Off the Record on the Job

North Park is getting a new all-ages venue.

Having enjoyed success staging shows at the 100-person-capacity club Basement on University between 30th and Kansas, employees of Off the Record, which moved to North Park last month, are now organizing multi-band shows at the nearby Sunset Lodge Ballroom, on University and Kansas, which can hold 300.

"The Pinwheels and Airport 81 played at the first Basement show [July 16]," said Off the Record employee Paul Russe. "There were no problems." He said Off the Record manager Dan Wise (guitarist in Kill Me Tomorrow) and OTR employee Chuck Powell (guitarist in Plot to Blow Up the Eifel Tower and Some Girls) are organizing both the Basement and Ballroom shows.

Claire Magner owns the buildings that house her coffee house, Claire de Lune, Off the Record, and the two concert venues. The ballroom space, which is directly above Claire de Lune, is also used by ballroom dance groups.

"They want to bring big-name bands to the Ballroom. Shows at the Basement will be priced between $4 and $5. Shows at the Ballroom will be between $10 and $15."

Russe said it is possible the Ballroom will host its first show at the end of August but that the first booked show is October 8 with Kill Me Tomorrow, The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, The Long and the Short Of It, and Spacehorse.

Russe said the bookings at the two venues "...are handled by the staff of Off the Record."

The Groovy Ghoulies, Teenage Bottle Rocket, Teenage Harlot, and The Phuzz appear at the Basement Friday, July 22. All ages. $5 admission.