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Written by MARIO R. MARTIN, photos by MARIO R. MARTIN
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Monday, 02 May 2005 |
You don’t have to look too far for a premiere nightclub here in Milwaukee. In fact, if you know anything about music, and follow it like a devout fanatic should, you’d have seen "This is Spinal Tap." Shank Hall is where Spinal Tap played…well, not really.
As a fan of true rockumentaries, I recall the similarities the club in the movie draws to the ballroom of nearby University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. It is, in fact, the same one. But, when then-booker Peter Jest booked the gents for the movie’s Milwaukee locale, he promised them if he ever opened a club, he’d actually name it Shank Hall. So it has been said; so it has been done.Shank Hall, which opened its doors in 1989, is THE place to check out an act. Even though the club’s bookings cater more toward the local music scene, some of the industries biggest acts played Shank Hall before selling out amphitheaters and performing arts centers. From The Samples to Mike Doughty (of Soul Coughing) to Drive By Truckers, the stage has been home to a never-ending parade of great music. Bands such as Garbage played their second-ever show at Shank Hall while Alanis Morissette wowed prior to playing shows that demanded too-high ticket prices. In fact, I recall seeing Garbage for a mere $5 and Alanis for $7!
Yeah, there’s a bar there too. Serving up all types of drinks and taps for imbibing, Shank keeps the prices low, and your pocketbook isn’t gouged too badly. In fact, even though outside beverages are not allowed into the club, a very tasty policy sits in place for food. Since Shank Hall does not serve food, you’re allowed to bring in your nosh from outside sources, be it a street vendor or nearby Blue Dawg Bagels.
Since its renovation in the late 1990s, Shank Hall possesses a nightclub atmosphere with the added bonus of a stage. The bar, located right when you enter, is the back of the viewing area to the stage. Just ahead are tables and chairs and then just chairs right in front of the stage. Movable chairs make it a whole lot easier to accommodate dancing, and that’s what makes Shank Hall accommodating for the typical music lover wanting to take a break from the gyrations.
Overall, Shank Hall has a unique history; a unique schedule of events and is located on a stretch of Farwell Avenue that you just wouldn’t expect it to be on. Does that make it what it is today? No. The true draw is the supreme sound system. Shank Hall beats out any other club or music house in the city with its perfect mixing and acoustics. Never getting lost in the corners of the room, sound is able to travel from the instruments being played to the ears of listening bodies in a perfect transition of aural moments in time and space. Sounds too new age, right? Well, it might be, but the aura surrounding Shank Hall is bright, and the sounds are clear. Enough said!Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
