by Mike Orren

Andy Ellis is taking a chance on a club whose primary customers are musicians, and hoping to provide a launching pad for bands and musicians on the rise.

ARLINGTON — Andy Ellis has mixed feelings about the liquor license he finally got a week ago. "I don't want this place to be about the bar. Musicians don't play their best after they've been drinking."

This is something he's thought about for a long time. He first conceived of a club where musicians could play without worrying about audience draw or bar sales twenty years ago after taking part in the drummer jam scene in Southern California. Ten years ago, knowing that his dream required cash, he started a power supply company with the express purpose of bankrolling The Hungry Musician. (That company's initials are hidden as an Easter Egg in the logo of the club.)

He'll need that bankroll, because unlike most club owners in town, Andy considers the musicians to be his primary customers. "If other people want to come listen, that's fine. But this is not their club."

That's why this converted Old San Francisco Steakhouse near Six Flags Mall boasts amenities like a pro shop with sticks, strings and the like, as well as a rehearsal room and a guitar valet. (To answer the obvious question: The swing is still intact, but insurance regs keep it sidelined.)

The location was carefully selected in a ten-month search. Deep Ellum and Lower Greenville were both considered but discarded in favor of a more central location for both Dallas and Fort Worth musicians.

The concept is different enough that it requires a bit of explanation: Each night of the week is a jam or battle focusing on a particular instrument (guitar, drums, keyboards) or genre (rock or country). There are separate nights for amateurs and professionals. "There aren't vocal battles, though," Andy says. "That's too 'American Idol.'"

There are also showcase nights where bands can play a few songs for their fellow musicians and, Andy hopes, for local club owners.

The sound system is rigged from equipment that Andy has gathered from pawn shops and liquidation sales over the years, but it's clear and loud. The stage is pre-rigged with equipment and a drum kit so that setup doesn't slow the performances.

Andy views the place as an incubator of sorts, where musicians can build their chops, jam with others, and even form proto-bands to prepare for battle nights and learn each other's strengths and quirks before committing to becoming a "permanent band."

The club has been in pre-opening since the first of the year, with a grand opening coming in May. Andy says he's getting a modest but loyal following of musicians: "No one only shows up once. Once they've been here, they're back at least once a month; sometimes once a week."

Since the non-musician audience is incidental, the hope is that the musicians will be a big part of the club's support. Varying levels of memberships are available, and can get a musician free admission and various other perks (like use of the rehearsal room). There's also a private website where musicians can connect to find jam partners. Andy hopes to expand that to include a system where bands and clubs can rate each other -- bands being rated on their performance chops, behavior, and ability to deliver the crowd they promise; while clubs would be rated on their pay scale, their contracts and their green rooms.

It's a cool idea, but one that will be a tough one to execute financially. Andy seems to know that, but he's determined to see his two-decades old vision make an impact on the scene: "Where else can a musician go where it isn't Karaoke and play what he wants, take some chances, without fear of the crowd or the club owner telling him what to do? The only thing I tell them is not to play 'Mustang Sally.'... I tell them 'You're better than that...Anyone is.'"

Transparency alert: This interview took place at the same time as a discussion about advertising. I would have written the same article regardless. If you have any contrasting information, you can post it in the comments below.

What do you think?