Simmons, who books the club through Pro-Motion concerts. Bands such as World Party and The Del Fuegos are not big enough to play in 1,500 seat auditoriums such as Memorial Hall, but are too big to play in small clubs like The Brewery in Raleigh or Chapel Hill's Cat's Cradle. "We had to pass on so many acts at The Brewery because we didn't have the capacity," Hobby said. Simmons said that the next time World Party comes through the area they will be able to make the step up to a 1,500 seat hall. Other bands have found it difficult to make the jump from a small music club to a hall without this intermediate step, Simmons said. The Raleigh Pier takes the place of Hot lanta, a college disco bar. Wilnick Productions purchased the club in February and decided to change its format after not getting the turnout they wanted. Wilnick Productions has opened a new dance club in Raleigh called Shooter's II. Although it is similar to Hot lanta, Shooter's II is a smaller club. Wilnick Productions consists of Fred Wilburn and Carl and Elliot Murnick. The Murnick brothers ft ' Wit Featuring: 26 Nautilus machines, Wolff tanning beds, sauna, whirlpool, life cycle, aerobic classes, free weights Open 7 Days a Week FITNESS Two Great Chapel Hill Nautilus Chapel Hill Blvd. Straw Valley are also the area's professional wrestling promoters, and their father promoted the Rolling Stones first U.S. tour. Although Wilnick Productions has owned the club for three months, it took a while to formal ize the club's change. "We had one week to make the necessary changes to get open," Hobby said. Even with little time and almost no publicity, The Raleigh Pier was filled to capacity for the opening show. Artists that have played the new club since its grand opening include Don Dixon, Marti Jones, HEGE V, The Right Profile, Chris Isaac, Suicidal Tendencies, World Party, Rank and File and The Del Fuegos. World Party's appearance at The Raleigh Pier on Sunday was the band's only club appear ance on their current tour. "Under the circumstances we're very pleased at what has gone on so far," Hobby said. The club has averaged 350 people per show, although the World Party date was expected to be a sellout, Hobby said. "As long as we do 350 to 400, we're pretty happy," Hobby said. "I'm pretty well convinced this is going to work just because of the acts that are going to come through," he said. Though things have run smoothly during the opening weeks, the club has been involved in some controversy over its name. The club was originally named The Pier, after a similar club that use to exist in Raleigh. The last owner of the old Pier, though, protested because she thought that she had rights to the name. "To avoid long-time legal prob lems, (we) changed the name to The Raleigh Pier," Hobby said. After things settle down, Hobby and the owners expect to make some needed renovations to the Student Susiisiisr Shape-Up Spatial 6 weeks $49 3 months $78 6 months $130 CENTER. INC. Locations: Durham Nautilus Hillsborough Rd. (next to Best Products) club. They plan to extend the high ceiling over the dance floor to the back of the club to help the sound carry throughout the club. There " are also plans to add another section of seating and upgrade the dressing rooms and stage area, Hobby said. Besides these needed renova tions, there are even bigger plans. There is the possiblity that a part of the club currently not being used will be converted to a jazz club. Hobby said they also want to put a giant screen beside the stage to show videos of new bands between sets. The Raleigh Pier will be booked by Pro-Motion Concerts, the same company that handled the Genesis concerts at the Smith Center. Scheduled to appear in June are Steve Earle, Little America and The Saints. Local music fans can also look forward to an appear ance by Fetchin Bones sometime soon, Simmons said. The Raleigh Pier is a private membership club and one must be a member or a guest of a member to get into the club. Hobby said in order for the club to sell liquor under N.C law they had to sell memberships. Not having liquor was the major complaint, besides size, about The Brewery. A membership at The Raleigh Pier is also good at The Long branch, Shooter's II, Cheers and Fevers, all owned by Wilnick Productions. Hobby also said that anyone 18 years old or over will be allowed TEMSSHIP in Chapel Hi is in Crrpbro ITU? J o ProfesSptringing Racquets$5995-$14995 Demo Program Tennis Lessons p - i J Get More Bite On The Ball J j $5.00 off ! THE STRINGING OF ANY RACQUET j J withthis ad J STEVE FRIEDMAN'S AND RUNNING CENTER Carr Mill Mall into the club, but only those 21 or over will be allowed to drink alcohol. Hobby said he plans to keep his own music club, The Brewery, open while he manages The Raleigh Pier. The smaller music club will make some changes, however Simmons said The Brewery will do more rhythm and blues and reggae bands now. Hobby said the club is also considering having a new music DJ at the club on some days of the week. The Raleigh Pier will not hurt A we put the fun back A Tradition in Chapel Hill Since 1977. New Summer Specials "Light and Cool" Fresh Garden Salads Fresh Fruit Salads Daily Summer Salad Specials also Dinner Seafood and Chicken Specialties LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday, June 3, 10pm Carter Minor and Andy Church No Cover Charge Must be 21 or older 1ME OUT AVAILABLE Great For Picnics Lunch 0 Dinner o Brunch 101 East FranMin Street Chapel Hill, NC smaller local music clubs, Sim mons said. "It will make clubs with a capacity of 300 do what a club with a capacity of 300 really ought to be doing, which is working more closely with local bands," he said. The new club will also help local bands which open shows for' bigger-name acts to improve their name recognition by exposing them to bigger audiences, Sim mons said. The Raleigh Pier is located at 2109 Avent Ferry Road, on the lower level of Mission Valley Shopping Center. Call 832-0202 for ticket information. V. in dining out 968-3327 ... . 383-0330 Jt .
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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May 28, 1987, edition 1
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