In a new chat with the Associated Press, Galactic bassist Robert Mercurio opened up about he and his bandmates’ battle to maintain ownership of beloved New Orleans venue Tipitina’s in the COVID-19 era.
“It’s terrifying,” he told the AP. “It’s extremely difficult to be a now-nonworking musician owning an unopened nightclub.”
These statements echo Mercurio’s sentiments from earlier this summer, which stressed the financial uncertainty for live music professionals nationwide.
Galactic purchased Tipitina’s in December 2018, and while the pandemic presents almost-insurmountable problems, the venue already had its own history of financial uncertainty before COVID-19.
“We can certainly go for another month and a half or two months,” added Hank Staples, owner of another legendary NOLA venue The Maple Leaf. “But we need some way to generate income because the money I’ve squirreled away — it’s depleted severely.”
17 Comments comments associated with this post
Will E
November 6, 2020 at 6:26 pmBeen a casual Galactic fan for 20 years. No ill will. Best of luck.
But don’t gripe to the folks you’ve been upcharging or worse yet ask them for money.
New venues will pop up eventually if current ones close.
Patrick J Logan
November 6, 2020 at 9:26 pmThey didn’t write this piece, I’m sure they were asked questions and answered them. Were they supposed to say everything was just great?
Holy shit you are ALL BETTER THAN THIS!
November 6, 2020 at 5:51 pmI can NOT believe the reply thread here. What the heck is wrong with all of you wishing Tips – and Galactic – ill will? You are LIVE MUSIC fans or you wouldn’t be reading Relix, Tips is a legendary venue for great acts in the greatest city in the world – and they need help – and you curse them all?! Maybe beers are expensive there b/c….running a greata venue is expensive??
Stop your bullshit, you were probably once much simpler and nicer people, who would simply wish ALL musicians and most ALL venues well. Be that person.
yip
November 6, 2020 at 6:11 pmdon’t worry, bro. just because people who’ve never taken a risk or done anything interesting in their lives are the same ones commenting, doesn’t mean that’s how we all feel. if people want to donate, what’s the big deal, right?. not your money, so whatevs. peace
Milton Friedman
November 6, 2020 at 11:14 amThis is so tone deaf. You invested in the restaurant/bar business in NO post Katrina which it has never recovered from, this is on you guys. There will be no buyers enjoy bankruptcy.
Will E
November 6, 2020 at 12:58 amVenues that’ve spent years/decades ripping us off at $8 pop for warm beer served in plastic cups asking us to bail them out is the most tone deaf thing I’ve heard since the last time Donna sang on Playing in the Band
Matthew Cooper
November 6, 2020 at 7:32 am8 $ try $12 or $15 .I love NOLA, but buying Tips was a bad business move.Galactic knows about playing music not about running the show .
Heywood james
November 5, 2020 at 11:42 pmDon’t insult them. They are definitely 3rd tier
yes!
November 6, 2020 at 11:16 amWinner for this comment!
but seriously, there is some genuine headscratching here, with all due respect to Galactic. A bad business move is a bad business move. Unless you’re making money off of keggers in your basement while your band plays, this is pure failure (pandemic or not).
They bought a venue???
November 5, 2020 at 9:30 pmWhy in the world would a 4th Tier jamband buy a venue? That’s absolutely insane and very risky under the best circumstances.
Bad Businesses should fail
November 5, 2020 at 9:27 pm^^^ Same fucking jerk off bitch who is kneeling and begging as we speak
Angry Smurf Business Model^^^^
November 5, 2020 at 9:34 pmNo, you hang up first 🙂
People, support Tips!
Bad biz model, tough shit
November 5, 2020 at 6:28 pmLet’s be real here Tips was barely getting by pre Covid and they let people know. This is just the final nail in a bad business model in a failing city. Act like men don’t beg other people for money for frivolous things when people need food. Assholes
Bad Business Hand Model
November 5, 2020 at 7:01 pm^^^ Same idiot, different name.
nola
November 6, 2020 at 11:08 amIts a really cool venue, i hope it all works out. Go Galactic.
Eddie Vetter
November 5, 2020 at 4:34 pmI think the Grateful Dead figured this out in 1967 that a band owned venue did not work, aka the “Carousel Ballroom”. Sorry.
Better Eddie
November 5, 2020 at 5:33 pmYou are an idiot. Nobody saw a pandemic coming that would simultaneously affect every touring musician and the respective venues at which they perform. Sorry.