RIP Tonic (1998-2007)
On Friday, April 13, Tonic will join Sin-e on 2007's list of music venue fatalities based on steadily increasing rent. Any regular to Tonic had to see it coming, but it's still sad to hear of the fall of yet another Lower East Side club. Since it opened in 1998, Tonic has been the place to see experimental music, with the legendary John Zorn practically living there. Mike Wolf from Time Out describes the situation perfectly:
Ah, fuck. Thats about the only thing that can be said to the news that Tonic, one of the citys most popular small clubsto musicians and fans alikewill be closing next month, with the last night of music being lucky Friday the 13th. The well-liked owners, Melissa Caruso Scott and John Scott, have yet to issue an official press release describing their reasons for closing, but one can only assume that the enormous, appalling tower of condos that got thrown up literally next door is part of it. (It all brings to mind DeNiro in Brazil, gliding in on a wire after striking a blow against the powers that be, smiling and assuring us that Were all in it together. But I digressand anyway, Im not advocating that sort of behavior, am I?)
With condos being built on every inch of space surrounding it, as well as the opening of Whole Foods, we can only hope that The Mercury Lounge can survive this trend. [Let the rumours begin].
Photo courtesy of [Stephen L. Harlow on Flickr]