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 The ALL NEW Joe's Grotto Music Venue is changing the face of live music on the North side! But before we introduce you to the new Joe's Grotto Music Venue, definitions are in order.
Websters: Grotto, noun: "a small cave or cavern"
Joe Grotto, maniac:
"A kick-ass live music venue that will blow your mind with big sound, little drink prices, a friggin' HUGE stage, and bands so hot they could burst into flames any second!"
Obviously, Joe Grotto, owner of Joe's Grotto, won't be applying for a job at Webster's anytime soon, but that's OK, because he has more important things to do, like providing a phenomenal venue for bands and a fantastic place to see live music for us. You'd have to look pretty far to find someone more passionate about running a music venue than Joe Grotto. Recently, the Grotto has gone from just serving shots to taking a legitimate shot at being one of the best small musical venues in the country. "We've knocked down walls, expanded the ceilings, built an enormous stage, added more wattage, more lights, a patio…and the list goes on," said Joe.
The Grotto is now 1,500 sq.ft. larger and over 5,000 sq.ft. in size, with a smoking & drinking patio and an amazing new stage making Joe's one of the best small music venues in the country. Already renowned for a great sound, the reconfiguration of the speakers and redesign of the stage gives it a big concert look and feel. The stage has been raised to over 3 feet, making the band visible from virtually the entire venue, even with a crowded dance floor. The extra 1,500 feet houses a variety of pool tables, dart boards, as well as video and pinball games, which frees-up the main room for the shows. You can exit out to the brand new full service patio bar which is kept cool all summer with misters and outdoor evap cooler. Outdoor speakers allow you to enjoy the music, fresh air, a cocktail, and a smoke in comfort. This has been an amazing transformation.
What did it cost? "Three times as much as what they told me it would cost!", jokes Joe. But nothing can stop an idea whose time has come and nothing would stop Joe's Grotto from becoming one of the coolest bars in town. "It has been a dream of mine since we opened in 1994. After 16 years, we finally got the green light from the landlord, and I started writing checks," said Joe.
Perhaps Joe's destiny was foretold when someone in his family put a guitar in his hand at age seven. "Thank God I was the second-born in an Italian family, otherwise I would have had to learn to play the accordion," quips Joe. To this day, his band, Drunk Otis regularly performs and if you want to see a band of talented musicians, playing everything from Jethro Tull…to Stones…to Jimmy Buffet in a hilariously casual and yet powerfully entertaining way, don't miss them. And, don't plan to be sober that night because Drunk Otis didn't get their name by sippin' lemonade. You can get toasted to their toasts and there's a lot of 'em. Joe gets "Blotto In Da Grotto" throughout the evening, personally fueled by 15-20 shots of Ketel One when Drunk Otis hits the stage. This is a one-ofa- kind show. Get the kids a sitter and see it live before Intervention films a show here. Great stuff!
But at the root of it all is Joe's desire to help bands get further along in their careers than he did and his greatest wish is for Joe's Grotto to become the kind of springboard that rock 'n' roll dreams are made of for serious musicians and bands. "We are attracting bands from all over who want to play on our incredible stage for crowds that go crazy for great music. With live music 6 nights a week, this is the best place for aspiring musicians to be and we're getting booked solid now to the end of the year," he said happily. "In fact, this whole north side is a music hotbed with Whiskey River, Blooze Bar and The Dubliner all within a mile of the Grotto," said Joe. And with unshakable confidence, he offers an invitation to all Marshall-toting minstrels who would dare to be great: "I did my best, so you could look your best, sound your best and be doin' your best on this stage." If music is your goal, then Joe's Grotto has to be your destination.
Who Plays The Grotto? "DRUNK OTIS spawned of Ketel One Vodka and nurtured on Jager Bombers, stumbled on stage for the first time in December of 2003. Blessed with a following that love us, no matter our condition, we have the rare opportunity to really be ourselves… And we're pretty friggin' whacked! Not your average "Bar Band"...not your average show!" Drunk Otis plays exclusively at Joe's Grotto. HOWITZER: Ten years ago Jeremy Jalowiec (drums), Matt Moody (vocals/guitars) and Beau Diveley (bass) were high school kids who thought they'd be signed and making millions before they graduated. This drive and ambition propelled them to fuse their love of music such as classic rock, punk, jazz, blues and old school metal into what some critics have called "modern thrash (metal) at it's best." Given their wide tastes in music, it's no surprise Howitzer makes music that pushes the bounds of the metal genre while staying true to the genre's penchant for aggressive sound and technical mastery. Check out "In Our Name", the bands January 2010 release. visit http://www.myspace.com/howitzeraz or http://www.howitzeraz.com
METALHEAD: If you missed the 80's, here's your band: "Lucky" entered the world naked & screaming, & soon found out that life doesn't have to change much if you play your cards right!! "Steele Wulff, Thunderous bassist enjoys general headbanging and coming up with new ways to make fun of Mikey. "Mikey" or Michael St. Michaels honed his guitar shredding chops by playing in bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who and Aerosmith. Unfortunately, he was never actually in any of those bands, just bands "like them." "Tommi Legg" hits things with sticks for a living, sings high and dons pink spandex with the best of them. www.metalheadrocks.com or www.myspace.com/metalheadrocks
BACK FROM ASHES: The hard-hitting band started in 2005 by lead singer Jason Hobel and guitarist Mike Butikofer. They unleash an awe-inspiring brand of metal delivering a potent mix of progressive, metal and rock with a sound that is not only unique but enthralling. If you had to classify their music by genre then put them in their own: Desert Core. With jaw dropping live performances, the emotion they emit on stage is palpable. No two shows are ever alike. No gimmicks, no circus, its just the band and their fans that makes each show a heart stopping thrill ride that you never want to leave. www.myspace.com/backfromashesmusic or www.backfromashes.com
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