just curious to see what everyone thinks.....I myself am undecided

If I ever go, I'll vote.

where's the "it's ok" option? I went there to see Popular Genius play once, and my school is having a party type deal there for my grade at the end of school "which I think wont be that good", but my vote is that it's ok

i had to go once. i hated every minute of it. you have to pay a million dollars to park and two million dollars to get in. once they steal your money, they make you check your coat and purse (i don't know if they still do that or not) and do the metal-detector thing to you. once you get past all that, the big whereouse atmosphere they have actually has potential in my pov. but instead they continue to take every opportunity to be commercially "cool," by having both an overpriced, starbucks-like coffee shop and a clothing shop (yes, a clothing shop). once you get into the actual venue part it actually isn't bad. good size (i remember it being equal to or bigger than exit/in) and pretty good sound. however, i would only go back if it was a band i really really wanted to see (and i had three million dollars to spend). either that or if they made some really big changes. i guess if you were not 18 and it was your only option you would learn to love it though...

I actually noticed that their coffee shop was cheaper than Fido or Bongo. The coat check thing is a bit much though.

i'm too old to get in.

If you had a band would you try and get a show there?

my thoughts exactly....

i actually think they did away with the "no one over 20" rule after they realized it was silly. i wouldn't reccomend going nonetheless.

it appears to be a rather lame place....

Yes, it does sound like it exudes the lame-itude.

nice avatar, sexy sadie. "Un Chien Andalou"?

Yes, thank you, Buckley.

I think it's still in effect, but I believe they wave this rule on Thursdays when they try to have shows that appeal to a slightly larger audience. I know the Luxury Liners played an all ages show last thursday, but I was unable to make it. Of course, getting to see them play with some "stealth christian bands" for 20 minutes for $8 was exactly too motivating.

I will say once again that I think the idea of this club is a great one-- as long as it isn't trying hard to be a "hip christian" club to brainwash our youth. Also, overcharging kids' parents and promising entry into a "safe" environment where thay can spend even more money seems pretty lucritive.

yeah, i just checked because i'm a big loser and carl is right. the 15-20 rule is still in effect for positive hip-hop friday night (try not to be too disappointed).

and like i said before, if i was not old enough to get into 18+ shows, i would probably learn to love this place. it just seems to be a bit of a waste, though, considering it's potential to be a good regular venue...

Hey I work at Rocketown and a friend told me about this poll, so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents. By the way, I would just like to say that some of your criticisms are totally justified. I would like to explain a few things. We initially opened this place because we regonized that their is not a whole lot in this city for young people to do. We are a non-profit, which means that no one owns Rocketown, which means while some of us do get paid, we don't share in any profits, it all goes back into the operation. I realize that we have had some Christian bands play here (and in my opinion too many), but we have also had a lot of non christian bands play here. I personally think that's pretty cool. We would like to be a place where all voices can be heard, not just one side. Now in response to the age restriction thing, we have revised that a lot. Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm-12pm in the music venue part, are the only times when it is age-restricted. The only reason for that is safety. We don't want some middle aged man trying to grind on a 16 year old girl. The mix factory a club that's now the castle had stabbings and muggings etc.. happen often, we are trying to make sure that that doesn't happen. Anyways, we are listening to what people are saying and are making changes things all the time. I personally would like to see a lot of these bands that are discussed on this site play at our venue more often. I book bands in the coffee shop (we have had Ben Morton from LLama, the Vivid Lemon, we hope to have De Nova Dahl soon) and would love to book more like this. If anyone is interested email me at Keith@Rocketown.org. And I am totally interested in seeing what other responses this poll gets.

I can not vote on this poll. There just isn't the right option that captures my emotion properly. It doesn't suck per se, but it's not exactly cool either. As if you are interested why, I will explain:

The venue size is incredible. And from what I've heard it's got a pretty bitchin sound system. Since the demise of 328, it'd be nice to have a place in town that attracted somewhat larger acts that weren't willing to get booked at Exit/In (or worse, The End).

However, I have been told it's like $8 for a show where bands play 20 - 35 minute sets. The headliner playing maybe 45 minutes. This is unacceptable. I realize that someone is just trying to make curfew for the young ones, but I'm not shelling out $8 to see a band play maybe 5 songs if they are properly tuned and readily prepared.

Any venue that has a "no preaching" clause in their contracts obviously knows trouble is ahead. Fortunately this rule does work in my favor were I to go there, so I won't harp on it too much.

