News Atlas Update
posted by on July 2 at 9:10 AM
The Atlas Clothing volunteers have written a formal, collective response to The Stranger regarding the events of the past few days. Here it is (emphasis added):
Dear Stranger readers,As many of you have already heard, we at Atlas Clothing had a visit Friday night from the Seattle Fire Department who shut down the show after they decided the venue did not meet their safety standards. All of the members of the SFD inspecting Atlas were more than helpful and sympathetic to the space. Their main concern was the safety of show goers and in the event of an emergency, the SFD. All of us at Atlas support that decision.
Long before the inspection, we searched through the building to look out for possible hazards and did what we could to reduce the risk. The safety of our guests has always been of the utmost importance as we attempted to take these shows and the space down the path of legitimacy. The changes necessary along with other updates to the building have lead to the construction that started in the back area this Friday. Our mistake was that we didn’t wait for the completion of these updates once we knew what we needed to fix. We felt that in order to get the ball rolling we would host shows in the space to prove to the owner that there really is a need for the kind of venue we were all hoping to provide. We knew there was the risk of being shutdown but we were willing to take that risk if it meant becoming legitimate in the process.
All of us at Atlas are obviously upset about failing the inspection. It’s unfortunate that this happened right now and not in a few weeks when the construction will be finished and all of the appropriate paperwork has been filed.
We are all excited about the space and appreciate the support from the community over the last few months. We started this project at Atlas because we love doing shows. No matter what happens, we’ll all still be involved with music. We’re continuing down the path we started with Atlas - the permits are on their way, the construction is happening. We’re not ready to quit! We’ll be posting information on our myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/atlasclothing) regarding venue changes for some of our upcoming shows as well as up to date info on the Atlas Clothing and Music and our reaction to recent events around the closing of the space.Sincerely,
Atlas Clothing & Music
Matt Fuller, Alicia Blake, Nathan Ellis-Brown, Adam Grunke, Keenan Dowers, Aimee Butterworth, Kristen Kerr, Sarina Roscigno, Calla Hummel and Jamey Braden
Thank for the emphasis Officer Grandy.
Nice.. hope you all can make the venue work out. Underground shows and parties are always going to exist and be fun. Having a lasting venue with managable space, good sound and good booking is entirely better (although an impossibly immense amount of work) Lots of great people on that volunteer list, i wish you all the best of luck
big ups to the Atlas folks for admitting their mistakes and moving forward. Now it's time for Grandy and the Stranger to do the same. Nothing would be better for the scene.
"The Atlas Clothing volunteers have written a formal, collective response"
????????????????????
What would Slick Shit Jamie, owner of Atlas, need volunteers for - I realize everyone involved has the best intentions, but Jamie is a real fuck-tard. I hope he wasn't profiting off the dollars from your "volunteer" efforts.
Atlas used to be an awesome store, under the previous ownership, when Kerri Morris was managing the place.
Why shouldn't Atlas work within the law and codes that govern other shows and clubs. Safty first!! Mr. Grandy's piece was fine.
Jamie ought to find a business model that is legal and sustainable. Still, the soul of Atlas took a walk down the street long ago.
The Stranger admitting mistakes? Don't hold your breathe.
Atlas did the right thing and admitted they dropped the ball. On a related note, I apologize for booking The Nunchucks at the Blue Moon last Thursday. Anybody else have anything they wanna get off of their chests?
I used to really be into System of a Down.
Thanks Jason, I feel better.
I bought Meatloaf's I would do anything for love SINGLE, on tape, when I was in middle school.
Actually I don't regret that, Jim Steinman rocks my world.
Props to the Atlas folks who are working hard to figure things out. Amazing how much hatred some other people can spew. Eric has done more for the all ages scene than most people ever will. He grew up volunteering at the Old Fire House (which was the heart of Seattle's all ages scene through the 90s) and then he worked there (giving back y'all). The Old Fire House folks (well, Kate) led the Teen Dance Ordinance wars which Eric was involved in. He's been a huge advocate of all ages venues both through his writing and through the venues he chooses to play. So he made a bad judgment call in writing about the legalities of Atlas. Oops. It's honestly not a big deal. Atlas closed temporarily, a few bands didn't get to play the clothing store and according to the Atlas folks themselves, they're continuing with construction and one can infer, will open again shortly (hopefully with fire dept. approval).
