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| Venue Review: The Magic Bag |
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WWghost writes  Due to the demand for more user submissions by Mitch, here is my first contribution. Taking a break from prose and poetry to review a popular local venue for live music. The first target for my opinionated tangent is Ferndale's finest music venue, The Magic Bag. After experiencing several shows at this choice establishment, I am offering my humble opinion to you all, with which you are free to agree or disagree. Click "Read More" for wwghosts review.
The Detroit metro-area is abundant with local music venues, ranging on all levels of the class scale, from holes-in-the-walls downtown to posh trendy establishments in the city's suburbs. The one place I've been guest to many times is Ferndale's Magic Bag.
The room is great, not too big, not too small, just right. Intimate, but still large enough to pack in about 300-400 people. The seating arrangement is friendly to those who want to sit and enjoy the show, and for those who like to get up and dance. A pit in front of the stage allows for the most intimate position to take in your favorite musicians' performance.
Drink prices are moderate, at least I could taste the vodka in my White Russian, however, it did not taste like Absolute... The waitresses get a 8 out of 10 on overall service. They're pretty quick about getting your drink, but getting them over to your table when you need them can be a challenge sometimes. Most of the time they are very nice, polite, and all of the girls I've ever seen working there are very attractive.
Each time I've come through that door, I am always greeted by two large, intimidating men. I have my ID ready to be inspected, but hand it to the wrong doorman, at which time I am given a curt and surly order to give it to the other doorman. He looks me over in a questioning manner, hands me back my ID and stamps my hand. I give my money to his counterpart, who laboriously makes change for me. (Opinionated tangent following--->)The whole process takes over a minute. The task of running the door does not require two people. The saying "too many cooks spoil the broth" applies here, the patron doesn't know who's taking money and who's checking IDs, the time it takes to get that straightened out, one guy would already have you stamped and in the club, assuming he can do two menial tasks as once. Running the door is not rocket science, and it doesn't require a team effort either. The whole time, Michigan winter is in force outside, where everyone else is waiting in line to get in. (end of opinionated tangent).
The bar is conveniently located right by the door, in a large foyer area which also includes the restrooms and an area for band merchandise to be set up. Walking into the auditorium-like area through a double doorway, you are greeted by giant cat lamps lining the North and south walls, with the stage all the way to the back of the room. Wooden floors, railing and furniture not only add a friendly, inviting aspect to the room, but aid in the acoustics as well.
Sound, unfortunately, begins with a good sound guy, which can be difficult to find. When you find one, you better hope he likes you, and you don't piss him off, because he alone holds the power of sound control. I've seen many shows at the Bag, and sound is about 50/50. Most recently, at a local band's show, it was less than par, subjecting the audience to seemingly deliberate feedback for the better half of the set. However, for large national acts, the sound is always stellar, no matter where you sit in the room. The greatest band in the world can be made to sound like a toilet flushing if the sound guy wills it so. We all know one should be indifferent in one's profession, but the real world is full of spite, and power hungry and abusive egos, so feed it, don't try to eat it.
Speaking of power hungry, abusive egos...the next thing you will probably notice about this venue, after appreciating the construction and design of the room, are the MIBs. That's right, the Men In Black. Dressed in black, scanning the audience at all times, talking into their headset walkie-talkies. At the first show I went to, I thought they were bodyguards, since the person I was there to see was pretty well known. But at a closer look, the white letters and graphic on the black tee-shirts read "Magic Bag" "Staff" or "Security". I have had the unpleasant experience of being in their path several times, lucky if I got a harsh "Excuse me", and didn't get bumped or pushed one way or another.
Why, if the security staff is so rude and unfriendly, do I continue to shell out $7 - $10 or more per show to be treated like that? Because it's one of the only "nice" places to see premier local talent. The room is great, the waitresses are nice (for the most part) in more ways than one, and it's in a decent area. The Magic Bag gets a score of 6 out of 10, earning points for waitstaff, room design and feel, local artist showcases, and location, but loses points for security attitude, no reentry, parking locations, and serving alcohol (especially hard liquor) in plastic cups.
That is all for my humble opinion, I encourage you to visit this club and challenge my opinion with your own.
"You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me, You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself."
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Re: Venue Review: The Magic Bag (Score: 1)
by Mitch on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 @ 15:01:22 MST
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) http://www.michiganbands.com | Definitely one of the best sounding rooms around and always feature the best talent. Definitely an "A" room. Great stage. Parking is ok.
