Steve Wildsmith

Remember last week’s Weekend section, when we profiled a new club over in Eagleton called Vice City? The one where all-ages shows were going to be held on Friday nights? Well, after exactly one show featuring Alcoa rapper Brandon “Hollywood” Holliman, future shows have been cancelled, according to Javier Migoya, co-owner of Aroma Cafe — located next door to the club, which he also co-owned.

The turnout was moderate, according to Hollywood — not bad for a weekend of football playoffs and, by his account, one of the best shows he’s ever done. On top of first-night problems, an exhausting schedule for the Migoyas — Javier and his wife, Alicia — and other complications have given them pause for continuing Vice City.

“The parking situation was just horrendous, and add that to the mix that it was exhausting for me and my wife being here on Friday and Saturday nights, it just gave us second thoughts,” Javier told us. “We’re still going to rent out the facility for parties and events, and we’re thinking about finding a different place to do the teen nights.”

That’s not the only all-ages venue that fizzled out after one show — Remedy Coffee, 125 W. Jackson Ave. in Knoxville’s Old City, tried to do something similar last Saturday night as well, with a three-band bill booked by Dishwater Blonde frontman Davis Mitchell. (We blogged about it last week.) A late start and residences located over the coffeehouse, however, meant that the show had to shut down at 10 p.m., and now the folks at Remedy have postponed the other two all-ages shows scheduled through the end of the year.

“I wanna help them find a spot they can hang and be creative; however, I don’t think it’s gonna be at Remedy,” Mitchell wrote to us earlier in the week. “ We’re not really equipped or a fit for that but it was worth a try.”

There’s been a shortage of all-ages venues in the East Tennessee area since Old City Java, another Old City coffeehouse, changed hands a few years ago and ceased to hold Friday and Saturday night shows. Occasionally, someone comes along and tries to fill that gap; Level 10 on Kingston Pike still occasionally holds all-ages performances, but others — places like The OSE, The Boneyard in Loudon, The Rock Studios in Maryville — they either didn’t make it, or their all-ages shows aren’t regular occurrences.

A coffee shop in Knoxville’s Old City will once again be a home for regular all-ages rock shows, starting Saturday night, Nov. 14.

There’s been a shortage of all-ages venues in the East Tennessee area since Old City Java, another Old City coffeehouse, changed hands a few years ago and ceased to hold Friday and Saturday night shows. Occasionally, someone comes along and tries to fill that gap; Level 10 on Kingston Pike still occasionally holds all-ages performances, but others — places like The OSE, The Boneyard in Loudon, The Rock Studios in Maryville — they either didn’t make it, or their all-ages shows aren’t regular occurrences.

But now, with the assistance of Dishwater Blonde frontman Davis Mitchell, Remedy Coffee is trying to step up to the plate.

“There’s just nowhere for kids to play or see a show, and when one of them came to Remedy and asked if they’d be open to it … well, as a musician, I have a heart for seeing creativity being able to flow freely,” said Mitchell, who books the performances for Remedy. Until this coming weekend, most Remedy shows have been acoustic, singer/songwriter-driven performances. With the all-ages shows, however, rock will be added to the mix.

“We’re not really trying to make ourselves some sort of competing music venue,” Mitchell said. “This place just kind of lends itself as a blessing for other artists to play.”

And with his own experience in the music industry, younger rockers can tap into the experience and wisdom he’s picked up over the years.

“I’ve made enough mistakes to know what not to do; I’m still trying to learn from my own personal mistakes,” Mitchell said. “I tell bands, ‘Here’s my experience and wisdom — for these to go off well, I think this needs to happen.’ I hope that helps the shows grow.”

Mitchell, who leads the music at a Sunday worship service held at the coffeehouse, fell into booking for the venue by default, he added. It’s a different perspective, he said, being on the other end of a conversation about booking a show. (Check out a recent story we did on his own band.)

“I just saw there were kids who had nowhere to play, so I talked to the owner of the coffeehouse and asked if we could give it a shot and try it,” he said. “I remember being a young musician looking for a place to play myself. And right now, we’re just seeing how it’ll work out.”

Over on the Myspace page for Remedy’s all-ages shows, the schedule is as follows:

• Saturday, Nov. 14: Shoot for Saturday with You Just Don’t and Willikers;
• Saturday, Nov. 28: Waste and Regret with Bright Shining Lie and A Different Breed of Killer;
• Saturday, Dec. 5: Liars and Tigers with This Photograph and Lydian Skyline.

Shows begin at 8 p.m., and the cover is $5. Pay close attention to the venue’s rules, as outlined on the Myspace page:

1. There is absolutely no drinking, smoking, or illicit drug use within the venue. This means if we smell it on you, your either not getting in or your getting kicked out.
2. Please be respectful to the people around you. This means try not to hit people, or be a jerk. We want you to move, but if it seems like the pit is really bothering people, please be kind enough to tone it down.
3. Please respect the venue. It isn’t often a place opens its doors for all ages shows, so lets try to keep this one open for a while.
4. No outside food or drink. This venue is letting us use their space, and their PA for the show, please buy a drink or snack from them. It shows you appreciate them, and their pretty tasty too.