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With the newly proposed ValleyDome, I’ve heard a lot of
talk about big musical acts coming to Kalispell, but I wouldn’t hold your breath if you’re waiting for a steady stream of rock bands to roll through town via the dome. Kalispell obviously lacks a place for musical acts to play, but a town of 17,000 is better suited for something smaller.
Kalispell would be better suited for a smaller theater or a cafe-type setting in the downtown area. The Stockman’s Youth Center was an ideal place for local bands to play, but it didn’t last long. Face it, few big acts are interested in playing in the Flathead Valley. A small downtown space would attract smaller, but established, bands that play in Missoula and Helena. Both towns have many rock, punk and ska bands that are able to perform regularly.
There is no lack of decent musicians in Kalispell, just a lack of a place to play. Established bands like Hara Kiri, The Habit and others would benefit greatly from a local music venue. Both groups have produced CDs and have fan followings that would like to watch the bands perform locally. Kalispell’s music genres vary from the mellow sounds of Hara Kiri to hard-core punk to country. It’s about time some of these bands get a chance to perform in the Kalispell area.
While Stockman’s sits idle downtown, local bands are suffering. Despite the increased number of multi-band shows such as Flathead Rocks, Rockfest and even the disastrous Spring Blast, attendance at recent shows has been pathetic. The latest shows have featured lineups with new faces, as many of the established bands have opted not to play.
“The organization at recent shows have been getting weak,” said Jason Sherman, bassist for Hara Kiri. “The communication needs to be better between the bands and the sponsors.”
The only place for local bands to play is in Lakeside at Bugzy’s Pizzeria. Is Kalispell really pathetic enough that our bands have to travel to a town without a high school to play? The set-up at Bugzy’s is ideal for a teenage crowd: the acoustics are good, there are plenty of arcade games and the pizza’s not half bad, either. But teens still shouldn’t be forced to travel down the lakeshore in the middle of the night to hear their favorite local bands.
The ValleyDome may attract an occasional concert, but a 10,000 seat arena is too large for local acts. When dealing with a 10,000 seat venue, the logistics are far more complicated than a smaller venue and problems can arise with booking rates, ticket prices and security. These obstacles may be too much for local bands to overcome when booking a concert.
A place like Stockman’s is better suited for a town of 17,000 people. The idea of a ValleyDome has great potential for sporting events and other community activities, but it won’t solve the concert problem — it will still leave local bands without a place to play.
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