Although this the second entry to this blog, I feel like really this is the first story I've had to tell. I'm glad, because I think it's a pretty good one.
$16.50 + $2.00 Service Charge? Yes, please.
Christmas 1989, I went to Hudson's at Oakland Mall and bought these tickets for my future ex-wife while we were dating. I thought it would be fun.
She opened the present, and gave me a funny look. She asked if I knew what I had really bought tickets for. Of course I did. Because you see, I bought tickets to see this:
Or so I thought.
In reality, I actually bought tickets to see this:
Yes, that's the same band. They changed their sound a little bit.
As much as I love music, it took me a really long time to educate myself to find the the stuff I really like. Being into "alternative" music and growing up in the suburbs, it was difficult to find the music I liked. Thanks to a few high school friends, and Mike Halloran's "Radios In Motion" radio show on WDTX, I found big chunks of artists that I liked.
I had to navigate the Alternative Music Ocean on my own for the most part, and I hope the whole story comes out as I create these entries.
Hoping to impress my new girl (an alternative music fan herself), I bought these tickets.
(Here's the back of the ticket, just for fun:)
As much as I love music, it took me a really long time to educate myself to find the the stuff I really like. Being into "alternative" music and growing up in the suburbs, it was difficult to find the music I liked. Thanks to a few high school friends, and Mike Halloran's "Radios In Motion" radio show on WDTX, I found big chunks of artists that I liked.
I had to navigate the Alternative Music Ocean on my own for the most part, and I hope the whole story comes out as I create these entries.
Hoping to impress my new girl (an alternative music fan herself), I bought these tickets.
(Here's the back of the ticket, just for fun:)
Many years later, I would work at this radio frequency, right down the street from the Latin Quarter. Neat.
I was not very wise in the ways of Detroit concert-going at this time, nor the crowds that frequented them. I never went to a dance club or downtown show like this before (technically, the LQ was not located 'downtown', but it might as well have been).
Even if I was familiar with those things, this was not our crowd. There was a chain-link fence around the stage. We stood near the soundboard, where we noticed a dial with a setting for "Hellfire". We were at the wrong show.
Not that it was bad, just not "my thing". To this day, I'm not offended by loud, fast, yelling, guitar-crunching music, it just ain't me. I find it difficult to sing along with in the shower.
I don't remember much about the actual performance, other than it was a lot to take in for the doofy little suburban nineteen-year-old me. We ended up leaving the show before it was over. I think it was a mutual decision, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was really just me who wanted to split.
I did buy a T-shirt though, and wore the heck out of it, because I'm a poser.
Even if I was familiar with those things, this was not our crowd. There was a chain-link fence around the stage. We stood near the soundboard, where we noticed a dial with a setting for "Hellfire". We were at the wrong show.
Not that it was bad, just not "my thing". To this day, I'm not offended by loud, fast, yelling, guitar-crunching music, it just ain't me. I find it difficult to sing along with in the shower.
I don't remember much about the actual performance, other than it was a lot to take in for the doofy little suburban nineteen-year-old me. We ended up leaving the show before it was over. I think it was a mutual decision, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was really just me who wanted to split.
I did buy a T-shirt though, and wore the heck out of it, because I'm a poser.
Wearing a shirt from a show I didn't love. But it was a cool shirt, and it fit well. Sue me.
In a strange coincidence, the week that I was preparing this post, my Facebook pals were spreading the word that the Latin Quarter (known more recently as the Grand Quarter) was being torn down.
My last radio job was at the Fisher Building, which is right down the street from the Latin Quarter. I occasionally drove by its sad remnants. It was a really great place to see a show.
Eventually, I saw many shows there, some of which I lost (or never had) the tickets for. Look for those recaps as the year goes on.
The last "rock show" at the Latin Quarter was May 24, 1991: Dread Zeppelin and Mojo Nixon. Well, heck I was at that show. I even had dinner with both bands before the show. Of course, I can't find that ticket stub, but I have an autographed Mojo Nixon CD in a box somewhere. (Maybe that makes me less "poser-y"? Should a grown man even care about such things? No, he should not.)
Stepping into the Latin Quarter was like stepping back into Old Detroit. You know those scenes in movies like Goodfellas, where the boys go to see a cabaret show with all the fancy tables and every thing is made of wood? That's what it was like at the LQ. I don't remember many tables actually being there, but I suppose there were some scattered about for drinks, depending on the show.
The Latin Quarter opened in 1944, and was visited by music legends like Al Green, Bob Seger, Ray Charles and GWAR.
Anywhere you stood was a great view. Here's a picture of the stage from the balcony in 1960.
My last radio job was at the Fisher Building, which is right down the street from the Latin Quarter. I occasionally drove by its sad remnants. It was a really great place to see a show.
Eventually, I saw many shows there, some of which I lost (or never had) the tickets for. Look for those recaps as the year goes on.
The last "rock show" at the Latin Quarter was May 24, 1991: Dread Zeppelin and Mojo Nixon. Well, heck I was at that show. I even had dinner with both bands before the show. Of course, I can't find that ticket stub, but I have an autographed Mojo Nixon CD in a box somewhere. (Maybe that makes me less "poser-y"? Should a grown man even care about such things? No, he should not.)
Stepping into the Latin Quarter was like stepping back into Old Detroit. You know those scenes in movies like Goodfellas, where the boys go to see a cabaret show with all the fancy tables and every thing is made of wood? That's what it was like at the LQ. I don't remember many tables actually being there, but I suppose there were some scattered about for drinks, depending on the show.
The Latin Quarter opened in 1944, and was visited by music legends like Al Green, Bob Seger, Ray Charles and GWAR.
Anywhere you stood was a great view. Here's a picture of the stage from the balcony in 1960.
Click on the pic to see the whole thing
It's too bad that this theater couldn't be saved. I'd still love to see a show there, but it's forgotten about in a basically vacant neighborhood. If you never got to see a show there, you really should be bummed out.
Click the pic for the whole building.
Below, please share your memories of the Latin Quarter, Ministry or seeing shows in Detroit!
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