Comrad Sound: Updated

Posted by Peter Hemminger in Stranger in the Alps

Calgary has never had the best relationship with its all-ages venues. It seems like every time one has a chance of providing a stable home for the city's musical youth, a zoning regulation, noise complaint or other random factor comes along to shut the place down.

Despite some positive developments, it looks like things aren't about to change anytime soon. Comrad Sound, the new venue run by Friendo's Mike Wallace and Nicole Brunel, is already in grave danger of being shut down. The venue's facebook page is already abuzz with people asking what they can do to help (including a couple of local politicians). The issue isn't exactly cut-and-dried — if Comrad isn't properly licenced, the city does have a right to crack down — but if you feel like the city should be helping all-ages venues rather than cracking down on them, well... keep in mind, we're in election season and letters can be very effective things at times like this.

In the meantime, Broken City will be holding a fundraiser on Thursday, June 17 to help Comrad Sound with its rent. Knots, Secret Brothers, The Throwaways, Geister, Gareth Edwards and Craig Fahner from SIDs are all chipping in, and the venue is donating the entire $10 cover to their comrades at Comrad.

Update: There's now an official Facebook page for the fundraiser show. It's an 18+ show, so the all-agers can't come, but this is a chance for those of us who grew up with awesome venues like the Multi and Carpenter's to help make sure that today's all-agers have the same chance.


more in Music Features     |     posted Jun 16th, 2010 at 4:21pm     

Comments: 12

23skidoo wrote:

Something's missing from this article. What's the exact problem that caused all the shows to be cancelled? Was it a building code violation, or fire code, or a noise complaint? Parking?
Don't get me wrong, I want Comrad Sound to stay open. I just want to know what the problem is before I write a letter. There's a lot of guessing on the facebook page, but no real information.

on Jun 16th, 2010 at 5:40pm Report Abuse

pmjboyle wrote:

My understanding is that it's a licensing issue. From Zak's Facebook rant, which Peter linked above:

"Comrad Sound was operating, as many places in Calgary do, without a specific 'entertainment establishment' designation on their business license, but was holding shows."

I don't know what that all boils down to: what kind of license DID they have and why did they opt for that instead of the one they are supposed to have to put on shows? I'm not sure.

I'll be doing my best to go to the show tomorrow night either way. Whether or not they're completely in the right (and from the sounds of it, they did make a mistake,) it seems like the city is flexing its muscles needlessly by saying "no shows until this is straightened out, PERIOD." Comrad is a much-needed addition to the city's music community and everyone who cares about that should rally to help its proprietors through this rough patch.

Patrick

on Jun 16th, 2010 at 6:22pm Report Abuse

23skidoo wrote:

I have "Sorry, you do not have permission to see this note." for Zak's note. I guess I need to be his Facebook friend to see it?

on Jun 16th, 2010 at 6:58pm Report Abuse

Peter Hemminger wrote:

I wish I knew more, but all I know at this point is that Comrad Sound isn't allowed to host any live events due to an improper license, and so is in danger of not being able to make their rent. As for specifics of why they have the wrong license, what they need to do to get it and all that, all I have is second-hand information. As I said in the post, Comrad is in the wrong, but historically, the city doesn't seem to go out of its way to help all-ages venues get those situations sorted out.

on Jun 16th, 2010 at 11:16pm Report Abuse

neiva wrote:

i posted a scanned copy of the actual letter in my first post. it is also posted on comrad's facebook page.

here is, once again, the link to the scanned image: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs041.ash2/35436_440036162558_527772558_6205065_8142117_n.jpg

on Jun 17th, 2010 at 12:03am Report Abuse

dugger wrote:

Seriously?! Do you really expect our hearts to bleed for these bumbling idiots? Do they really think that their endeavour is exempt from appropriate business licensing procedure and that any ol' license will do? What an ideal occasion for Mr. Pashak to ride in on his opportunistic, self-serving ego machine like a knight saving the day for these downtrodden scensters. Should be worth a few votes.

on Jun 17th, 2010 at 6:43am Report Abuse

23skidoo wrote:

The comments from Vanessa Fever seem to indicate that the property is not zoned for that kind of business, and the city is not going to issue them an entertainment license. Still, they pushed ahead and put on some live shows.
Comrad Sound is probably not coming back as a live music venue, at least not at that location. I'm sorry it turned out that way, and why didn't you think to talk to an attorney for 10 minutes before attempting this?

on Jun 17th, 2010 at 3:51pm Report Abuse

lisap wrote:

Here are some of the reasons they got shut down...

1. Improper license
2. Improperly zoned
3. Many complaints from neighbors about under aged kids drinking on their front lawns.
4. At one show (the last one) they were over 2 times the legal capacity of the building.

I think that all ages places should survive. But Comrad is an example of one run extremely poorly.

on Jun 23rd, 2010 at 1:28am Report Abuse

lisap wrote:

It probably wasn't so much a problem that Comrad didn't have the right license, but the surrounding neighbors didn't have any sort of license to have public gatherings with alcohol on their front lawn. :)

on Jun 23rd, 2010 at 1:32am Report Abuse

Peter Hemminger wrote:

Lisa,
Those are definitely valid concerns, but as far as the alcohol, if a venue doesn't serve or allow drinks and explicitly discourages drinking, what other reasonable action could it take to stop kids from drinking nearby? How responsible should it be for what people choose to do outside the area?

on Jun 23rd, 2010 at 9:46am Report Abuse

lisap wrote:

I think I have to disagree with that.

Bars serve alcohol, and are still responsible for people (whether or not they are even patrons of the bar) drinking outside, or on the street in front of their establishment. They are also responsible for fights that might take place, and they explicitly discourage fighting.

If someone is providing a service (ie all ages venue) then it is legally their responsibility to make sure everyone (especially the under-agers) are acting responsibly.

I still love all ages venues and Comrad sound. But I think that they need to take responsibility for their actions and what caused them to get shut down instead of portraying themselves like victims.

The victim mentality will never change the city's mind on permissible licenses for all age venues.

on Jun 27th, 2010 at 11:12pm Report Abuse


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