Lyons Group sells Avalon, Axis to Live Nation, Why is Patrick Lyons selling his properties? Options

[brokenbil]

I guess this story was first reported in December, but the sale was confirmed in yesterday's Herald. Patrick Lyons also sold The Paradise to Live Nation and Joe Dunne. What's going on here? Why is Boston's nightclub king suddenly cashing in?

This post has been edited by brokenbil: Jan 30 2008, 01:58 PM

[sadmarvin]

Fuck, a House of Blues?
Lyons must be expecting tax trouble and is getting ready to flee for the border or something. This is a shit sandwich of a deal for Landsdowne.

[Vieira]

He's been getting out of nightclubs and expanding into restaurants for YEARS. The Paradise rumors started about 3-4 years ago. Surprised it took as long as it did.
The company's rolling in dough from all the restaurants and properties they have. Night clubs are just more of a headache than they're worth to him.

[EricDoberman]

Fuck, a House of Blues?
Lyons must be expecting tax trouble and is getting ready to flee for the border or something. This is a shit sandwich of a deal for Landsdowne.

Not really. HOB nationally books very similar bands/tours to the ones Avalon did. The Cambridge location was an anomaly due to their size.

[Vieira]

Not really. HOB nationally books very similar bands/tours to the ones Avalon did. The Cambridge location was an anomaly due to their size.

Yeah, there's really no difference. The one plus is, traditionally, HOB have top notch sound systems, decently laid out rooms and are generally pretty artist friendly when it comes to back stage and hospitality. It's actually a very good thing for that street.

[coughlin]

doesn't look like they're keeping the original expansion plans, or...?
so maybe it means another room or two?

[3xxJim]

the food at HOB is horrible...

[Vieira]

doesn't look like they're keeping the original expansion plans, or...?
so maybe it means another room or two?

What's the major difference? The initial plans sounded a LOT like a House of Blues to begin with.

[coughlin]

What's the major difference? The initial plans sounded a LOT like a House of Blues to begin with.

original plan was to merge avalon / axis space, w/a retractable stage, holding up to 2,500 or something, i dunno what any HOBs are like... the one in harvard was tiny, no? anyway, i wasn't clear on if it was the whole row of rooms or what... be curious to see how see how this affects the roxy, etc...

[Vieira]

original plan was to merge avalon / axis space, w/a retractable stage, holding up to 2,500 or something, i dunno what any HOBs are like... the one in harvard was tiny, no? anyway, i wasn't clear on if it was the whole row of rooms or what... be curious to see how see how this affects the roxy, etc...

Yeah, as I understand it, this is the same thing. They haven't mentioned the moving stage but I'm sure that's still a possibility, even though, I don't believe any of the other HOB's have that. They were always talking about a large restaurant/lounge with outdoor seating cabilities, too. This HOB is going to be 2500. Basically, rumor had it from jump that they had no intention of ever becoming "Lansdown Music Hall" and it was going to be an HOB.

The one in Harvard was the original and was tiny, which is the reason it's gone. The rest are pretty much in the 1500 range. Some a bit smaller, some like the one in AC is much larger (from what I've heard, haven't been to that one). Most HOBs have comparable acts to the ones that played Avalon already. Most (if not all) have several lounge rooms, a restaurant, than a large main concert hall.

The Roxy will probably go back to having pretty limited shows. HOB is tied in with Live Nation, so unless they have something that is too big for Dise and not nearly big enough for the new room (unless they do have the moving stage), they'd use the Roxy. LiveNation rarely did stuff in there before Avalon closed last fall, and most of the shows were Massconcerts done for bands that wanted Boston over Worcester. The Roxy's a pain in the ass since you have to bring production in for everything.

[EricDoberman]

the food at HOB is horrible...

It wasn't always. Went downhill when the guy from California Pizza Kitchen took over (big surprise).

That second generation HOB menu, with the wood grilled salmon and mushrooms in every entree, belongs in the same time capsule as John Elway and The X Files. Throw in a case of Cider Jack for good measure.

This post has been edited by EricDoberman: Jan 31 2008, 07:11 AM

[sadmarvin]

The HoB in L.A. is the cheesiest, campiest place since the Hard Rock Cafe.
At least Avalon/Axis let band merch take the focus instead of their own shitty T-shirts.
Avalon was a Boston-grown institution, however flawed it may have been, but not a national shit chain.

[EricDoberman]

The HoB in L.A. is the cheesiest, campiest place since the Hard Rock Cafe.

Same founder.

[PeteTheGreek]

They didn't sell their properties, the new owners will be leasing the spots. They just bought the business, furniture, fixtures, licenses, ect.

