“So close”
That should be the city of Harrisburg’s tagline.
“We are so close to Baltimore. We are so close to Philly. We are so close to Pittsburgh, NYC and DC”
And to go even further….we are so close to having a competent administration. We are so close…well, not really, to having our city finances in order…with that, we’re pretty far off.
Swing and a miss.
One thing we’re not very far off on is the viability of Harrisburg being branded as a full-on music city. Not unlike Asheville, NC or Austin, TX-
Sure, we’ve only got 46,000 (and dropping) residents where other cities that have multiple venues boast populations in the six-digit range, by comparison, I think that we’re pretty well satisfied, musically.
Considering our “tertiary” status in the eyes of the major booking agencies, we still do pretty okay with getting good names through town.
This past weekend sounds like it was pretty rockin’ on all accounts. Sunday night had four bands doing a fundraiser for Haiti- Koji, A Public Betrayal, the brand-new In Wilderness and Wade Yankey played to a capacity crowd at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. The night before, The Greatest Funeral Ever had a solid showing at the HMAC while we had a capacity crowd at The Abbey Bar for Pan.A.Ce.A, …soihadto… and East Hundred from Philly. Out in the reaches, Malone’s on Derry was jumping on Thursday for Adam Ezra and on Friday for Mark Santanna. Add to that all of the Morgan’s Place, Brewhouse Grille, Pep Grill and other downtown spots hosting acoustic music, there was, seriously, something for everyone.
Our venue choices are growing as well. You see, when I started in this business six years ago, all that anyone would talk about is how great things “usedta” be with the Metron and The Vault and concerts on City Island. Today, however, we’ve got the Whitaker Center (despite a current lag in relevant shows on their calendar, I’ve got faith that will change), we’ve got the bar shows in and around the area, we’ve got the questionably-attained-from-the-city HMAC (we’re an arts center, er…music venue, er…pool hall) who, despite the drunken-ways of John Traynor seems to be a place that the kids like going and, of course, The Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Company. (Don’t worry, I won’t leave my self out of the zing-ing. I’ve joked that they should change the name to Appalachian Banquet Company with all of the private parties that get booked in there….and I realize how long it can take to get a beer on the busy nights).
But this isn’t about me.
Harrisburg doesn’t have an identity. York is almost synonymous with Harley Davidson Motorcycles. Lancaster is known for how butter-churningly-Amish they are (but still rock shit at the Chameleon Club) and Reading…well, reading has that murder-rate thing going for them.
So why, with all of the winds of change blowing in this city, have we not begun thinking about branding ourselves?
Population is dropping. Businesses are fleeing for the suburbs. Crack dealers and prostitutes are just as plentiful as construction-hustlers. And we finally got what we wanted with the removal of Reed from office.
So? Where’s the change?
If the Thompson Administration wants to do some good in this “sit-tee” then they better start making a gameplan. Because they clearly didn’t have one going into office. So here’s my suggestion – brand and market Harrisburg as a music-hotbed of the midstate. Blast it out there. Make it “our thing” because, even though I just rattled off a half dozen venues and great bands in the area, I left a lot out. I don’t even know what goes on up on the hill, but I’m sure there’s music up in those parts. So then Linda doesn’t have to feel like she’s turning her back on anyone.
This city is “so close” to being attractive. It’s like, if you saw that pretty girl but she was wearing an ugly sweater…she’d still be good looking if she took that ugly sweater off. So, there you go, Harrisburg. Take off that ugly sweater and make us look good. So good that ALL the boys will want us. They’ll be lining up to bring us flowers and chocolate and get into our…
You get my point.
Harrisburg needs ideas? There’s one. Now you can’t say that I never contributed anything.
Certainly, if this were to occur, something would need to be done about the amusement tax. But with a budget that’s seven figures in the red, what’s a couple hundred thousand more in the name of progress?
first- stop saying the population is 46K and dropping. your market audience includes the entire region, say those willing to drive up to half hour for entertainment.
second, bring back city island concerts to raise revenue for the city.
third- one decent web site listing the various music options. we have mode, the burg, downtown improvement district, pennlive and patriot news’ Go, hyp, etc etc.
fourth- a music brand? don’t forget the symphony, jazz clubs. i’d emphasize coming to the city to play, eat and be entertained. a place to PEE (play, eat and be entertained)
I AGREE (as i usually do with you)!
This city is “so close” but it also “is” an amazing place in many ways. In the grand scheme of things, I love heading to see a great band at Maxwell’s/bowery/poisson rouge, Black Cat, Otto Bar/sonar, Johnny Brendas/Unitarian, and Gooski’s/Modern Formations/Warhol/Mr.Smalls [in our spokepoint cities), BUT, I also can’t stand alot of the atmosphere in these places, mainly the general tendency for the locals, who must be jaded by having so many shows at their fingertips, to talk during shows and not give the band they paid to see their attention/respect/ears.
SO, Harrisburg has a HUGE advantage. WE CARE about the bands we go see. It feels good when a band from out of town or another country visit and are greeted with loyal fans, new believers (thanks Jersey for J.Roddy), and genuine enthusiasm. The visiting bands often comment on the local attitude being very favorable, and sometimes say they didn’t expect much, not knowing Harrisburg, and were pleasantly surprised.
We have an advantage, and we need to keep it and promote it as a good place to play, good place to see music, and that this is the real deal, not just some hipster infested area where you have to act like you don’t like a band once other people catch on, just to be cool.
