It seems a lot of the rallye'rs meet up at Pyramid Brewery. I didn't want to hijack the Rallyeing thread, so I have created my own.

Right across the street from the Pyramid Brewery is a great little place called the Gilman Street Project. I don't even know how long it's been around, but as a teen in the mid 90's I spent a whole lot of time there.

The place looks grimy, it attracts a clientele that looks grimy... but that's because some of the greatest punk bands in the world have come out of it. Operation Ivy, Green Day, Rancid to name a few of the more popular.

My point... When the Brewery was being built, they were trying their damned hardest to have the Gilman shutdown. None of the punks cared that a bunch of yuppies would be moving into an area they'd been in for years; but for some reason the jerks at Pyramid absoultely needed to have the punks out of the neighborhood.

Luckily, they didn't succeed, however I hold a grudge against the brewery to this day.

The Gilman gives kids (many of them at risk of becoming criminally involved) a place to go on the weekend nights.

So... If you guys are into having meetings there and you can't think of somewhere else, I can understand. But I won't ever be caught in that joint unless I'm using the restroom.

-Alan

My buddy's band Plutocracy and No Less from Redwood City used to play there a lot. They played Grind Core (Hardcore/Speed Metal). Yeah, that place looks like a run down barn/crack house. But it was still a cool place to watch shows. We also saw bands like Neurosis, Sleep, 976, Capitalist Casualties, and others I can't remember since I was too TORE up to remember every time we went there.

Actually the flyer down below has a band on it, Spazz, who's drummer came from Plutocracy.

http://www.924gilman.com/ARTBANDS/flyers/Flyer_Gallery_1998/YYFFlyer19981.gif

Kurlee Daddee
(THE ORIGINAL)

I grew up in Berkeley, and I agree that 924 Gilman is a legendary club that spawned a lot of great bands.

But....

Pyramid NEVER tried to push them out. This is just a case of urban folklore, it never happened.

Hey, I played at Gillman...a loooong time ago though. :) Where did you get this info about Pyramid though?

MMMMMM! Beeer:D But Pyramid beer is so sweet and tasty!

I worked as a volunteer (and later an employee) at Ashkenaz, the music and dance cafe on San Pablo @ Gillman. After the owner died and before Ashkenaz was turned into a non-profit, I remember having a couple of conversations with someone from the 924 Gillman Club. My understanding is that 924 is "dry" and they were opposed to having a place selling booze just across the street, especially as many of their patrons are under legal drinking age. I can relate to their concerns.

However, since Ashekanz re-opened, Pyramid Brewery has been very supportive and on more than one occasion has donated a selection of beers for Ashkenaz fundraisers.

Due to time constraints and advertising (I'm monitoring 3 messages boards for this workshop) the Tulip Course Notes Workshop will remain at Pyramid Brewery.

Suggestions for future venues are always welcome.

Jane

So I guess I'm going to have to basically eat my words because in all honesty, I have no actual proof of the claim. Everything that I heard or read in little 'zines was hearsay and could've been total BS therefore. Usually I think more before I post things, but it's an old grudge and one that I felt strongly about at the time... so I hope you'll accept my apology for stating something as fact that I couldnt back up.

other responses: KurleeDadee, you know No Less? I've known Josh since my early high school days. He was the lead mechanic at a bike shop in Burlingame that I worked at briefly. After the band split he left the shop, but last time I saw him he was right back in his same stall workin on bikes. Cool guy.

to HomerJay... pssshhh Just like a Simpson! :lol:

To WagonMonster and RallyWagon, I apologize again... but if I ever find written reliable word about this, I'm coming back for ya!
(all in humor) Please accept my apology and good luck with the clinic, it's really cool of you to help out the newbies.

-Alan
... who is admittedly still a bit wary of Pyramid(old habits die hard), but might consider going anyway if it weren't for school on that night until 9:40 PM

Having spent a ton of time at Gilman when I was in high school, I sympathize completely. I can't begin to tell you how many shows I've seen there.. I heard the same rumors you're talking about when Pyramid was going in and I was really bummed. Gilman's still there though and a few of the other east bay venues aren't, such as Berkeley Square. I don't really fault Pyramid though, they found some good real estate and it's working for them. It's just a good place to meet with a decent size group of people and have some tasty beers too.

-Brian

Xero,
You have a PM.

Kurlee Daddee
(THE ORIGINAL)