Another one dead... Club Hell officially closes tonight.[views:62236][posts:27]_______________________________ [Dec 14,2011 8:43pm - Pires ""] Club Hell officially closed Phil Amylon, Providence Music Scene Examiner 12/11/2011 7:52 PM Update: Club Hell has announced that they will be open for one more night on Wednesday, Dec. 14 for a "Liquidation Party." For details, click here . After a run of almost 15 years the iconic Club Hell has solemnly closed its doors for the last time. Club-goers came out in droves last night for their final night in Hell – a night marked by camaraderie, support, and the bonds of deep friendship built over the years. As the patrons sang and danced their hearts out to Highway to Hell , it was clear that although the community was losing a club, Providence was by no means losing a community. “We've made so many friends,” said Mark, who has worked security at Club Hell for the past 12 years. “It turns into a big family after a while, with our coworkers and our customers. It's really hard to say goodbye, but it's not goodbye because all of these people are asking us where we're going to be next.” Reflecting on the party going on in front of him, Mark added, “You can see by the crowd. Everybody's coming out to support us tonight.” The Club Hell family was largely built on the unique vision that Club Hell should be an all-inclusive venue. Chris Curran, the club's general manager said, “We embrace everybody. It doesn't matter if you're a drag queen or a fraternity brother. We love everybody here and it's been like that since the beginning.” Shunning the glossy, image-driven mentality that permeates other places, Club Hell's grit and realism made them one of the most well-known spots in downtown Providence. “We're not the most glamorous, but we're still the most fun.” For those looking for answers, economic issues and a changing neighborhood were at the heart of the club's closing. Chris continued, “This is the first year that I've seen that on college night [Thursdays] this area is like a ghost town. There used to be lines down the streets.” Despite these issues, the club desperately tried to weather this storm, just like it had survived the downturn after 9/11, and the difficulties following The Station fire. “We're one of these groups, that we don't give up. We just kept trying and trying to fix it, but it's just not fixable.” The sadness felt by the club's patrons is also something that cannot be fixed. “I'm pissed,” said one man. “This is the best club I've ever been to.” Another man remarked, “This is one of the only places where people can just come have fun without having to deal with all kinds of [BS]. Everyone is just here to have a good time.” The club closing is also a blow to the local bands that grew to love playing at Club Hell. “After The Living Room shut down, Club Hell single-handedly kept the local scene going,” said Richard Collier, owner of Keynote Company , a promotions company that books local bands to play in venues all over Rhode Island. But, he adds, “just as The Living Room closed, the scene will survive.” It's a positive outlook that has Richard, club-goers, and many others searching to find what venues are going to prop up as a place for the community to thrive. Richard added, “Most shows are capable of being moved upstairs [from Club Hell] to what is now The Providence Social Club . Also opening is Fete , which is a branch of Firehouse 13 in a larger setting. The room will be on pace with The Met in terms of capacity.” Considering the variety of venues in the area, Richard is confident that, “each show should be able to find the right fit.” As for where the crowds that previously flocked out to Club Hell might find a place to call home, club manager Chris Curran has some ideas: “There's some great bars that cater to the crowds that come here. The Avery – awesome bar. The Scurvy Dog – awesome bar.” And rest assured that the owners of Club Hell are going to remain active in the music scene. “John Difruscio [nicknamed 'Psycho' since his days at Rhode Island College] was the heart and soul of the live music here, and he's going to keep it going. He's going to keep booking bands at The Providence Social Club and throughout the state,” including working with Rich Lupo, owner of Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel . As for Joe Broady, the other owner of Club Hell, Chris tells us that, “he is looking into opening another place and getting the crew back together. They're looking for properties – there's a million clubs for sale right now.” Until then, Chris wants to make sure that everyone knows how grateful the club is: “We want to say thank you so much to everyone, all of our patrons throughout the years. Without them there's no Club Hell. They're all part of our extended family. Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you guys in the future.” http://m.examiner.com/exProvidence/pm_7418...tentdetail.htm?contentguid=INZXRzSx |
| ____________________________________ [Dec 14,2011 8:50pm - arilliusbm ""] Club Hell took an arrow to the knee. |
| ________________________________ [Dec 14,2011 9:05pm - Mark_R ""] Wow. Fuck, this sucks. This place was metal as hell. I didn't get there very many times, but I never had a bad time there. |
| ________________________________________ [Dec 14,2011 9:15pm - Club Babyhead ""] Good riddance, bitches. |
