(Adebisi Shank in the Lower Deck, 2008)
Dublin’s music scene just got a dose.
In the Sunday Times yesterday it was announced that POD closed the doors of Crawdaddy and Tripod over the weekend.
The 24,000 sq.ft Harcourt Street complex is being let to the consortium of people behind Flannery’s Pub and it was suggested that the POD complex would become a large nightclub to compete with nearby Copper Face Jack’s. The Odeon Bar beside POD has also closed. Update: As per POD’s tweet, they will continue to promote gigs.
On the opposite end of the scale, The Lower Deck will no longer host small-scale independent gigs as it’s being turned into a pool hall apparently – a big loss to DIY gigs of which Ballroom of Romance, Adebisi Shank, Bats and DJ Scotch Egg gigs were among the cramped sweaty basement nights experienced there. The pub upstairs remains.
The closure of the POD building won’t be a major surprise to many regular gig goers like myself. Attendance and regularity of gigs in Crawdaddy and Tripod hit its peak about four or five years ago. I was in the place twice a week easily at that point.
Some of the memories I have from the place particularly Crawdaddy include jumping on stage with Bonde Do Role, an Antics night with El Guincho, a brilliant El-P gig, a late night Fujiya & Miyagi gig where I could barely stay awake, Dan MUTHAFUCKIN Deacon, seeing Terrordactyl for the first time, Beirut, Juana Molina, Glasser, Hard Working Class Heroes when it took over the whole complex, Jeffrey Lewis, Aesop Rock, Janelle Monae, Chromeo, DJ Shadow, Gil Scott Heron, Leftfield and countless other nights where I caught a first live glimpse of new bands, most recently The Notas.
The hope now is that the people who made that creative energy happen on those nights continue to do so on in other places in the city. Venues go but live music isn’t going anywhere.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
so i take it pod will no longer have involvement in the picnic as well
Most likely but that’s not confirmed.
https://twitter.com/#!/PODLIVEGIGS/status/169081318829867008
Update: As per POD tweet, they will continue to promote gigs at least.
crawdaddy was the best small venue in Dublin, much better than whelans, sad to see it go. The grand social and workmans club should benefit from this
I love Whelans, but: semi-agreed! I played one of my favourite gigs of my life there, with Patrick Freyne & His Bad Intentions (psych-folk-alt-country band). I also saw Joan As Police Woman and A Hawk & A Hacksaw there. Fabulous.
Actually, the Lower Deck is a huge loss too. I loved playing there back in the day. Great place for messy but really special early gigs by awesome people. I saw, could you believe, Josh T Pearson there. On his own, two feet away from me. Tore the roof off the muthaf*cka.
That Josh T Pearson gig was so good! He gave me names of people to meet up with in Texas when I was heading over. I went to and played at many a Ballroom of Romance gig but hadn’t been in the Lower Deck in a while. Sad news.
That place in the right hands should still be open & heaving, great venue for live music!! shame.
It is such a pity that one of the few venues for new bands and alternative music left in town will be turned into an upscale Coppers. The plans for the new club will make it the complete opposite to the place I spent my teens all the way up until now. RIP Crawdaddy.
booo! thats bad news 🙁
LCD Soundsystem at Tripod was one of best gigs I’ve ever seen
That’s a shame, however the loft in the grand social is just an all round better venue, hopefully it will gain more attention in the future.
Very sad to see… was there recently. The in-your-face advertising for Desperados beer, should have been a clue that all was not well.
Favourite moment, seeing Groove Armada playing a very intimate gig there.. and them hanging out in the smoking area afterwards.
really sad news mainstream crap taking over i saw Jaelle Monae< Laurent Garnier, the Kills … and manymore
This is a shame. Crawdaddy has been one of our favorite venues to play in around the city, it always had such a great sound. Have fond memories of this place and sad to see it go.
Very sad. I remember people having a shit attack when Doran’s went. Music always finds a way!
Update: As per POD tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/PODLIVEGIGS
They will continue to promote gigs at least.
This is really poxy news, seen countless amazing bands in Tripod and Crawdaddy over the years, and a lot of my top clubbing memories revolve around the Red Box, the Chemical Brothers doing a dj set back in ’97 (I think) being a real stand out. On a shamefully selfish note, any idea what’s going to become of the Django Django gig scheduled for Crawdaddy next week?
Genuinely sad to hear this. We played one of our favourite gigs there… If there’s one thing Dublin doesn’t need it’s another Coppers!
The DJANGO DJANGO show due to take place at Crawdaddy on Thursday 23rd Feb will now go ahead at THE GRAND SOCIAL.
**Original tickets valid.**
Tripod was a nice venue except for the one time I went there to see Regina Spektor when it was a complete sweatbox. I’m surprised there weren’t people fainting all over the place. I think they were worried the AC would drown out the music. I couldn’t have cared less. I’d rather be freezing cold than sweating like a whore in church.
I have nothing but good memories of Crawdaddy though. I saw my cousin-in-law’s band, Glasser, Austra and Land Lovers there.
🙁