I'd say the bar is in one of the worst places it could be, especially when a large number of people are coming in the door. As for plastic cups, I can understand the use - glass is too dangerous to have in most rock bars.
Thanks for the submission WWGhost. Nice to get a break from the writing.
Let's have some more comments. |
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Re: Venue Review: The Magic Bag (Score: 1)
by Broadzilla on Thursday, December 26, 2002 @ 10:38:10 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.detroitmusic.com/broadzilla | Great article! I love the Magic Bag. For playing the bag, I love the fact that sound system and sound guys (Chris Jones, Terry Cox, etc.) are always top notch. I like the restricted back stage area - it makes you feel safe leaving your gear and personal belongings back there. The stage is great and I like the large open music room and tiered seating.
For watching bands, the bag is great too. Like the story says, you can either catch a seat and kick back and watch the band, or you can go down in front and groove more intimately with the band. I've never experienced "bad sound" in the bag - unless of course the band just plain sucked. You just can't polish a turd no matter how good the sound man is. I'm not a drinker so the bar/waitress thing does not apply. The lobby gets a bit overcrowded at times but that doesn't seem to pose too big of a problem considering. Parking is usually pretty easy to find and secure for the most part.
You just can't go wrong with the bag! |
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Re: Venue Review: The Magic Bag (Score: 1)
by tksgroupie on Thursday, December 26, 2002 @ 11:09:33 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.thekingsnakesfans.homestead.com | | i have to agree wholeheartedly with the whole "MIB's"....this isn't the freakin' Palace (and dont even get me going on THAT establishment). I got yelled at for standing in the large doorway to the main room TWICE last visit. i found the place to be unfriendly but the room & the sound & the stage are fantastic for live music. Parking could be better and plastic cups suck. That's just my opinion, i could be wrong. |
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Re: Venue Review: The Magic Bag (Score: 1)
by Rockchik on Sunday, December 29, 2002 @ 12:48:05 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) | ugh. of all the comments here, not one mention was made about the nasty SEATING! I have yet to SIT for an entire show there. Standing on a concrete incline for 2hrs blows a lot more than the trivial things that were mentioned. And that goes for movie viewings also! Sometimes you can get lucky and grab a seat at one of the midget tables that have room for 2drinks and a shot and get to face the stage at a 90degree angle. oh boy. All that crap about the 'bar' location is totally moot since the waitstaff IS great and you never have to wait for more than 5mins for service. They even wait on the standing slobs like me! You would think I would know enuf to wear steel toe flats by now when I go there but silly me still wears what I like and then bitches about it later. I think SEATS for a show are of paramount importance (especially movies) so I give this venue a 0+ rating. Yes, it is sad these acts have no where else to go.
The Kat |
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Re: Venue Review: The Magic Bag (Score: 1)
by JamiStone on Sunday, January 05, 2003 @ 14:40:43 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.michaelgalvan.com/ | Saw a pretty decent show at the Magic Bag last night. I won't get into the standing room or drinks...I say get there early! The venue is great for sound.
The show was pretty good. The Alligators opened with a kick-ass harp player who literally "stole the show". The ReeferMen who had a great set, followed. The guitar player must have "woodshed" to a lot of Jeff Beck - very enjoyable. A good technician, very accurate, good stuff.
Mark (The Paz) Pasman Super Session started slow and warmed up nicely. Was hot by the end of the set. Invited Nikki (sp.?), area vocalist join in for some nice vocals on Going Down etc..
The Motor City R&B Pioneers who recently returned from Holland, did an outstanding job of capturing the "essence" of 50's blues and r&b, complete with stylistic backup vocals from the era. They invited r&b veterans Joe Weaver, Stanley Mitchell and Kenny Martin up individually and then as a group to perform. What a refreshing delight to see these guys who have done so much entertaining over the years. Complimenting their maturity, these guys still have good vocal control and can deliver "style" and showmanship complete with stage to audience dialogue that is without modern day anger and in your face styles used by some groups today. (www.blue-suit.com)
Jimmy Thackery headlined. Jimmy is an outstanding guitarist. Has total mastery of the instrument. Does magic "at will". The only criticism I have is that every tune is excessive. I think he would have done better (people left in droves due to the late start and I believe the overplay) if he would have backed off for a few tunes then cranked it up again - Balance, where are you?
Overall a 4 out of 5 star rating for the whole show. The diversity of each groups style made for a great night. |
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Average Score: 4.33
Votes: 6
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