| _________________________________ [Dec 14,2011 10:15pm - xmikex ""] Every show that doesn't happen at a club defaults to a basement... yup this is a great day for "basement metal." |
| ___________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 2:08am - Lamp nli ""] Reading that article started making me so angry I couldn't finish it. Club Hell single-handedly carried the scene after the Living Room shut down... get the fuck outta here. Club Hell blew ass. |
| ________________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 2:33am - josh_hates_you ""] there was lots of boobs tonight for tyhe last night. |
| ______________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 7:43am - Manowarrior ""] Shit club good riddance. |
| _______________________________ [Dec 15,2011 7:50am - Pires ""] xmikex said:Every show that doesn't happen at a club defaults to a basement... yup this is a great day for "basement metal." robing said: Support Legal Shows. |
| ______________________________ [Dec 15,2011 7:54am - Yeti ""] only kicking Asians in the face at Club Hell is real. |
| __________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 9:38am - pam nli ""] bummer, I liked that place. |
| ___________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 10:52am - brian_dc ""] support legal shows, sure. But this place was a disaster. |
| _______________________________ [Dec 15,2011 10:56am - ark ""] I've been there so many times. Saw countless good shows. Drank many cheap beers. Smoked many weeds here. I dont get the hate. Too bad to see it go. |
| _____________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 11:06am - arilliusbm ""] The hate: Lack of caretaking, smell of piss, shitty location in regards to social cliques (smack dab near dance clubs), and shitty sound sometimes. The best thing about it was the back room; my best memory of the place was vaporizing it up with Cephalic Carnage in that room, when they were filming their video for Vaporized. One less stage, though. so it sucks. One of my favorite places in PVD, but only because of the good times I had there. Venue kind of sucked otherwise, but at least it had space. |
| _______________________________ [Dec 15,2011 12:44pm - Yeti ""] worst smelling venue ever. it stank of pigs in pleather. |
| _________________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 3:06pm - FAG IS SLAGHAT ""] A good sounding venue. One of the few. |
| ___________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 3:18pm - Czarnobog ""] played here twice. bouncers fought with my bandmates first time, bar tender was a dickhead both times. never got paid a cent. i can see why providence people avoid the place. BRING BACK BABYHEAD! |
| ___________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 3:26pm - Czarnobog ""] arilliusbm said:The hate: Lack of caretaking, smell of piss, shitty location in regards to social cliques (smack dab near dance clubs), and shitty sound sometimes. yeah, but clubs that have been in that spot before Club Hell (Babyhead, The Rocket) had the same things working against them and didn't suck. with that place i always got the sense that whoever owned it didn't seem to have any passion for live music, they just wanted to turn a buck. all the priority went to bullshit dance nights and big name acts, and everyone else got treated like shit. |
| _____________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 3:29pm - arktourO‘s ""] i always liked taking a piss in club hell, because once you crossed that swinging door, you could piss ANYWHERE YOU WANTED. |
| ___________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 4:06pm - nekronaut ""] PRIVATE STRIPPER DANCE PARTY WITH DESTROYER 666 IN THE "GREEN ROOM" OR GTFO |
| __________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 4:33pm - BrianDBB ""] Club Hell was always good to us. Great sound, always a place to park, and PLENTY of drink tickets. RIP, but i'm sure people who went there all the time have different a opinion than my 3 stops there. |
| __________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 4:38pm - posbleak ""] Goodnight, half-naked drunk lady and interpretive dancer writhing around on the floor in a puddle of beer |
| _______________________________ [Dec 15,2011 5:01pm - timma ""] I've been to some awesome shows there, definitely seen bands I'll probably never see again. I think I'll miss the ever-present urinal cake smell the most. |
| __________________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 5:01pm - largefreakatzero ""] Never went there as Club Hell, but I remember Rocket and Babyhead days. I think that building is cursed with fail. |
| ____________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 5:38pm - DYA is 12 ""] I always liked blah blah blah band name drop. |
| __________________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 6:07pm - largefreakatzero ""] IMMATURE |
| ________________________________ [Dec 15,2011 9:14pm - xmikex ""] Officially adding "avoided a lifetime of 80's Nights" to my resume. |
| _____________________________________ [Dec 16,2011 12:11am - xgodzillax ""] Yeti said:only kicking Asians in the face at Club Hell is real. it was accidentally awesome on accident. he was Asian, arent they all ninjas by nature? if so, fail on his part for not living up to the stereotype... |