"I want to create a musically diverse atmosphere because that's what Cleveland is," says Roncone. "A lot of clubs just play the same music every night. We're not the same night after night."
Some of Anatomy's musical fare will change, and some will stay the same. On weekends, the club will trade house for more accessible dance music, including Friday-night mash-ups. Thursdays will still be hip-hop night, with Mick Boogie and Terry Urban.
With the lights down low on Thursdays, the room looks much the same, only more orange. But when they're turned up -- as they will be on the weekends -- it's a warm improvement over Cloud Nine's space-age cool. The walls are covered with oversize prints of body parts -- lips, eyes, and torsos. The real difference is the vibe: Roncone has instituted a more upscale, no-hats dress code.
The coolest parts of Anatomy might be outside. The club is making the most of its sidewalk space, using it as a patio and smoking lounge. The owners are remodeling the second floor, which will be half-enclosed, with the rest overlooking Public Square.
Anatomy is open Thursday through Saturday. The club is having a grand opening this weekend. Friday, DJ e-us spins mash-ups. Urban returns Saturday for a set of eclectic dance music.
"Everybody says it was so sterile here," says Roncone. "Now they feel like it's more of a mainstream audience. It's people that want a change from West Sixth Street."
· Lava Room Recording has a new alternative to pay-to-play shows: play-for-keeps shows. For $500, bands can play a set at the Cleveland studio, invite up to 50 guests, and leave with an audio and video record of the gig. "A lot of bands don't mind selling 50 tickets to a show at $10 each, and then they take the $500 and hand it over to a promoter," explains partner Billy Morris. "With this package, you can sell the tickets, and you pay us the money. We shoot a half-hour set with two cameras and give you a DVD, and you get a live CD." For more details, visit www.lavaroomrecording.com.
· Production team the Kickdrums have signed a five-song deal with Columbia for Cleveland rapper Ray Cash's second album, which is in progress. The duo also has a five-song deal with Atlantic for the Texas group Oakcliff, which is managed by Hiphopsince1978. The A&R/management firm's roster includes Jay-Z and Kanye West. The Drums provided the track for Houston rapper Lil' Flip's "Rap Game 2007," which appears on his Crown Me mixtape.
· Nine Inch Nails mainman Trent Reznor announced he's planning "a full-length remix collection of substance."
· Former Mushroomhead frontman J. Popson has changed the name of his metal project from Absentee to Pitch Black Forecast. The group features Popson on vocals, bassist Craig Martini (Alter Boys), guitarist Robert Reinard (NDE), and legendary drummer Gene Holgan (Death, Strapping Young Lad). Listen to brutal new demos at www.myspace.com/pitchblackforecast.
· Visit www.clevescene.com/blogs for early concert announcements, a report from the Chuck D lecture, and more about Eternal Legacy.
