Published Date: 09 December 2009
There's an oasis for aficionados of heavy metal music in Kildare town. The entrance to the venue is at the back of Top Nolan's Pub, Market Square, just off the upper car park from the children's playground.
Already this two month old venture is establishing a significant reputation for 'thee in place to be.'
It's a wet and windy morning as I make my way to The Phoenix Music Venue. The wind can't make up its mind which way to turn. The Phoenix is a mythical bird which lived for a long time; it kills itself on a funeral pyre and is then reborn from its own ashes – the legend appeals to Christian allegorists. There is also a hit song called 'By the time I get to Phoenix,' but that tune is not something that I think you'd hear in the world of heavy metal. It's very much light metal.
But maybe...
In any regard I think the idea of a Phoenix rising from the ashes of Recession somehow appropriate for the Venue.
I'm met on the steps leading in to the venue by Sandra Butler, whose idea it was to start up a venture that would appeal to metal bands and fans, who really aren't catered for by the more conventional type pubs. Sandra is a mum of two: nine month old Alexandra Summer and 11 year old Alanna. Sandra has a degree in Psychology from Maynooth NUI and is planning to take her Masters.
The decor coincides with what one would expect to see in a venue for heavy metal lovers. There are ceiling flags of the bands Nirvana and Queen, T-shirts on the walls, and slogans. There's a miniature red T-shirt hanging on the wall – it has the word 'Security' on its chest.
There's a stage with a drum set and strobe lighting and red candles on the burn lend an almost a 'Goth' feeling to the atmosphere, by no means unpleasant.
Back in the Venue proper an advertisement on the notice board relates to The All Ireland Metal Battle of the Bands, 2009; an event Sandra and Dawn plan to host next year. There are details of upcoming events.
Dawn O'Donoghue – Sandra's co-partner – already runs her own business called 'Little Angels Grooming,' offering a mobile service.
Dawn is a veterinary nurse, dog trainer and a canine First-Aid instructor. Her mobile number is 085 8214949. "Because of the recession a lot of people are coming to me – I'm aware of what's going on out there and I keep the cost affordable for people.' Dawn's website is http://www.littleangeldogtraining.eu/
I see now where the mini-security T-shirt came from - a canine accessory.
Dawn says, "I grew up in England but my parents are from Ireland and my Mam is from Kildare." Dawn has a three year old son called Caine Phoenix.
Sandra chips in, "So, you can see, we're always busy..."
I ask where the idea came from to open the Venue, and Sandra says, "We always had in a interest in heavy metal music . . . I was working in Tops and the back room was available."
There are very few venues where metal bands can either practise or perform live in front of their fan base and Sandra and Dawn decided to see if they could fill what is a sizeable gap within the market.
I'm told that Facebook, Bebo, Myspace, are the 'jungle drums' for bands and followers. Also email. The Phoenix Venue is contactable by those means in addition to their email address at the phoenixvenue(at)gmail.com and its website at http://www.phoenixkildare.com/
Dawn says, "Word of mouth is also great."
Sandra says, "...the bands book in with us from over the country," she smiles, "last night we had a band in from Venezuela – they're travelling about..."
This band, like the others, perform their own original music, "...it was heavy dance music and it went down very well," Sandra says, adding, "before when we booked bands into the pubs you'd have the owners come to us giving out, saying it was too loud."
People, they say, when they go to the pub, want to listen to the music, want to enjoy a sing along and have a drink.
Dawn says, "Whereas somewhere like this, people who like this kind of music will go to see what's the next happening band. What sort of music is out there. So you go and listen to originals band to see if they're any good."
Dawn tells me that it's not all heavy metal bands, "...aside from the metal there are rock bands and different kinds of music bands that will be in here."
What the partners want to emphasise is that the venue is not simply confined to one genre music, "...while it is predominantly metal we hope in the New Year to have a lot of other things come on stream ... stand-up comedians – we also have computer nights – using the projector to play X-Box, Nintendo games – poker nights – we want to do the things that you're not allowed to do in other pubs. And we're always open to suggestions."
Dawn and Sandra are astute enough to realise that as in any business, diversification is necessary in order for a business to succeed, especially in the current financial climate.
One of the ideas they are toying with is having an underage Battle of the Bands, during the daytime.
Metal Karaoke is mentioned.
"We're organising a metal festival ... metal bands, piercings and tattoos going on, fire-throwers outside. And on the 19th of December we're holding a charity event." Sandra says, "It's for a four year old girl called Lia – and Lia has a severe form of cerebral palsy."
Apparently a child the same age as Lia, with a condition as severe as Lia's, has received stem cell treatment in Germany. This treatment is only available in the Dominican Republic, Switzerland and Germany.
Sandra continues, "the treatment costs 44,000 grand – the other little girl was trying to talk a month later after her treatment. It's reckoned that the stem cell treatment is a miraculous thing and they're hoping... Lia's dad, Shane, is going to have a martial arts show out on the square as a fundraiser on the 19th December. Shane is a martial arts expert."
I'm told that Shane will have a car driven over him, and is going to break concrete blocks with his shins and his arms. It's the author's intention to profile Shane and Lia in the coming weeks.
Sandra says, "We'll have bands in here and a wrestling show and Santy's grotto..."
The bands, of course, play at night. The other events take place during the day of the 19th. Saturday.
Dawn says, "We're trying to raise as much as we possibly can during this all day event."
Sponsorship events are also being considered, 'Head shaves and so on.
Jimmy has already taken the photographs of Dawn and Sandra. He's eager to get the job spot on and does so, as usual. I'm not sure when he says the Venue would be a good place to photograph young people enjoying themselves that he knows what he's actually letting himself in for, but he's wily enough for he says he'll come and go early before the heavy stuff really takes off.
It's refreshing to meet with two young women who are not content to sit through a recession – they are not waiting about for something to happen along for them; instead they're endeavouring to make it happen.
For that reason alone I hope they succeed. As I'm about to leave last night's heavy metal band from Venezuela are making their way in... prima facie evidence that Kildare's Phoenix Music Venue has taken flight.
by Martin Malone
Leinster Leader Dec 2009
