Local venues bring in the talent

By JAMES CONROY
Collegian Staff Writer

Compared with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, State College is a small market for big-name concerts. But thanks to some creative booking, the area does get quite a few national acts, as well as regular local and regional shows, and some top independent bands.

The Bryce Jordan Center brings big-name acts like KISS and Billy Joel to town. Local bars such as The Brewery Inc., 233 E. Beaver Ave., and The Darkhorse Tavern, 128 E. College Ave., regularly host local acts like Velveeta and Sideshow Bob. Unsigned and independent-label bands play at several local basement and house venues.

The biggest local venue is the center, which recently held its largest crowd of 15,722 people for Billy Joel. Because of the number of people it can hold, large national acts that play State College usually perform at the center.

Of course, there have been exceptions, the most obvious being the upcoming Dave Matthews show on Feb. 3. Because Matthews wanted to do a more intimate show, he turned down the center in favor of the 2,500-seat Eisenhower Auditorium.

Obviously, both the center and the promoter want to book acts the public wants to see. Because of this, fans can have a big effect on who comes to Penn State. At www.bjc.psu.edu, fans can let the center know the top 20 bands they want to see -- and, yes, it does make a difference.

"We try to book an act that's on the top 20," said Bernie Punt, the center's director of public relations. "We usually get about 20 to 25 percent of them."

One of the venues that books local, regional and national acts is Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave. Being able to offer both big-name and local acts is part of Crowbar's appeal. Fans can also use Crowbar's Web site (www.epicom.com/crowbar) to let the bar know what acts they want to see.

"We find out what's huge in metro areas and also see what the people want," said David Wells, director of operations at Crowbar.

Another way acts can get booked in State College is through the University Concert Committee. Before the center's opening in 1996, big-name acts had to go through the UCC to play at University Park.

Unlike the center or local bars, the UCC can book an act to play at one of several venues: Eisenhower, Rec Hall, the center, Schwab Auditorium or the HUB Ballroom.

Bars like Cafe 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., tend to book more local acts than anything else. Before booking a new band, owner Hal McCullough requires the band give him a CD or cassette and a bio describing its style.

Unlike Cafe, The White Lodge (www.outtoeat.com/thewhitelodge) is part of a local collective that sponsors low-key house shows at several basement venues. Although The White Lodge doesn't have a permanent address, Lodge proprietor Chris Baronner continues to put on shows at a house on Foster Avenue. In the past year, indie rockers such as Braid, Rainer Maria, Sarge and Philly punk wierdo Atom and His Package have played shows at The White Lodge. Donations are requested at each show, and the money goes to the bands to cover touring costs.