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You Live By The Sword, You Die By The Sword
Maybe when your club is as steeped in musical history and genetically bound to its host city as the Crocodile Cafe, explaining a sudden shut-down is embarrassing. Maybe a public statement is too daunting a task. Maybe a background in law teaches you to keep your mouth shut. Whatever the reason, Stephanie Dorgan could pick up some PR tips from Matt Feigenbaum, owner of Bellingham's just put-to-rest Nightlight Lounge.
Feigenbaum sent a 1500-word "formal announcement" and shout-out email to everyone on the Nightlight's mailing list last week, just days before the club ended its three-and-a-half year run. While not nearly as much of a nostalgic loss to its city as the Croc's demise was to ours, the Nightlight was—in our infrequent visitor's mind—Bellingham's finest, classiest club. (Great, cheap beer? Check. Intimate atmosphere? Check. Tables with great sightlines? Padded chairs? Pool tables? Featured art? Biohazard-free bathrooms? Yeah. The place would have out-classed most of Seattle's clubs, too.)
Everyone knows what puts the final nail in the coffin of a small club, but between Dorgan and Feigenbaum, only the latter put it into public words:
Money. Ultimately, not enough of it. That’s why this decision had to be made. Specifically, it was the debt incurred getting The Nightlight open and operating it under financial duress every single day. We tried our damndest to clear the debt as fast as we could, in fact made tremendous progress, but it eventually got the best of us.
Feigenbaum admits to more than just a lack of funds. He cites his own "inexperience," too, saying, "Compounding all of this, I made tons of mistakes along the way."
Dorgan’s mistakes, though many and publicly dished, weren’t something she cared to address—or admit to.
Feigenbaum's honesty is complemented with equal parts justifiable pride and gracious humility—messages we didn't hear from Dorgan, who could have (rightfully) expounded on her contribution to Seattle's nightlife and to the country's musicultural memory.
The Nightlight accomplished some pretty amazing and extraordinary things in its all-too-brief 3.5 year existence. I am heartbroken right now, but I am also so fucking proud of The Nightlight, of what we accomplished, of what The Nightlight represents, of The Nightlight’s contribution to Bellingham’s rich and diverse musical history, and of the fact that The Nightlight (hopefully) is now part of a bigger picture, a bigger vision spearheaded by the true pioneers of Bellingham music ... It has truly been my honor and privilege, folks.
Bellingham's club owner also thanks a multitude of people, bands, and items of inspiration—from Dan Savage to Rick Rubin to bacon—that helped keep Feigenbaum motivated and the Nightlight open as long as it was. And the appreciation-train doesn't stop there:
I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, every single customer that passed through The Nightlight’s doors. Thank you for your patronage and support. Thank you for supporting live music. I hope that you will continue to do so for as long as you shall live.I would like to thank every single artist and performer that has graced The Nightlight’s stage and walls. Thank you for creating art. Thank you for sharing it. Thank you for leaving it all on the stage every damn night. Thank you for inspiring me and countless others.
When Dorgan decided to hang it up, she left an abrupt message with her booking agent: "I have to close the Crocodile immediately." Buh-bye employees, patrons, bands, drunks, memories—happy Xmas! No one's heard much from her since.
No clue what Dorgan’s got lined up, either. But Feigenbaum says he'll definitely get into the club business again (in Bellingham). He wraps up his message with this: "I will shut up now." That's exactly what the Croc's owner did—without issuing explanations, thanks or well-wishes.
Kudos to Matt Feigenbaum for reciprocating the respect of his city and live-music-loving public.
Crocodile Cafe Windows by Flickr pool contributor Todd Sackmann.
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yes, a classy goodbye from a classy club that i will wholeheartedly miss. I will never forget Harvey Danger's 2+ hour set there in March of 2005. Let's hope its general "nice" feeling will live on in a new venue in the city of subdued excitement.
Though (or maybe because) I work in Seattle but live in Skagit Co., I am more familiar with Bham's nightlife scene than Seattle's. Bellingham has lost two KEY clubs in almost as many years, the 3B and the Nightlight. The 3B provided a great venue for local acts trying to get on their feet, as well as smaller punk-type bands passing through on tour. It was appropriately grungy and rough-around-the-edges as a club of its type should be. The Nightlight, on the other hand, was aimed more toward national-level touring acts, and the upscale, shiny appearance definitely matched this intent. The problem is, most acts don't know where the hell Bellingham is on a map (Death Cab being a SEATTLE band afterall...), so booking a national act night-after-night and expecting it to draw crowds is a little tough. Similarly, a lot of touring bands understandably want to play weekends in a real city, so they'd book Bham on a slow weeknight, to set themselves up for a weekend gig in Seattle or Vancouver. I was at more than a few ridiculously under-attended shows for this very reason. Great for a fan, bad for a band and a struggling venue.
The Nightlight's failure to embrace the local music scene left in the lurch by the closing of the 3B was clearly its biggest fault. There were countless nights where they'd have some crappy DJ club nights, or the lights would be off, when a vibrant music scene as Bellingham could have used a quality, predictable venue with a great sound system. Were they to have taken those slow nights, charged a couple bucks at the door for a slew of local acts and done so reliably, I'm sure they could have broken even on the slowest of nights. Instead, they just took a nap.
I really hope that the former of future owners can figure out how to keep a venue in Bellingham as great (both style/quality as well as acts) as the Nightlight. Bellingham's budding culture can really use it.
I hear ya, Saxtor. Don't forget about other Bellingham venues that closed in the past 3.5 years, including State Street neighbor The Factory (which enjoyed some solid booking before its owner's untimely death in 2005), Stuart's Coffeehouse (hippie hole, but brought in some avant-folkers at times) and Chiribin's (which picked up some of the 3B/Factory slack).
Despite that town churning out its share of cool musicians in the past few years, and housing a university that's never been shy about paying touring bands good $$$ to play on campus, I have trouble envisioning Bellingham's culture "budding" any longer. Total shame, too.
Capitol Hill, you could be next.
That's a bummer, one of the most enjoyable clubs that I have experienced ANYWHERE as both a showgoer and promoter. Great staff, layout, amenities, beer selection etc. Matt is geniune, passionate, and a nice guy - best of luck. Seattle clubs could learn a thing or two...
Sad for Bellingham. I didn't know this development was only the latest in a series.
For the record, one of my favorite Nightlight shows was The Trucks, playing their hometown.