8 x 10 closing

Never been there, but man I sure have noticed some wicked billings at that place over the years.

Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons burned down the 8x10 on many an occasion. 

.... well, I wouldn't put any money on it although the current owners are definitely getting out. Ya never know what might happen at the last minute. Or just after the last minute.

Although the place has hosted a lot of fantastic music in the past, it's questionable if the younger Balto crowd that might frequent that neighborhood is even interested in seeing live music in an intimate setting. And old guys like me, who started going there since the beginning (1983?) can find it a hassle to park down there (and maybe get mugged), just to see the latest Dead cover band. I know music people from DC that will go there before the suburban locals will. So though the current economic situation and demographics probably make it an unattractive business proposition ---- bands traveling the East Coast corridor probably still appreciate / count-on a payday between the "big" cities. (I saw  a lot of name acts on a Tuesday night or Wed night.) So we'll see. 

(fun fact: the place originally opened as Joe's Organic Juice Bar and at one point had a name change to the Funk Box)

from an article talking about the history of the bar with the previous owner (2003-2005):

[...The result was pretty much The 8×10 we see today: larger stage, a full second-floor balcony, state-of-the-art sound system, larger bathrooms, and an unusual spring-loaded dance floor inspired by Rather’s love of The Grateful Dead.

“The Dead used to play this venue in Portland, Oregon, called the Crystal Ballroom. It was built as a formal dance room and they had a spring-loaded dance floor to help the dancers,” he explained. “I thought that would be really cool to incorporate some of that history of the Grateful Dead here. So I called the ballroom’s owners and they sent us the blueprints for the floor. My contractors were able to build it using the original Crystal Ballroom design.”]

[...These days, three types of bands dominate The 8×10 schedule, according to Janssens. “We try to mix it up as much as possible, but honestly, we are a jam band venue. We do most of the jam shows in Baltimore until they get to a bigger level. We also do a lot of bluegrass and tribute bands.]

a March 2023 interview with the current owner (who purchased the biz after it had been running for 20 years):

Are there any aspects of other venues that you like or dislike that you have applied to the 8 x 10?

Prior to purchasing The 8×10, we worked for Warren Haynes and Gov’t Mule. We toured with The Allman Brothers and The Dead the summer directly before purchasing The 8×10 and basically learned everything for watching how venues like MSG, Red Rocks, Merriweather, The Gorge, did things. We absorbed everything we could from places like The Beacon, The Fillmore, The Warfield, 9:30 Club, The Electric Factory. Together we spent two years actually working at these types of venues. When we had the opportunity to buy The 8×10 we traded that for the opportunity to have a real lasting impact on musicians’ careers. Warren Haynes was already Warren Haynes. But by running a local venue, we could take garage bands and make them bar bands, and take bar bands and make them into theater bands. So, we try to run The 8×10 like it was The Beacon or Red Rocks. We try to be as professional as we can, to be as educational as we can, and to just provide a safe space with fertile ground where bands can find their feet and grow. We know we are a little-no-place-nothing-hole-in-the-wall on the grand scheme….but we also know that we are The 8×10 and that has meant a lot to a lot of people over the last 40 years. We just have to live up to that.

Are there any bands that haven’t played at the venue that you would like to see perform there?

Phil Lesh and Friends.

https://glidemagazine.com/289563/for-forty-plus-years-baltimores-8x10-se...

such a rad club/venue. super nice staff.

we tore it the F up for zonerjam. spring loaded dance floor.

bartenders got so spun they couldn't take $...

Hey Alan, as a Baltimore live music enthusiast, what's your opinion of The Lyric?

I've read about it, and it sounds like a cool old venue but that it has certain issues. I became interested in it when a friend took over as general manager last year.

I haven't talked with him in a while, but he likes to hear educated opinions so when I do speak with him it would be good to have a local take to share.

Lance - The Lyric is a wonderful old venue (1890s). In elementary school, they took us there on field trips to see a play or two when it was called the Lyric Opera House. The've modernized it since then, but it still has a classic look on the inside. It feels like a fancy dress up place, suitable for date night.

It probably holds about 2500. Unlike the Warfield, it has wrap around balcony seating on both sides and the back. All seats (no GA floor).

It was a hoot when String Cheese played there (2011?). And Phil. I think that was in 2007 --- the Jackie Greene days.  They only have a show or two a year there that appeals to me, so I haven't been in a while. But it's nice.

Its claim to fame in my book was it hosting a Grateful Dead show there in Feb of 1969 that no one seems to know anything about, other than it was a Sunday matinee and a Sunday evening show and they opened for the Chambers Bros. No setlist. No archive recordings.

Brain fade, didn't they go by less than and greater than?  Damn memory!  Anyway, that place was jumping during the first two ECZJs.   So much fun, never forget meeting FaFa and the visine bottle, hahaha.  Hanging backstage with Jill and the gang.  Ah the good ole days!

>>Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons burned down the 8x10 on many an occasion.

The only 2 shows I saw there were both the Jackmormons.  Cool spot. 

(((((((((((((((((((GT&LT)))))))))))))))))))))))

(((((((((((((((((((710!!!)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

some of the verybest of shenanigans happened there

710, fun story!!

was at some show and don't even know why i asked this random dude his bday, as i am wont to do

turns out it was LT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this was in the past year 

i love the OG Us

also

HELLO

AIQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yep -- 

Under New Ownership That Includes Soul Singer Cris Jacobs, The 8×10 Will Rock On in Federal Hill

How a local regular, a Philadelphia-based Orioles lover, and Baltimore's own Jacobs—who holds the unofficial record for most shows played on The 8x10 stage—are taking the storied concert venue into its next chapter.

https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/the-8x10-fed...