[EricDoberman]

At least Avalon/Axis let band merch take the focus instead of their own shitty T-shirts.

Most of the people who buy House of Blues merch are baby boomers and/or tourists. Most people who go to club shows aren't. Different demographics. I don't see band merch sales suffering at all unless Ray Davies plays there or something.

[Vieira]

Most of the people who buy House of Blues merch are baby boomers and/or tourists. Most people who go to club shows aren't. Different demographics. I don't see band merch sales suffering at all unless Ray Davies plays there or something.

Exactly. It's a tourist thing. Someone that goes in to see Elvis Costello probably isn't going to be stuck contemplating whether they want an EC or HOB shirt. The people that buy those are the people walking by, or the people that stop in for dinner.
It's also not like they have a table set up next to the bands' merch with people hocking 20 designs.

As for Avalon not being a chain, you realize they opened Avalon NYC and Avalon LA, right and that the Lyons Bros, collectively or individually own properties across the US. It's not like Walmart's running ol' man Smith's five and dime out of town, here.

[Vieira]

At least Avalon/Axis let band merch take the focus instead of their own shitty T-shirts.

So, what are your thoughts on places like the Rat, the Living Room, Club Babyhead, CBGB's (who had a fucking boutique in the club) and other clubs that are slinging their own shirts during shows?

[Muso]

So, what are your thoughts on places like the Rat, the Living Room, Club Babyhead, CBGB's (who had a fucking boutique in the club) and other clubs that are slinging their own shirts during shows?

The Rat never did that- all the Rat T shirts everyone has were made after the club closed.

Good point two posts ago, tho.

[FrankD]

The Rat never did that- all the Rat T shirts everyone has were made after the club closed.

Good point two posts ago, tho.

HALF WRONG

The 10th anniversary shirts were made by the Rat and given to people there that night. And there was an original RAT t Shirt before that which was sold in the club IIRC.

[Vieira]

The Rat never did that- all the Rat T shirts everyone has were made after the club closed.

Good point two posts ago, tho.

Frank D covered this, but, yeah, that doesn't explain the people I knew that had Rat shirts in the early 90s. Also doesn't answer for those other venues, nor other cool joints in the US that sell shirts.

[sadmarvin]

Most of the people who buy House of Blues merch are baby boomers and/or tourists. Most people who go to club shows aren't. Different demographics. I don't see band merch sales suffering at all unless Ray Davies plays there or something.

I DON'T LIKE TOURISTS AND OLD PEOPLE. They belong in the back of their station wagon drinking McDonalds shakes and figuring out how to breed more, not on Landsdowne St. (unless there's a sox game).

[Look Sharp!]

The HoB in L.A. is the cheesiest, campiest place since the Hard Rock Cafe.
At least Avalon/Axis let band merch take the focus instead of their own shitty T-shirts.
Avalon was a Boston-grown institution, however flawed it may have been, but not a national shit chain.

i pretended to be going there for dinner one night, got in for free, and just snuk down the stairs to watch the ETTA JAMES SHOW!!!


i didn't even know she was playing!

[sadmarvin]

i pretended to be going there for dinner one night, got in for free, and just snuk down the stairs to watch the ETTA JAMES SHOW!!!
i didn't even know she was playing!

I had a great time there, but it was because George Thoroughgood was playing at it's impossible to have a bad time with him in the room, even if the venue sucks donkeyballs.

[Vieira]

I had a great time there, but it was because George Thoroughgood was playing at it's impossible to have a bad time with him in the room, even if the venue sucks donkeyballs.

Wait, you're complaining about a venue being campy/cheesy, and you paid money to see George Thoroughgood?? Was John Cafferty on the bill, too?!

[santa]

The HoB in L.A. is the cheesiest, campiest place since the Hard Rock Cafe.
At least Avalon/Axis let band merch take the focus instead of their own shitty T-shirts.

I live in Myrtle Beach, SC. Generally if i want to see a decent show, I'll head up to the Soapbox in Wilmington, NC (about an hour north of here). When i do go to a show in Myrtle Beach it is almost always at the House Of Blues. I remember the one in Cambridge, the HOB in Myrtle Beach is nothing like that. 2000 person capacity. Great sound. Not sure about the food but then again i generally go to rock shows for the music. I tell ya, i was very hesitant when i first got down here, but over the years I've actually seen some pretty great shows there (Wilco, Dinosaur Jr., Cheap Trick, The Flaming Lips, Slayer (twice).
Oh yeah, as soon as you walk through security the first thing you see is the band merch tables, you basically have to walk directly through the merch section to get to the bar and the main room. I'm not even sure where the actual HOB merchandise is sold, quite honeslty.

http://www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/myrtl...ion.asp#general