Clear Channel Ruins Another Good Time

As I start please look to the right. That plain boring sign was the sign for Irving Plaza for a while. Frankly, I am not overly nostalgic about it since I have only lived in New York for four years. That being said though, I have lived in Gramercy a short 8 block walk from my favorite biggish venue in Manhattan.

I had heard about the name change a while ago. Clear Channel in all its LiveNation glory has changed the name of Irving Plaza to The Filmore New York At Irving Plaza. Not to be confused with The Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim.

As you all know, the Filmore East was a famous venue where several classic live albums were recorded. So now, we have a fake nostalgic venue. Kinda like CBGB in Las Vegas. Long live rock!

This is the sign that now hangs on the otherwise quietest street that goes up/downtown in Gramercy. I despise it. Now this isn't something I am going to dwell on. Its still going to be my favorite biggish venue in the city, and its still near my apt, its just turned into an eyesore.

Now we just need that character Trigger over at Continental to bring back the low end bands that used to play there and call it the Continental Airlines Theater at Continental. Or Nicki at Don Hill's to call his venue the MTV's The Hillscenter.

Clearly neither of these options makes sense and I'm just being annoying. I just don't understand why a name change let alone a sign change is necessary. I will never call it Fillmore I doubt any one over the age of 15 will. If you want to make a difference put it on the upcoming show board not the sign that I have learned to love when I walk past it. That plain sign always seemed like it was mine. It was my favorite theater. It was in my hood. It was my sign.