Whaleboat and Crazy Bag Lady are among the local bands that have signed on for “Eyelove the Savannah Music Scene,” a July 11 concert at Dollhouse Productions.
The 7 p.m. show has been arranged to raise awareness among regional promoters in the wake of the June 21 controversy at Dollhouse, in which local promoter Floyd Lionel (aka Savannah Metal Punx) left eight bands unpaid.
Lionel has since paid the musicians, including headliner Eyehategod. A spokesman for the New Orleans rockers said they had been contacted by Lionel and were “working it out.”
The incident generated negative national publicity.
“We do not want an isolated incident like this to tarnish the reputation of Savannah’s growing music scene,” said Dollhouse co-owner Blake Mavrogeorgis. “Putting on this concert is our way of expressing that we do not stand for bad business practices when it comes to musicians, promoters, venues, and all those who make a living through music.”
Others confirmed for “Eyelove the Savannah Music Scene” include Broken Glow, the Gumps and Pridemeat. More are expected to be announced.
Dollhouse remains unpaid for its part in the June 21 Savannah Metal Punx event. Once the $3,000 bill (part for the headlining band and part for Dollhouse) is settled, any remaining funds will go to The Give Me 5 Foundation, a music education charity that provides music lessons, scholarships, performance opportunities and instruments for underprivileged children in the Savannah area.
Admission will be by donation.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2014.
Wait the club’s bill is $3,000 how is that possible if all the bands have been paid off from Saturday by the original promoter? This sounds like a lot of people trying to exploit what seems to be an overblown misunderstanding. How about throwing a benefit for the promoter who puts on some of the best shows Savannah’s seen since the Velvet Elvis heyday and comes out of his pocket each and ever time to put on these great shows because Savannah refuses to support over some “scene territorial bullshit.”
What hurts Savannah more is that almost every show on this tour was sold out. This show was promoted too well for The Dollhouse not to be packed out. There were more people at this show from Miami, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Athens, Columbus, Atlanta combined than from Savannah that’s the black eye on the city. That’s why a lot really top tier bands do not come to Savannah. The same promoter you’re dragging in the mud promoted two sold out Eyehategod shows in NY in much smaller town than Savannah on a weekday. And Savannah could not even muster 100 on a weekend. Why? That’s what we should be asking. Why is Savannah a dead town?