The Project House offers new live music experience in Dallas

by Mandi Collier

Lately it seems that most live music destinations in Dallas-Fort Worth make patron solicitation a full-time job. They distribute fliers and print ads for months just hoping to turn a small percentage of their target into revenue. So it doesn't come as much of a surprise that there are those looking for a new kind of live music experience -- one that must be searched for, sought out.

Aside from the one residing on Greenville Avenue, the idea of a speakeasy is somewhat of a foreign idea here in Dallas. However, with the help of Jared and Greg at The Project House, all of that is about to change.

Nestled elusively inside The Absolute Space recording and rehearsal studio at 2607 Walnut Hill, just east of I-35, The Project House is a new small venue with a big vision.

Jared Powell, one of the venue's proprietors, just recently moved from up north to take on this business venture with his buddy Greg. The idea first came to them as Greg frequented the Absolute Space for practicing purposes. They wanted to create a destination for not only established local musicians, but also ones that might just want to jam every once and a while.

While they hope to create a following in time, they want to do so through perhaps archaic means. No street team will be hired, and no fliers will be distributed; Powell explains, "word-of-mouth will be the way we promote our shows, for now at least."

Although the venue can be found directly in the center of Dallas' "Red Light District," as Powell referred to it, they have means to protect their patrons. To go along with their original mysterious notion, the building is guarded by security, making entrance to the room somewhat of a difficult task. But speakeasies aren't supposed to be "easy" to locate, right?

As for the specifics, the venue is an 18-and-up establishment for most shows, but all ages have their place for occasional performances. Powell explained that they are eager to welcome many different varieties of music and performance, and are willing to "provide bands with 100% of their door sales," while all alcohol purchases remain with them. They currently have a jazz jam session every Thursday night as well as an acoustic set each Sunday night that one can attend sans a cover charge. Locals Dark Horse Darling and The Nova Glow have dates just around the corner, while August is promised to offer some comedy events.

In addition to hosting a sundry of musical options, these two visionaries also see The Project House to be a place for poetry readings and spoken word performances. They want their venue to be "a melting pot of performing arts," as their MySpace page so accurately puts it.

Although these two musical entrepreneurs have many looming ideas, Powell cites one hope to eventually, "produce compilation CDs filled with Project House originals." Bands practice, perform, and eventually record all in the same space, a musical cycle. While Powell does admit that expansion is far in the future, it remains in the back of his mind nonetheless. In the meantime, though, these two will work to influence and enrich the Dallas music scene one jam night after another.

This story was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.