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Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Club Clearview goes kaput

Another one bites the dust

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Club Clearview, one of Deep Ellum’s longest-standing venues, has closed, dealing one more blow to the area’s reputation as a live-music zone.

The closure also affects its adjoining entities, Blind Lemon and the Art Bar, which will be available for private parties only.

Clearview’s final show was New Year’s Eve, with Ghoultown, Shadow Reichenstein, and the Razorblade Dolls.

Owner-manager Doug Simmons, who also manages Curtain Club and Liquid Lounge, took over the Clearview complex in 2002. In the past few months, the club’s fortunes had been declining, which Simpson blamed on a lull in the audience for live music, combined with an increase in expenses.

"The building is really old, and we were looking at fees we had to renew for things like our liquor license," he said. "It’s been frustrating – we were all getting tired."

That combined with what he calls "a transitional period" among local bands was enough to put the Clearview complex to bed, leaving Curtain Club, Liquid Lounge, the Galaxy Club, Gypsy Tea Room, and The Door as the major live-music survivors in Deep Ellum.

Noted for its trademark neon sign, Clearview opened in 1985 and was the oldest-running rock club in Deep Ellum.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

1) His name's Doug Simmons, not Simpson.

2) Beatcha to it, and with multimedia, no less. http://www.bigdlittled.com

Sam Machkovech Verified

2 years, 10 months ago
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Mazel tov, Sam!

Gary Cohen Verified

2 years, 10 months ago
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thanks for noting the typo

Teresa Gubbins Staff

2 years, 10 months ago
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When I grow up, I want to be like Sam Machkovech.

Chad Jones Verified

2 years, 10 months ago
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During this transitional period, let us thank our lucky stars that Pegasus News is here to print this. I don't read anything else.

twisteddog Anonymous

2 years, 10 months ago
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sure glad TG is on the case!

sisterhazel Anonymous

2 years, 10 months ago
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According to my clock, Sam came in 5 minutes ahead.

Watch out SaMach-- my new New Year's Resolution is to stop wasting our staff's time in long meetings. If I'd stopped my afternoon prattle about our plans for world domination just a hair sooner, Teresa woulda been first.

Mad props for the B&E, though. We haven't been accused of that since our last foray down to Ash Creek.

And isn't it a shame that it takes indy media like us to care about digging in and scooping each other? Ah, for the days of the old school newspaper wars -- 'course even then it was a game of days, not minutes.

Mike Orren Staff

2 years, 10 months ago
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Last person to leave Deep Ellum shut off the lights.

Its dark already.

hakoop Anonymous

2 years, 10 months ago
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If The Door ends up being the only venue that survives in the area, then I give up. Way too old already to see shows there, unfortunately, because I do like my dose of screamo now and then (shhhh, don't tell anyone I said that....).

Deep Ellum music scene, don't leave us!!!

Erin Rice Verified

2 years, 10 months ago
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Sad to see Clearview go, I was in regular attendance @ the start-up warehouse parties on Elm St. Deep Ellum is far from dead though...Miss Gubbins failed to mention the Doublewide, The Darkside and Club Dada,the re-openings of Trees and Deep Ellum Live, and the much anticipated upstart, Deep Ellum Onstage(1/20/07).

Deep Ellum is Dallas' only example of a centralized music scene...nowhere else comes even close. DE will come back eventually, it just won't be the DE of 1990.

beatlebob Anonymous

2 years, 10 months ago
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Any smart developer should be buying up Ellum. The DART line will have three stops in the immediate area and Baylor has huge expansion plans.

lakewooder Anonymous

2 years, 10 months ago
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It's sad to see Clearview go and hopefully this is just a result of the ever-changing face of business and not so much the sagging music scene in Dallas. It was an honor for us to be the last band to play the stage. Clearview believed in us right from the start and became our "home club." Our DVD "Live From Texas!" was filmed at Clearview, so it will always live on in our eyes.

Thanks for the good times, Clearview! (And for not letting me die by the noose at your last show.)

Lyle & Ghoultown

CountLyle Anonymous

2 years, 10 months ago
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beatlebob, you are a savvy man about town with a big-picture perspective. thanks for your comments.

also appreciate hearing from count lyle of ghoultown

Teresa Gubbins Staff

2 years, 10 months ago
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beatlebob, i too felt there were clubs missing from the list and the most noteable exception was club dada. i believe they are one of the few leading the charge to save ellum and appreciate them for it.