Roseland To Close: This AIn't No Mudd Club

clang clang go the Roseland doors

How can I despise a New York nightclub institution around since 1919? A place where LOUIS ARMSTRONG PLAYED??? Where I myself have seen David Bowie, Prince, Beck, New Order all the way to Blondie earlier this week?

Roseland Ballroom (aka Roseland Dance City)  the West 52nd  room began its life as a dance club and it retains the same fucking floor because think about it, how can you have a dance floor on  a slope? And this means the 3500 SRO capacity club is a nightmare for the height impaired such as yours truly.

I hated the place, with the exception of Bowie, where my friend stood in line all day for front row, and the Bjork in the round gig, I have never ever seen well. At best I have been close and to the side. Usually I am fifty fucking miles away looking at specs (when they have close circuit it sucks) while people have long conversations around me. Best Buy is 8 blocks down and about the same size and a million times better.

Not only does nyc not need it but guess what? Next time Radiohead want a smaller room they will be playing Best Buy, which has GA seats and is fabulous with TVs outside as well.

Roseland closes April 2014 and while it certainly does have a history, it is a history I will be happy to read about in text books of the 20th century.