You're all living in the dark ages when you act like this is a huge blow to the Seattle scene. It is unfortunate for sure. But this is not the 90s when brave souls had to produce illegal all ages shows just to so that they would exist. I didn't see any fire dept. sympathy in the 90s.
The battle has been fought and won. All ages shows are legal in Seattle and thanks to a few key people like Kate Becker and David Meinert, Seattle now has one of the best all ages venues in the country - the Vera Project.
Underground shows are definitely important and will hopefully always be a part of the scene here. But I really don't think you can have your cake and eat it too - you can't run an illegal underground venue and put up sandwich boards and advertise in the media while hoping that city officials don't come around.
Good luck to everyone involved with Atlas.
Exactly. All ages shows have not been legal in this city for five years even. The war was won late in 2002. So Atlas people, did you ever consider that your illegal shows might be jeopardizing this hard-won status?
if Kristen Kerr @1 has never read the Stranger before and is still tacitally leading a boycott, why is she still here? shouldn't be out... living life and distributing pitchforks and torches?
while you're at it, ask Nathan why a venue who gets "hundreds of emails" every week from bands wanting to play there expects to be operating under the radar. then ask him the motivation in shunning a few bands who actually go the extra mile to communicate with coordinators in person.
next time we have an all-ages venue on Capitol Hill, can we not have it at a shitty vintage fashion store so we don't have to deal with shitty vintage fashion store attitudes having a controlling interest in punk rock? the two don't really work together.
Yo, Tarst, check that link. I think #1 wants to sell you some extra mild vinegar douche.
@5, i think the owner of atlas very much hoped to profit on the volunteer work of these good people. which, when you think about it, is sort of similar to the business model of a vintage clothing store; sell shit to people that someone gave away for free.
I think maybe there are some excellent lessons for everyone involved.
The Stranger-Despite how cute it is writing about titalating things like marginally illegal activities, turns out there are real-world consequences for what goes into print. There are some ethical issues that ought to be reviewed for all your journalists.
Atlas-Should have waited for the permits before talking to anyone in a mainstream paper. Non-legal venues often run for years with no hassle, so long as they can keep some level of 'covert' about them. Show listings are one thing, an article in the paper flat out telling the world the venue isn't legal is a whole 'nother ball of wax.
ANGRY FOLKS- Calling for someone's head (or job) won't really get you very far. Maybe this could be the rallying cry for whatever it is you want to do. Maybe you need to start another paper, maybe open your own venue... something.
@7 no, the stranger knocked an already slippery ball out of atlas's hands.
If someone on staff didn't add that link to #1's comment, I'm disappointed. After reading about this brouhaha off and on all day - that was the best thing ever.
@ #15 "The Stranger-Despite how cute it is writing about titalating things like marginally illegal activities, turns out there are real-world consequences for what goes into print. There are some ethical issues that ought to be reviewed for all your journalists."
Um, as far as those ethics go... In your world how do they work? I'd argue that a reporter mentioning that a venue where underage kids go isn't up to fire code is ethical. I think it would be unethical to either suppress a story or choose to skim over mentioning a fire hazard for the sake of not rocking the boat.
"turns out there are real-world consequences..." for knowingly operating an illegal venue and not keeping it underground.
Jesse @11- AMEN! Thanks for pointing that out.
Way to go eric! get those shows that don't throw coke parties shut down! yes, you've changed eric.
Did a comment get deleted? What did "Kristin @ 1" say and what link did she have?
yes number eleven this was all about cocaine parties.
yeah, and what vinegar? what's going on? I'm so confused!
A comment got deleted, yes. Someone posted under someone else's name. Not cool, so it was taken down.
Tarst, some wag posted under the name Kristen, writing in the inimitable style of Kristen Kerr, and with their name linking to a web page for "extra mild vinegar douce." Hope that clears everything up.
And of course, that should read "douche" not "douce."
@17 Props.
