This is a diy space.... thats is DO IT YOURSELF SPACE
1919 offers canned food and clothing (when available) to homeless...
1919 has a pretty decent sound system for a DIY space... I dare you to go to a house show in Denton and find a better sounding spot (besides Mac island)
1919 isn't about making a band famous, making a band a shit ton of money, or trying to appeal to the masses.
1919 is a space where anything could happen, meetings, shows, awesome stuff...
1919 does not try to be like any other music venue; they simply try to get by with what they have at hand.
1919 does not make any money but simply tries to cover the cost of opening the doors, running the air; pa and lights witch usually comes out to 30 bucks a night
All shows are usually 6 bucks...
1919 does not promote Racism, Political Oppression, sexism, fighting, drugs or booze and is open to all ages, young and old!
1919 is a space where ANY BAND OF ANY STYLE CAN DO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING!
If you think any of those things are wrong... "clique-y" or whatever then don't go. It's a non-exclusive place for non-exclusive people and they invite all people from all walks of life to be a part of it. Volunteering is not hard, and there is not much to it. They are consistently trying to make things better as they should, and do not harbor parasites... (That a lie) It's not clean, but you're not going to catch flea's tick's bed bugs or any of that... I have no idea where the hell that came from.
It's relatively safe, there are volunteers in the parking lot, and they know who to look out for, and what to do if shit goes down.
Rick left, and Al is still around. Al does what he can to keep the place going. He probably works harder than I do, but people just take it for granted. He is a very nice guy who would never turn "clique-y"
There is also no singular core crowed that shows up every night, its different people all the time, and bands that I know love going there to play for their friends. I give it five stars because it's not about selling booze, smoking pot, or impressing bar girls. It's about music, true, organic, real, not for walmart music! That means the artist does what they do for themselves... they do it for themselves! Through that selfishness the greatest art form is sometimes present at 1919 Hemphill. When no one is there, when it's just a few guys in a room, playing some instruments for anyone who could care to listen. thats is art.
if you want to complain because your daddy manager can't make money there, bring some t-shirts and sell them... (Merchandise is welcome and they take nothing off the top) if you feel dirty, wash your hands afterwards.... If you feel like an outcast, talk to someone about whatever you want to talk about. 1919 does nothing wrong, and nothing right, they do it themselves... and for that I give them five stars
P.S
they never burnt out, you can't expect a bunch of volunteers to take time out of there day ALL THE FUCKIN TIME do improve a punk joint.... they do what they can when they can! I hope you go back there and
see what I see. read more