CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kathy Blackman was 24-years-old when she planted her music venue, the Grog Shop, in Coventry Village in 1992. 11 years later, it moved down the street to its current home at 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., where it's welcomed some of the best rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, punk and indie acts from around the world.
"There was no grand scheme. I did not have a business plan," Blackman says with a laugh. "You have to do it when you're young and don't know any better. There were no expectations. If we failed, we failed."
But, as history shows, that wasn't the case. Far from it. This year, the beloved concert club turns 25 - just one year older than Blackman was when she opened it.
Still, it's not reaching the quarter-century mark that means the most to Blackman. That turning point belongs to the 10-year anniversary, a week of shows that included Mudhoney, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Guided by Voices, Bardo Pond and locals like Cobra Verde, The Chargers Street Gang, Quazimodo and Bedroom Legends.
"For me, that was like, 'Wow, it's been ten years. Look what we've done," Blackman remembers. "That, to me, was a huge deal. Every little success or failure was so personal to me."
The Grog Shop has become known as a rock club that's always on the cutting edge of what's next and regular stomping grounds for legacy acts. Look no further than its 1994 Oasis show, or when Bruno Mars took the stage in 2010 just as he was on the brink of breaking out.
"The Grog Shop wouldn't be what it is without the customers and fans that have been coming for years," Blackman says. "And all the employees, who are like family. It's never one person. It's about the people who hang out here, the people who work here. They went into creating what it is today."
Each year, the Grog Shop celebrates its anniversary with some of its most exciting shows of the year. Pre-parties for each show kick-off at 6 p.m. at B-Side Liquor Lounge downstairs, with the first 100 guests receiving gifts from sponsors like Jakprints, EarthQuaker Devices, Gotta Groove Records and more.
This week's 25th anniversary shows:
The Queers, The Ataris, The Missed
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.
The Get Up Kids, Pet Symmetry, Dead Leaves
Thursday, Sept. 21, 9 p.m.
Murder by Death, Miss Macy & the Low Pay Daddys
Friday, Sept. 22, 9 p.m.
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Obnox, Falling Stars
Saturday, Sept. 23, 9 p.m.
Cloud Nothings, Chromesthetic, Street Gurgler
Sunday, Sept. 24, 9 p.m.
Former employees and members of bands playing this year's anniversary shows look back at their favorite memories over the last 25 years.
Pete Gulyas
Current owner of Blue Arrow Records, former Grog Shop neighbor at Renaissance Parlour
I have many favorite memories from over the years. Perhaps the most amusing story involves L7. They played sold out shows on two consecutive nights at the Grog in 1999.
During the second sold night, the room was so packed, that we came up with an alternate plan for their exit from the stage when their set was finished. Rather than try to fight their way through the crowd on the way to the green room, they were to exit the stage and go out the front doors and then come around the back of the building and into the back door.
I was designated as "the back door man." When they finished the set, they did as planned and made their way around back of the building. Except they started banging on the wrong door, which was for a neighboring business. I had to tell them that they were banging on the wrong door. One of them then said, "Just like in 'Spinal Tap,' we got lost backstage in Cleveland!" We all started laughing.
Adam Turla, Murder By Death
I believe it was October 15th, 2003. We drove overnight from New York City - we had just played CMJ [Music Marathon], and oddly I had met Rick Rubin that night. We were late to the venue so we could only play for 18 minutes. The audience was amazing and we sold a ton of merch, which was great because back then we were quite broke. We opened the show for My Chemical Romance, who hadn't become huge rock stars yet. If that all wasn't memorable enough, we got our first hotel room - seven people in one room - that night in downtown Cleveland.
I got up early to go buy a trailer, because with our new merch, we ran out of room and had been traveling with stacks of T-shirts on our laps for all the drives. I found the tour van with the window smashed out. All our gear and personal belongings were gone. We scrambled for the next few days to reacquire enough gear to continue the tour thanks to our label loaning us a credit card. Fans set up a PayPal account and donated enough money for us to pay back the label. It was an incredible gesture of kindness from many people. We printed T-shirts for everyone who donated that said "I Saved Murder By Death's Butt And All I Got Was This Stupid T-shirt". Since then, Cleveland and the Grog Shop have more than made up for it with over a dozen packed shows.
