Does Club Fred suck, or did I just have a bad night?
Submitted by TravelingBiker on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 19:55.
I went to the show at Club Fred last night and had a really shitty time.
The night started off crappy when I was approached by the bouncer shortly after we arrived and were trying to enjoy a beer. We had apparently gotten in there before they started charging a cover charge (We arrived at 8:50 pm so we wouldn't be late. I know I was crazy for expecting a show advertised to start at 9 pm would actually start at 9 pm) and after we had sat down and ordered our drinks they decided it was time to start collecting cover charges, and instead of doing like most bars, where you begin charging people as they arrive, they decided they were going to make us stop what we were doing and go stand in line at the door to pay. As if that wasn't bad enough, the bouncer who had been sent to collect the cover charge from us as if he was a troll collecting a fee for crossing his bridge was very rude about it. It would have been one thing if he were polite to paying guests who were buying their beer and supporting the bands who had come to play, but treating us poorly was really unnecessary.
I hope the people who run/own Club Fred read FF and take note that if their staff treats me like that again, I wont be back, and I'll recommend to my friends they don't go there too.
So then the first band played (even though they started late, at least they played). I didn't catch their name, but I could tell they were really very talented. It was hard to enjoy their music though because the equipment wasn't tuned right and there was horrible feedback that made it painful to listen to their music. Then it was even worse when they stopped playing and a loud shreeking noise bellowed from the huge speakers hurting our ears. They were all realy beautiful girls and very talented. I think under different circumstances I would have really enjoyed their music.
After they played their set and tore down, the second band began setting up. By 11 pm they were just starting to get ready to begin to play, and I didn't like their style of music at all. I suffered through it really hoping to hear the Ditch Bank Okies play, but by the time they finished and started tearing down their equipment, someone announced another band was going to play before the DBO, and I had enough and decided to leave.
Maybe I'll get another chance to see the DBO in the future.
I'll probably give Club Fred another chance at some point, but I'm in no hurry to get back over there and buy anymore of their alcohol anytime soon.
I'm going to take another shot at having a good time tonight... We'll see what happens.
Bad night....?
Having gone to and played at Club fred from back when it was The Oly Tavern, I've seen bad and good nights. Last time I was there, the sound was good, staff was cool, vibe was great. As far as the sound goes, a lot rides on who's running the sound. Years back, the PA sucked, but even after they upgraded it, when certain people ran the sound, it still made me wannna tear out my hair. I agree that they should have had someone working the door earlier (and making people go line up sucks), but if I had a dollar for everytime I heard " I'm just gonna finish this beer and leave," "I'm leaving as soon as my buddy shows up," or "So who's gonna make me pay a cover" on those occasions when I ran door for a buddy's band, I'd be sitting in a hot tub in Malibu with Scarlett Johansson right now. And as a (rapidly aging) musician, I would LOVE to see shows start earlier. Maybe 2 bands a show is a good limit. Anyway, sorry your night sucked, give 'em another shot.
sucks
To Traveling Biker:
That sucks that you had a lame time there. I've had some good times, but my main complaint is that the shows start too late or there's too much time between bands "waiting for the crowd". Maybe I'm lame but Anything after 11 should be only the headliner if you ask me.
I've never dealt with crappy service there, though, and I've gone fairly recently. I hope this sort of thing doesn't continue to happen.
And yes, the sound system has been dramatically improved so I wonder what was going on when you attended.
Weird stuff, but that's Fresno live music for you sometimes.
I thought they were no longer using the name CLUB FRED. I though the new name was officially "Audi’s Olympic Tavern."
By the way, the old shitty sound system was replaced when Audi took over.
-s
like life, up and down
Club Fred has it's up's and downs, and has been for many years. There are great nights and there are dead nights, it's just a bar with a small stage, and an abused sound system.
It's a little different for every event. It does have a history, you could say it's the equivalent of CBGBs here in Fresno.
even Timothy Leary visited drank and played pool at club Fred on a few different occasions in the early 1990s, I've got photo's and a video clip of him hanging out at Fred's.
Hello Travelling Biker(re:clubfred)
Club Fred has been around a long time.
There has been manymanymany good nights...ok, and a few bad ones.----they seem to be moving towards better days.
Usually, when there's a cover charge involved....one will daintily move through the crowd who's already comfortably sitting/drinking/visiting announcing that there is a cover charge.(sorry that you had to ...what? line up? yeah, that's a bit....whacked)......
Club Fred has been around.....with various names....before I was even old enough to attend,...in fact, I started attending before I was really 'supposed' to.....and I've seen wonderous amazing nights....and I've seen 'ho hum'....please don't judge them on one gig---give them a shot.
Big Big Big Big double dose of 'coolness' shots to you for trying to see what's up and
going out to these little crucibles of life --where we know not whether the wonderous or the mundane will happen (i.e. the 'local club') obviously .....the mainstream/the 'chain' ...the movie and a restraunt date....well...it probably won't happen....thank you for taking a shot....maybe next time....the clouds will part...the heavens will open....and IT will happen......I'm sure it eventually will.
keep on keepin' on!
best to you Mr. Biker,
Thereminman
Yeah...
...It kinda sucks when you have to suffer through bands you don't want to hear to listen to who you really came for, lol.
I've been there, done that. Sometimes it's worth the wait, sometimes not.
As for Club Fred, I've been there a couple of times and I liked it. Their sound system really doesn't seem to be all that great, but it been a good crowd and good music when I went.
Sucks that they made you guys get up and stand in line. they could have just had you pay from where you were or just had someone at the door like they were supposed to.
Dah well. Definitely give them another try. They do good stuff.
~Rell www.myspace.com/559rell www.myspace.com/trellthareallamane (music production)
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