Seattlest: Bellingham's Nightlight Goes Out, Owner Actually Communicates with Public

Clint

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:05:50 -0800

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.

Blitz

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:30:45 -0800

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...

echoesmyron

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:42:53 -0800

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.

Saxtor

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:33:46 -0800

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.

ozmafan

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:13:41 -0800

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.