From Cassandra Sweeny
Bartender (1996-2001)
One of my favorite stories was when I arrived at work before doors had opened for Cibo Matto to find a couple making out on the table by the door. They were in their own world; there wasn't a moment of hesitation when I walked in. I waited a few minutes for it stop, but it was useless. In fact, I think their bumping and grinding intensified. Finally, now completely annoyed, I abruptly told them to get a room because I needed to get the door ready. They were shocked that I had interrupted.
Kathy was laughing when she informed me that I had just b------- at Sean Lennon and his then-girlfiend, Yuka Honda (of the Honda family). I doubt many people told them "no."
Yakov Weinstein
Doorman (1996-2010)
A bit about Nashville Pussy. I'd never heard of them. Then one day I came into work, sat at the bar before my shift, and started eating my lunch. All of the sudden, the band showed up and were screaming my name, hugging me like we've been friends for years. Well, I was confused to say the least. But it turns out my mom bought all of them 40s and was hanging out on a street corner drinking with the band and telling them all sorts of embarrassing stories. They were an incredible band and really good people. They gave me a T-shirt to give to my mom after the show. She still wears it from time to time.
Marty Eglend
Bartender (2000-present)
A few years after moving to our current space, and during a packed show, Yakov Weinstein and I were wondering what the holdup was. We went back to the band room to discover the lock on the door had failed and Jello Biafra was trapped inside the room. Doing the only sensible thing, Yak grabbed the security hatchet from behind the bar and freed him with about fifty mighty swings. The show went on and I think we're on our third band room door.
I remember walking into work shortly after the smoking ban had gone into effect and noticed a short, well-dressed guy taking a drag on a cigarette. I was very much in "if I can't smoke in here, then no one can" mode, so I went and told the guy, "put that s---- out, man". That's when I heard Kathy scream out "Marty, that's Bruno Mars!"
Oops. He was super cool and apologetic, and now I can tell people I snapped at Bruno and he apologized.
Mike Pollack
"Chef" and creator of the famous twice-baked wings, occasional doorman (1992-1996)
If anyone tells you they saw Oasis at the Grog [in 1994], they're probably lying.
It was like seeing Len Barker of the Tribe pitch his perfect game to only 2,500 in attendance. At Oasis, about 40 paid. They put on one hell of a dress rehearsal at the Grog in front of no more than 80 people. There was a meet-and-greet pass which they were giving out before the show.
But what I remember most was Kat and I working the show, and her telling me just let them in so they can see what's up. So instead of working the door, I bartended with her. Low and behold, Liam being Liam started giving me s---. (Before we all knew Liam.)
I refused him service at the bar and asked Kat who the F does he think he is? "He's the singer," she said. Oh well - he just went back on the bus. They came out and rocked the house!
Joe King of the Queers
Not to sound like a hippie, but the Grog Shop has a great vibe to it. It's not some corporate-run place that looks like the set of "CSI:Miami" with employees that act like Mick Jagger and treat everyone like s----. Everyone is down to earth. Kind of like Cleveland itself, I guess. If you live in Cleveland, you don't act cool because you know you're not - you're in Cleveland - so you don't get all these attitudes.
I get it. I live in Atlanta. People want to act like Atlanta is some huge mecca or destination place, but it's not. It's Atlanta. People don't wake up and say "B----, we're moving to Cleveland!" So everyone is cool there. That's why we like The Grog Shop. Everyone acts like you're family when you're hanging out.
John Neely
From cleaner to manager, he's done it all (1999-present)
Andre Williams played once and we ended up at Barb's place in Bratenahl at 2 a.m. He was in his 70s at this point. We were down on the beach sitting around a campfire. He told me stories about week-long residencies he did in Cleveland back in the '50s with Screamin' Jay Hawkins down on Euclid Ave. Then he laid into the special magnetic powers of the Great Lakes. Then he went skinny dipping.
I once found myself sitting in the office alone with Rudy Ray Moore for half an hour. He was in full pimp regalia - all white suit, wide-brimmed hat, shoes and a jewel-encrusted cane. I had helped him into his chair. He talked mostly about family while I wondered how in the hell I had ended up here. He was a true legend and a kind soul. R.I.P.
