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Dinkytown offers musical variety
Travis Reed
- The Lens Writer
From the nasally whimsical strain of Bob Dylan's seminally dissident folk in the 1950s to the bass-heavy thump of electronica that presently permeates the chilly darkness off-campus, the Dinkytown music scene has evolved considerably.
Zoning regulations, vertiginous business interests and venue turnover have all contributed equally to the inconsistency of vitality for live music just north of campus.
But the introduction of a handful of new venues have reinvigorated live performance in Dinkytown. The area now boasts five venues for a myriad of musical genres.
Things haven't always been this good. Molly Maher, a manager at The Podium and an acoustic musician who's been hip to the Dinkytown scene for 12 years, remembers a five-year period from 1993 to 1998 when live music was absent from virtually every business in the area.
"What drove me nuts is that I couldn't play in my hometown," Maher said.
But live music, like nature, abhors a vacuum, and Maher said she's encouraged by recent developments -- like the introduction of the Loring Pasta Bar.
Changes in zoning laws for the entire city have paved the way for the reemergence of live music venues. Previously, many of the businesses were prohibited from receiving licenses because of parking restrictions.
Shaan Sharma, an acoustic musician who plays at the Borealis Cafe and the Library, relishes the college atmosphere.
"Students are more personal when it comes to music. When I play in front of a college crowd, I always have someone come up after a show and talk," Sharma said.
"They're much more active. At other venues people don't get personal. It's important for musicians to be motivated by their audience."
Bon Appetit hosts a menagerie of bands and boasts live music every night with a $3-4 cover. The venue will feature all styles of music, from hip-hop to punk and rock.
"We like to have bands who know what they're doing, as far as being able to promote themselves and realize this is a business," said Joseph Holland, Bon Appetit's booking agent. "We're looking for people who have their stuff together."
The Borealis Cafe features local acts every day of the week, with a $3 cover after 8 p.m.
Dan Lerach, the Borealis booking agent, said about 80 percent of the bands can be categorized as either jazz or acoustic/solo/folk acts.
"What I look for is bands that can play in a very mellow atmosphere. No garage bands, no punk. That's when it gets too rowdy," Lerach said. "I like to keep it mellow, with possible exceptions. On most weeknights, you can sit and have a conversation with someone right across from you."
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