We don’t want to BE Williamsburg, we shouldn’t want to be “NYC” or a “BIG” city. We should do as other smaller cities have done and keep it as is (Louisville, Chapel Hill, Portland OR, Olympia WA, and your aforementioned Asheville and Austin). Emphasize this as a great place as it is, and thicken the connections.
I feel that there has been a huge upswing in venues/bands/ and people willing to put shows together, which is great, and what we need here.
I feel that if one complains about nothing going on here, then they either aren’t looking or like a certain genre of music or art that is not represented.
If the latter is the case, then Harrisburg’s response is, “put it on yourself” which is a great DIY position to be in, if one takes on the organization responsibilities.
There was a one page handout called the Upside about 4 years ago with almost nightly ART, MUSIC, THEATER, and interesting things happening in Harrisburg. At the bottom it said:
HARRISBURG “AS BORING AS YOU MAKE IT”
This city is already great on so many levels, but it’s also a great place to make it what you want it to be.
Maybe instead of Harrisburg “So Close” it can morph into Harrisburg “As Boring As You Make It”
or “MAKE IT”?
Thanks to you Jersey for building this area to what it is and will grow into. We appreciate it.
Caleb- WOW! Right on, man.
I heard you have a new space as well?
When does that get going?
Well Said. And you didn’t scratch the surface of ‘what-all’ is around here. From coffee houses to the biggest stages (and all in-between). That’s not to be critical… it’s to say that, Yes, the burg really does have variety and near constant choices.
But I wanted to drop an open note on Pan.A.Ce.A (great band… don’t get me wrong). But do they have to play with the knobs turned up to 11 (on that small second floor?). Really, there’s a time and place to injure your ears and just feel the music… but how about ‘just hearing it?” I walked out on their show Sat. night. What’s the use?… couldn’t talk to anyone (even in the furthest back corner)…. and I’ve done enough damage to my ears over the years. Maybe groups like this (and I’m not busting on them specifically, like I said… great band) could try saving the blow your ears out for the second half of their show.
Inca- well said, sir.
And it’s a shame that their volume drove you away from the show on Saturday. …soihadto… and East Hundred were both pretty great (and about 20db quieter)
With regard to their stage volume- all I can say is “my apologies” – it’s not to say that we shouldn’t be in control of how loud a band plays, but once in awhile, it gets away from us. And they’re a notoriously loud band…more loud than we normally have at The Abbey.
Great show, nonetheless though.
Maybe it’s time for you to run for mayor
I think a great jumping off point to brand this a music city would be at the American Music Fest in July. This should be a mjaor draw for the area, but I don’t think it’s what it could be. Harrisburg should take notes from Bethlehem and their Musicfest (although this years headliner appears to be Lynard Skynard, yuck). They get big names to headline while giving local bands and lesser known bands a chance to open for them. Bethlehem is not much bigger than Harrisburg, but they are supported by the Philadelphia area. Harrisburg could be supported by Central Pa. This is one event that could get Harrisburg known as a music city and the rest would follow. Look at Austin’s SXSW festival and the great lineup they get. If they had bands that people actually wanted to see instead of the Brian Wilson-less and John Stamos-less Beach Boys, that might actually produce revenue for the city. Imagine that.
Harrisburg has come a long way and the quality of music is on the up and up. Just have to add though that the Metron was awesome. I remember seeing Rancid there. I also remember Green Day playing with the Riverdales at the Farm Show Arena. Both those shows were sold out.
The close proximity to those large cities makes Harrisburg a HUGE potential.
The last time I saw Toubab Krewe at ABC and when I saw Devon Allman at ABC, they both said they were traveling throuhg the area on the way to NYC and it is a waste to just go sit in a hotel when they can stop and make some cash jamming.
The location can not be underestimated.
As I see it, there are only 2 cities other than Harrisburg taking advantage of these bands traveling through this section of the east coast circuit which stretches from DC to NYC. Lancaster’s Chamelon Club and Towson’s Recher Theater are probably Harrisburg’s biggest market competitors in the small/medium national touring band circuit in this area.
There are venues are here… I’d love to see Jersey have the opportunity to schedule 3 months or more for Whitaker Cener once. Whitaker Center is a great place but like noted above, they are in a dry spell for good shows right now (for my musical preferences anyway). I know they had financial cutbacks this year but……What happened to all the Derek Trucks, Gov’t Mule, Keller Williams, Gregg Allman, etc shows?? I know those all sold very well if not sold out…. Those shows had to have made them some serious money.
The music scene is pretty good right now, largely in part b/c of people like Jersey and great local acts like Shackeltons, Perkasie, The Greatest Funeral Ever, etc. But think of the potential……
If you build it, they will come.
Great discussion!!
I’m curious whats going to happen to the 3 festivals this year around. If they’re even going to have them ?? I got word that the people who were coordinating it for the past years are no longer in the loop. Musicfest, Kipona, and Artsfest.
I personally am a big fan of the local scene, and take every opportunity to tell people. It is what you put into it.”Harrisburg, As boring as you make it” is a great slogan. I feel like at this moment Harrisburg is like a ball on top of a triangle. Its either going to fall forward into greatness, or backwards to well …. not so great. The bright side is there seems to be alot of people helping each other out in pushing that ball forward.
mike,
this city does not need branding. this city needs to drop the negativity, yours included. with all due respect, harrisburg has one of the tightest musical communities i’ve seen anywhere, and we have various opportunities to catch very high quality live music for free or next to nothing.
the city and the scene is not without it’s problems, but personally slamming folks who are trying to make it happen is completely counter-productive.
if folks in town spent less time bitching and moaning about what is and more time making things happen …
ps: to be fair, you work hard to make things happen. just lighten up the tactics …