The parking for the place blows but that's not neccasarily the fault of the venue. The location isn't half bad and the skatepark / coffee shop integration really doesn't bother me. I'd rather have a plush designer sofa to sit on during a crappy band over an uncomfortable bar stool.

My suggestions are get a better booking agent up in there. No offense to whoever is booking now, but I've no idea who 'The Violent Burning' is, and it sounds like a veneral disease that I wouldn't have interest in anyway. More advertising... are you guys just in the Scene? I don't remember seeing anything in the Rage.

Anyway, that's my big long rant about Rockettown.

Michael

* Webmasters opinion does not reflect The Features or it's management. I'm mearly one guy with one voice.

I have never been to Rockettown. It always made me laugh, though, that students from my ultra-strict Christian college were banned from going there. I believe the philosophy of the administration was that, by being as a "Christian night club" or whatever, that Rockettown was too much like all of those other sinful bars and clubs.

Yeah, I know. This is very extreme. I always just chose to go to the other sinful bars and clubs.

By the way, did Michael W. Smith at one time own Rockettown? That's what I thought.

Yes. Rocketown was originally the title of a Michael W. Smith song from back in the day. So he started a record label, a publishing company, and a teen night club - and named them all "Rocketown." The club was originally launched in 1995 or 1996 in Cool Springs. It was the same concept as the current Rocketown, only smaller and without the skate park. Anyway, that club closed in about 1998 or 1999. The new Rocketown opened this year off of Demonbreun Street downtown.

I have personally not been to the new incarnation of Rocketown (though that might change if De Novo Dahl plays there). I don't really have a desire to go, just because at 24 years old, I think I would feel too old there. HOWEVER...I do think that it's a great concept and I'm glad that they're doing it. When I was coming up, it was Lucy's Record Shop on Church Street - that was the only place for under-18s to go and see live music. Now that place has closed down. Where else are the kids going to go to hear local bands play? You can say what you want about this place, but I think anything that has the potential of showing the kids that there is a musical landscape outside of MTV in 2003 is a GOOD thing. And I'm glad that they're not doing a hard sell on the Christian element of the club - only because I think that there is (unfortunately) such a stigma attached to the word "Christian"and it instantly turns off a lot of people.

It's just my opinion.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 6:18 am on Apr. 28, 2003)

1) Don't you mean De Nova Dahl?

2) The Muse and The Red Rose

Yes, Carl, but the Red Rose is in Murfreesboro. And the Muse is too scary.

I loved my time spent there when I was at Centennial High and it was in Cool Springs. But I only went on "Ground Zero" nights that were decidedly secular.

Will

Is The End all ages? I saw in the Rage that Feeble Weiner was playing there Wednesday and that show is all ages, but I thinking about going tonite if there is nothing else to do but don't know if it is always all ages. I am going Wednesday though. I got a sample CD at DitD the other night with Feeble Weiner on it and really liked them.

No, the End is normally 18+.

I too luv Feeble Weiner.

Thank you so much. I think they should list the age limits in the Rage.

Is anyone else going Wednesday?

Guess thats a no. I'm off to Las Palmas then The End. I'm excited.

I may be going tonight, Rachel. What will you be wearing so I know who to look for? Wait, how can you even get into The End?

You're joking, right? If you are, you suck. If you aren't, you suck.

Kidding about what? The End is 21+, right?

Yeah, okay. I didn't read this til now but I saw you (I'm pretty sure). You were sitting at the table behind me. The whole time I was like "god, I know that guy where have I seen him." I had pigtails and I was wearing my Features shirt.

I had to leave early because I didn't have a ride home. I'm in the worst mood now since I didn't even get to see Feable Weiner. GRRR

And I don't get it either, Carl. The End is usually 18+ but tonite it was all ages.



(Edited by rachel1808 at 10:55 pm on May. 28, 2003)

I don't remember seeing anyone in a Features shirt. I was wearing brown pants and a semi-shiney blue button-up shirt.

And yes Carl, I was kidding. Sorry to give you so much shit about your age, Rachel. When you are old and jaded like me, you'll do the same thing to other young 'uns.

Yep that was you. I was going to say something but didn't figure out I recognized you til I was outside ready to go and I wasn't bout to chase after you.

And no problem. I'm used to it. I don't even notice anymore. My day will come in a few years. Or when I get a fake id.