Ever since Speak In Tongues closed its doors in 2002, Cleveland’s west side has suffered a major drought of quality indie-rock clubs. For nearly eight years, the Ohio City haunt was one of the most important underground venues in the nation, with bands from Modest Mouse to the Brian Jonestown Massacre gracing its stage long before their names became mainstays in Spin and Rolling Stone.
Since then, west side rock fans have been forced to make the grueling trek — at least it seems grueling with a half-dozen PBRs in your system – to the Beachland Ballroom and the Grog Shop to get their musical fix.
But that should change in late February, when Mario Nemr opens up The Matinee Cleveland at 2527 West 25th Street, between the West Side Market and Clark Avenue. …
This article appears in Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2008.
This is BIG news! Cleveland dosent even know what its in for!!!!
I am the owner of the Velvet Tango Room. I assure you, I have never owned the establishment you mentioned. Please check your facts.
What? Is Dennis Grollmus really that stupid? There are lots of places to eat on the West Side, which is places like. Actually, OH! I forgot what I was going to say. Anywho, what I mean is that there are lots of places to see music on the West Side. I don’t think I’ve ever even SEEN Mr. Grollmus on the West Side, so I am going to go ahead and say he is.
So excited to have Mario in Cleveland. If you don’t know him already, you will. He is amazing
I think “Mr. Grollmus” is a woman. I have never heard of a man named Denise.
Thanks for the correction. And, a big thanks for the mention as well. The VTR welcomes the new bar to Cleveland/Ohio City and wishes them success in making the area a diverse and exciting part of the city. Cheers to the Scene and the new club!
Paulius
Woah,
Mario is making the move to the “big city”. Hopefully it works out. Someone let me know – I’ll still be boozing it up at the Akron location.
And Ted is right, Denise is indeed a woman, man.
Not only did the story have to do a correction but the Velvet Tango Room is not at 2527 West 25th street. The bar 2527 is there. Denise is THE WORST SCENE WRITER.
learn how to read dude and stop being a douche
i love reading about clevelands!!!! Do any other journalists write stories about der cleveland? where is cleveland, by the way?
did you know that hillary clinton once said that cleveland had a lot of “due dilligence” and “gravitas”? she be smart.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think this venue has been vacant for three decades. I believe I was there about two years ago for an R&B show. The place was packed and was actually in good shape.
Hello, guys and gals. Denise Grollmus here to clear up a few things. I promise, I didn’t pull this story out of the arsenal of tales I usually store in my ass. I simply misunderstood Nemr when he referred to the former owner of his space as the “owners of the Velvet Tango Room.” He later clarified that it was simply a former employee. I am devastatingly human. Sorry. And yes, the space that said person bought did lay empty for some time. Cee Bee — when you went there, it had already been beautifully renovated. i hope you enjoyed yourself. As for Matt: comprehensive reading skills are proving to be a sadly rare thing these days, as you just proved. Still, I will buy that I’m the worst Scene reporter — I work with some mighty talented folks who I would claim are better than me any day.
I hear this Mario guy has some talent up his sleeve.
I heard that they were going to change the name of Ohio City to Bigger Highland Square.