The Lumberjack

Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Culture

Media Credit: Stephanie Haller

Media Credit: Stephanie Haller

Media Credit: Stephanie Haller

It was Oct. 4 at the Indigo Nightclub in Eureka where Grammy award winning Toots and the Maytals played. Lucy Brown and Sofie Chahovskoy planned ahead and bought their tickets early. They were shocked when they were told at the door they couldn't see the show they paid $25 for because they were under 21.

Both are Humboldt State University students. Brown is an undeclared Junior and Chahovskoy is a Sophomore studying art.

Brad Higgins worked the door. Higgins told the ladies that he was sorry, but he couldn't give them a refund. Only when Brown showed a print out of the Web site that claimed the event was all ages did she get her refund.

Higgins said that since they stopped putting on 18 and older shows two or three months ago, turning away the younger crowd is one of the hardest parts of his job.

"When I started, it was at the tail end of the 18 and up shows. We had to monitor kids drinking before they came in and fake IDs," Higgins said. "But now I have to be the bad guy, and that sucks."

People Productions, the company who organizes shows throughout Humboldt County, including Reggae Rising, mislabeled the show as "ALL AGES" on their Web site (www.peopleproductions.net).

The owner of the Indigo Geoff Brandon, 39, gave several reasons why the club went 21 and over only.

Originally the club was 21 and up, he said, but they thought they would give 18 and up shows a try. The first problem was that there were never enough under agers showing up.

The next problem was ongoing and Higgins attested to it from his experience working the door. Underage patrons would show up wasted and belligerent, and police had to get involved.

"Once they are in the building they are my responsibility," said Brandon. "The worst part was I had to segregate my audience." Those having alcoholic drinks were restricted to the bar and upstairs area and couldn't take their beverages onto the dance floor.

Brandon recognized the lack of 18 and older functions but said that, "it's working a lot better."

Since the change, under age students like Elkiya Menes are hard pressed to find big name bands playing 18 and up shows in the area.

"I grew up listening to Toots," Menes said. There was no question that if the show was 18 and up she would be there, she said.

"I'm mad because I don't even drink!" said Menes. "I always end up being the designated driver. Since all my friends are 21, I'm the odd man out."

Tech Williams is now the primary source for parties directed to the underage crowd in Arcata. Williams, with his production company Do Som Bout It, puts on hip-hop, dance and other parties for those under 21.

"It should be supported," said Williams about 18 and older shows. He said he saw the difficulties in putting on such shows with alcohol around but that there are ways to make it work.

Those under 21 like Brown, Chahovskoy, and Menes will just have to wait a few more years to get rowdy at the Indigo.

Ross Van Slambrouck, having turned 22 just four days before the Toots and the Maytals show, felt quite differently.

Barring underage people is a way to "shake out the bottom feeders. It's going to be the rowdy 18-year olds who ruin it for everybody," Slambrouck said.


Matthew Barry can be reached at mkb27@humboldt.edu

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