@17 Props.
i read the article *before* i heard about the show(s) being shut down. my initial reaction was not, "i can't believe the stranger is outing atlas", but rather, "why is the writer being so harsh on matt?" followed by the former shortly thereafter.
i am conflicted on whether on not i feel this was an attempt to bring negative consequences to the atlas venue. i'd like to believe the answer is no, as eric maintains, but then why the vitriolic intro to the story? unrelated?
i would probably place the most "emphasis" on the last bit there, the part that reads:
"we'll be posting information on our myspace page... regarding... our reaction to recent events around the closing of the atlas space."
please stay tuned. we have our first group "punkhouse" meeting since the article was published tonight and will be formulating said response.
thanks for your support! and for all, on both sides, who have had pertinent things to say about this.
love comma
matt fu
wait... what did I say about cocaine? except for right now when I said "what the fuck does cocaine parties have to do with any of this bullshit?" can we try to stay on topic instead of using tired rhetoric please?
@ 28 "can we try to stay on topic instead of using tired rhetoric please?"
no. or at least as far as atlas' defenders go, no. because everyone defending atlas' bogus business ethics would rather blame eric for merely bringing said corrupt practices to light, then blame atlas for doing something both stupid and highly immoral in the first place.
quite honestly, with all the sturm and drang this article has caused, it makes me feel totally unispired by and un-obligated to do anything for the underage music scene in the future. they, or at least their commenting representatives, act like a bunch of irresponsible blowtards (that would be both blowhard and retard). especially this matt fu bloke. he's either in way over his head, or just stupid. he is the one who made some terrible choices. and this "we'll fix it!" additude is so, Spanky and Our Gang-ish in it's approach. i'm totally underwhelmed.
If this is what you kids have to offer, it's no wonder you've had a hard time in this city. seriously.
then you blame the fucking messenger!
christ! that's rich!
in the future i'll remember; my money, time, and effort can be spent so much more effectively without the drama of the underage scene.
yeah, i know. harsh. but i know i'm not the only one feeling it.
Amen brother Miller. Can I get a witness???
I know it's all punk rawk and shit to break the law and put under age kids in danger, but I'm not down with that. You of-agers should be in the business of building safe places for the under-agers to rock it.
If owner Jamie was such a savvy money man, why was he risking his fortunes to operate an illegal venue. If a scene like Great White would have gone down do you think anyone would be defending his and Atlas actions.
Smarten up.
Wow, they had pyrotechnics like Great White did at Atlas? Who knew?
Danger, danger....careful little children.
Yes, "kids" should all have a kiddie safe little sanitized legal punk rock club shouldn't they?
Thank god when I was young in the 80's rock and roll and punk were still dangerous and fun, and yeah sometimes people got in trouble with police, maybe hurt, and blah blah blah. Sucks to be young now around here I guess.
Nothing would be funnier than to catch a photo of Eric Grandy doing coke at an after party, then release it and see what happens. No wait, wait... sit on it for MONTHS, you know - out of concern - then finally release it.
Eric has done more for all-ages music in Seattle than anyone I know. All he cares about is music and the kids. Dismissing him as some sort disconnected coked out hipster is some of the richest shit I have ever heard.
The people who run Atlas had plenty of time to get up to code. They knew how important it was, but they dropped the ball. It was stupid and lazy.
Until they are permitted and public,the only purpose Atlas serves in the all-ages scene in Seattle is to undermine it. Anyone who really cares understands this. It may have been an excellent "covert" punk venue, but claiming to be any part of the legitimate, hard-earned all-ages scene in our community that extends BEYOND music and into services and opportunity for youth (VERA, the OFH, Ground Zero)? That's just INSANE. Atlas may have been "on their way" to getting the proper permits, but until they start taking care of the kids they claim to welcome (this means up to code, well-staffed, booze-free, and ALL profits going back to services for the kids), they are just being irresponsible jerks.
eric was being a parent. people here just disagree on whether the child needed to be scolded or not.
years back as an underage, i went to an illegal rave, and that was probably half the fun.
wait, i take it back. he wasn't being a parent. the focus of his story was not that this was not a safe place, was it? not as i recall.
I like the hardcore where the people do the kung fu moves and shit. it looks like a great workout.
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