By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Its almost universal: music fans, and artists, love an intimate sound space, one where the audience truly becomes part of the music and the artist can make a visceral connection with the audience. Listening Room, one of Grand Rapids newest music houses, is rapidly becoming known as one of those music venues.
Listening Room, which opened late last year and is located at Studio Park at 123 Ionia Ave SW, has already build a reputation with local audiences as a “jazz club” in the classic style, a folk stage where an un-amplified guitar and voice can be heard and appreciated, a place where up-and-coming bands can fill the house as they hone their sonic skills.
The “Room” is also getting known by national touring acts as a place to unwind if not unplug from the impersonal stadium and festival stages, and get back in contact with the audience — Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Los Lobos and Loudon Wainwright III are only three scheduled examples.
The reasons for the venue’s buzz — with national acts and local audiences — are several fold, according to Quinn Mathews, general manager and talent buyer for the Listening Room.
“We’re lucky to not only be situated between the cities of Detroit and Chicago, but situated between very well known venues on the east side of Michigan and in Chicago, for instance The Ark in Ann Arbor and City Winery in Chicago,” Mathews said to WKTV about his booking national acts.
“The artists agencies in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles have been sending talent around here for years. … Grand Rapids, as a city, is really growing and making national news. People are here, music fans are here, the artists and agents know it.”
While having national acts stopping by is great, Matthews is just as happy with the steady bookings of local acts … such as The Crane Wives on Feb. 28 and Mid Life Crisis on March 23, to name only two.
“This was extremely important to me, to have local, regional, national, and international talent. To have music 4 to 5 if not 6 to 7 nights a week,” he said. “Some nights are free or $5 or $10, some nights have international touring acts with tickets $40-$50. I wanted everyone to feel welcome, not to just book one style for one type of audience.
“There was a weekend a few weeks ago where Friday night was Hip Hop, Saturday night was Jazz, and Sunday night was local songwriters. … It was so great to see the place packed out each night with different people in our community.”
And, after all, a 200-seat venue known for as a music “listening room” is clearly focused on the audience experience.
“I think we’re in an interesting time with music in so many ways,” Matthews said. “The industry really changed in the early 2000’s, music became so easily accessible. Everyone listens to music all the time, it’s easy. You can listen for free within seconds. I always laugh in the grocery store walking around, there will be a kid, 12-years-old, with earbuds in listening to music on one aisle. The next aisle, a 85-year-old with earbuds in.
“Everyone is listening. The trick is do they attend concerts? Many more people are downloading and streaming music, but does that translate to ticket sales for live music? Sure Elton John and Bruce Springsteen sell out arenas, but who attends concerts in rock clubs, coffee shops, breweries, etc?
“I think whether I agree with it or not there seems to need to be another factor for folks to attend a concert. … We wanted to build a place that was comfortable, seated, nice atmosphere, like the old jazz clubs, servers bringing you bourbon, etc., a place that feels really great even before the music starts.”
For more information on all concerts at Listening Room, visit listeningroomGR.com or call 616-900-9500.
