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Notes From the Underground
By Michael Mechanic

No Kids Allowed at SC Hotel?:
The city of Santa Cruz disses its young ... again

Just what are teenagers supposed to do for fun these days in Santa Cruz? First, Aptos residents get pissed about graffiti and rally the supes to create a teen curfew. Three of the five supervisors are leaning in favor, apparently believing that it's OK to punish decent kids for crimes committed by the naughty ones. Maybe we should hold our supes accountable for the actions of crooked politicians.

Then, recently, a proposal for a downtown arcade gets shot down. I couldn't care less about video games, but I don't like the fact that kid-oriented businesses always get shafted here.

Now the city of Santa Cruz wants to bar kids from the Santa Cruz Hotel--the only venue where they can regularly see live music. "Due to pressure from the city, tonight's show is 21 and over," read a sign posted at Saturday's It., Creature, and Lost Cause show. Two-thirds of the crowd went home pretty bummed, and the band members weren't happy either, though they still played great. (Sorry to rub it in, kids.)

So what happened? During the first week of January, the SCPD sent the Redroom a new entertainment permit with an ugly new condition: No more 16-plus shows.

Redroom manager Oscar de Leon says the club's attorney sent a letter to the city last Friday, requesting a meeting to negotiate the ban on underage shows. De Leon says it was his understanding that the old permit would remain in force while the new one was under appeal, but the city insisted otherwise.

De Leon points out that the underage shows at the Santa Cruz Hotel are not a profit-making enterprise and that there is no other club where young bands like Diversion, Lost Cause and Reliance can play regularly.

The Redroom's lawyer hopes to meet with city officials this week to work out a compromise. Cross your fingers. The city's crackdown won't affect Sunday's show at the Santa Cruz Hotel with Ignite, Good Riddance, No Use for a Name and Reliance. But all other underage shows are up in the air.

Support Women Rockers

This scene is way too male, so get out and support some local women rockers. On Friday at the Redroom, Bread and Thunder plays with Calibus (fronted by bassist Eliza Linde) and Gorehounds (with Mari Yoneda on bass). Don't miss Teen Angels on Saturday at the Redroom. This all-female sub pop trio--two of whom were formerly in the band Dickless--seriously know how to rock, although it sounds like their singer listened to Hole's first album too many times. They're playing with locals X-Girl 13, a catchy all-female grunge-pop trio. Opening are the Meanies, a new local act.

Upcoming

Last weekend's Champs, Spaceboy show at Emi's was moved to this Sunday at 10pm. Next week: 187 Calm, Wool, Stinkaholic, Blink, Whistle Pigs and more.

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