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Answer for: What Is Missoula's Best Live Music Venue?
#5 The Union Club
Good stage, good sound, Delbert and Delores two-stepping, etc... Sometimes wish there was a little more diversity to the music, but I still love the place.
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I'll second that recommendation for a more eclectic musical selection; This place absolutely has the potential to be an incredible venue, if only they'd get a good booking crew in there....
I think part of the dilemma is that they never charge for their shows. I don't think a booking crew even exists. But I'm definately down with the venue.
I'd also imagine, being the Union Club and all, that their bands have to be members of the Local No. 498 here in Missoula. Not sure about that though.
Definitely NOT union members playing there. And the "booking crew" is Maggie, who has definite ideas about what she wants in there. Music has nothing to do with it. If your band makes them money, they rebook you. Period. End of discussion. And yes, she hated my last band, and we got shitcanned. Nobody came.
And another thing, while I'm mildly pissed off (though you'll notice I am not shouting, despite some hearng loss!) - Union Club does not even have a sound system - bands bring in their own gear. So the statement "good sound" would have to be a reflection on the room itself, NOT the sound system. And I've seen LOTS (emphasis, not shouting) of bands sound crappy in there. I should be commenting on The Other Side's sound situation at that answer, but I'm here so: They have a great sound system, but it is simply overused - TOO FUCKING LOUD - and that leads to horrible sound in there. If they would simply relax, and use the PA to bring the vocals up to the level of the incredibly loud ams and drums, just giving a boost to an instrument here and there to make a nice mix, instead of FUCKING RAWKING THE FUCK OUT OF THE FUCKING ROOM ALL THE FUCKING TIME (that was shouting), it would sound cool in there, and the "atmosphere" would be greatly enhanced. I'm so sick of shows where it's all about atmosphere and not about music. That's just posing. I've got more if anyone wants to continue the discussion about sound reinforcement, posing, or the "booking team" at the Union Club or anywhere else.
And while we are at it, let's look at the relationship between alcohol and music, especially "how great" Jay's was...
Union Club is known to be smokey and crowded. The accoustics are deplorable and the dance floor is broken up by a support column. This makes for difficult dancing expecially after drinking one or two of the bartender's stiff drinks.
The bands are pretty reliable (familiar) and good for some two-steppin, swing dancin, or all around boogying.
The bartenders are a great bunch of women in their mature years. They are engaging to a certain point and nothing more. You must be a daily regular to invite the friendly service I hope to receive when I recognize the same faces month after month, not just day after day.