Yesterday, having experienced the Junos mostly as just another guy I decided I would find the back room — the one where some careers are made and others broken — the back room where I imagined everyone in pinstripe suits, smoking big cigars and swilling bourbon like it was, well, 1955.
In pursuit of business with a capital “B” I went to the “Satellite Spoke Club” an invite only lounge in the S Resturant on Duckworth. According to the website, “The Spoke Club is a private members club conceived as a gathering place for individuals with an interest in media, entertainment and the arts. It is a comfortable hideaway to meet for a drink, eat well, do some business, entertain friends, and even catch a movie.” It’s in Toronto.
So the idea was to take that kind of exclusive laid back invite only space, and recreate it in St. John’s for the benefit of local and visiting musicians. The S Restaurant Satellite Spoke club (try saying that three times fast) was “presented by the Pepsi brand” (along with Sky Vodka and Molson) and it was produced by The Pilot Agency, a boutique event booking and design outfit (also from Toronto). I’ve never heard of a lounge being produced before, but these are strange waters we’re sailing in.
So what was it like? It wasn’t crowded, but there were people. Bands came in and snacked on the finger food, and conferred with their handlers. Pilot’s president, Joel Baskin said he was trying to create a stress free “lounge feel,” and, based on my very limited lounging experience, I’d say he did a pretty good job. There was a constant stream of fairly normal finger food. The beer was free. Groups of young men with carefully unkempt hair were told they could take a nap by blackberry wielding women in their mid twenties. Skinny jeans and support free shoes abounded.
I’d found the back room. The thing is, it wasn’t a place to make a deal. I talked to Ryan Stewart (who’s up for Songwriter of the Year with Carly Rae Jepson tonight), a writer and producer from Vancouver. “I’m trying to meet as many people as possible,” he said. “Trying to maximize the exposure this nomination has given me.” Stewart is behind the scenes guy, he’s not going to be followed around the mall by screaming tweens, and with most of the music industry in Toronto, he hoped to establish connections that would lead to work down the road.
If it accomplished what it set out to do, the Satellite Spoke Club still wasn’t a must hit destination. A lot of bands were late getting in, and others were busy playing free sets at Fred’s Records.
Fred's was cramed with people while the Great Lake Swimmers played a free set
There was a lot more mixing at the gala dinner last night, and then a different kind of socialization on George St. afterwards.
Maybe it’s just that it was saturday night, or maybe more of the bands were in town out celebrating wins and watching each other play, but every venue I tried to get into was at capacity last night. There were lineups outside, and famous people abounded. Some were nice, chatting with fans, waiting in line, and generally acting like normal people. Some were less down to earth, pushing their way into clubs already violating fire codes, jumping fences, and generally acting as though they were entitled. But truthfully, they were few and far between, and when I got into Junctions, and saw members of at least five groups, led by New Group of the Year winning Arkells, singing “Dancing in the Dark” on stage, the exercise seemed less about business and more about celebrating a weekend in a city full of music.
Arkells and friends at Junctions. Photo/Emily Wilson
I got video of it, the sound isn’t great, but you’ll get the idea.