I watched two full episodes of "Antiques Roadshow" with Grant Hart from Husker Du once at the old Grog in the dark and talked about antiques. R.I.P.
Anne Rusnak
Bartender (1993-1997)
Back in the day - believe it or not - the Grog used to serve food! We had a 10 cent wing night. Mike, aka "Chicken Wing Mike," and I were working, and a guy comes and hands me two nickels. I asked why he was giving me two nickels and he told me he wanted "a" wing. We presented Mike's famous twice-baked wing majestically on a beautiful platter.
Brittany Schwab, 2007-present
Recently, we had The Orwells back to play a sold-out show. I was working the door and it must have been a full moon because the crowd was nuts. Towards the end of the show, a bunch of fans climbed up on stage, stage diving, tripping over equipment and throwing things in the crowd.
I see one of our newer security guards, Jayrome, coming towards me, carrying someone to the door. I move out of his way and he says, "This guy is done. He can't come back in." As I look up, I notice it's Mario, the lead singer of the band. I run out after him and yell "Put him down! He's in the band."
Jayrome's face just dropped. He set Mario down and tried to apologize. Mario was visibly pissed off, obviously. I apologized and walked him back in the bar through the crowd to go to the band room. As we're walking, Mario rips away, runs through the crowd and back to the stage where the band is still playing, finishes his set and ends the show. We all laughed about it after and made fun of Jayrome while officially welcoming him to the Grog Shop staff.
Joe Holzheimer
Former bartender, booker, doorman (1997-2003)
I took Har Mar Superstar - he may have been performing as Sean Na Na at the time - back to my house along with Song of Zarathustra, who were touring with him. The house was supposed to be empty due to my roommate Doug being on tour, but they were there too, so the house was packed, putting Sean on my bedroom floor. The next morning was 9/11 and the first thing I saw that day was Sean springing to life in his black bikini briefs. Surreal start to a surreal day.
Sam Goldberg
Doorman, office, barback (2004-2010)
For a few years around 2008, The Grog hosted pizza nights - free underground music shows with, of course, free pizza. There were so many incredible acts that came through and would play for greasy-handed locals, mostly musicians and Grog regulars. The Grog became a hub for relatively unknown touring acts to play for open-minded folks in the know. It was incredible how quickly it blossomed into something that had a regular following. It might be surprising to know that hipster-approved acts like Real Estate, Weyes Blood and Peaking Lights are among the bands whose first Cleveland gig was one of these pizza nights.
Ron Kretsch
Between being a customer, a musician, and a sometime employee, I've been engaged with the Grog Shop literally from day one, so asking me for a standout memory produces a Ritalin-flood of TOO MUCH STUFF that shuts my brain down, so I have settled on an easy one.
In 2003, when the club had to move from its original digs at the corner of Coventry and Mayfield to the spot up the street that it still inhabits, I was playing in a band called Lives of the Saints, and Kathy wanted us to play either the old location's farewell show or the new location's grand opening, our choice. Finishing out the old place would have been excellent, but though we had a respectable following, we were not of a stature to be the headliner of the swan song event, so we asked to be on the opening show, specifically that we be the very first band ever to play on the new stage. (The prospect of being able to use the men's restroom before it became a self-sustaining ecosystem of social diseases was also a plus.)
Kathy agreed, and to leave our mark, we went full Smiths-at-the-Hacienda. Our bass player Jeff was pals with a florist, so for a meager investment of I think $40, we got an absurd quantity of daisies. All colors of daisies. Our drums and amps were piled high with daisies. We had daisies stuck in our instruments, our hair, our clothes and we had buckets full of them in front of the stage. We could have spent as much time throwing daisies into the audience as we did playing. Daisies were stomped into the new stage, and people were tripping and slipping on them all night. Between the flowers underfoot and the champagne bottle Kathy broke on the stage to start the evening off, I'm amazed nobody fell and got hurt. Or maybe someone did, what do I know? The notion of someone getting injured because a band brought too many flowers still hits me as kind of funny--that's rock 'n' roll or something, right?