TLA becomes The Fillmore Philadelphia - Page 3 - PhillyBlog

alesis · #21 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 03:19 PM

Well, I just looked at the irving plaza website only to find out that it is now a fillmore, too.

DeeBee · #22 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sccaflagger74

Who's pissed? I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that thinks that apples are a strange thing to give out at concerts. I'd rather have a no frills place with cheaper prices than free apples and hardwood floors. If they are giving out something with the price of a ticket I'll take a beer.

Also, I wonder what band will be the first to be pelted with apples?

LOL! I also wondered who would be the first to get pelted. God, how cynical are Philadelphians?!

I think the apple thing is weird. Who the hell wants an apple at a concert? I'd rather a beer, too. I can imagine people slipping on apple cores on the floor.

DaveNied · #23 (**permalink**) 04-01-2007, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QVNewcomer

Jesus. Only in Philadelphia would people get pissed at someone for trying to give them something for free.

It sounds like an improvement to me. And it's not like The Fillmore is McDonald's, for God's sakes. Yes, I guess it's a "brand," in that there are other locations -- or, well, one other location.

Although I just did some Googling and The Fillmore is apparently now owned by LiveNation, which is owned by Clear Channel, which IS pretty much the evil empire, so maybe I should take this back. But, I guess my point is, Clear Channel already owns the TLA, so changing the name and giving away freebies (apples, concert posters) doesn't seem so awful.

FYI - Live Nation isn't owned by Clear Channel. It was spun off a couple years ago and now is it's completely separate company.

DE_JMZ · #24 (**permalink**) 04-02-2007, 12:18 PM

Hope no one minds a non-philly-resident-newbie commenting on this one, but this is pretty aggravating. I've been going to the TLA for years(being 28, that probably gets to 12 years), and it has remained a stand out among Philly venues. It doesn't have the best sound, facilities, or parking; but it has great bands, location, security, crowds, and size. Sure it's a little grungy, but you can't expect a venue that hosts so many shows at good prices to be gilded.

So what do we get for going from the TLA to the TFP? A paint job? The Troc did that without new name. A generic website, without detailed artist/show info? Oh wait, we already got that. Apples? Come on, this is the same place you can't take a plastic cup onto the floor. I saw someone throw a shoe at Les Claypool(Tower), I wouldn't give that guy, or any other Philly fan an apple. Commemorative poster? Okay, that's pretty cool, I've got too much "pride?" to strip the cheap posters off the walls and it's so rare to get show-specific art in a presentation quality form.

Originally Posted by alesis

The reality is that if someone likes a band, they're going to go to tla, e.factory, troc, etc. because of the band, and rarely just because of the venue...I can't really think of a time I said "I haven't been to the tla in awhile, so I'm going to see justin timberlake just to see the pleasant bartenders and ambience".

I have to disagree with this one...if mostly in the negative. A venue can keep me away from a show I'm on the fence about. Perfect example is the E. Factory, I despise the place. The main reason is that the sound is only half-decent in about 1/3 of the place. Ticket prices, security, and parking expense all keep me away from that venue(I'm giving in, once again, to see The Stooges next week). The TLA, Troc and Tower have the opposite effect; I love those places, and will make an extra effort to see their shows. Yes, it still comes down to the band, but I can't see every show I want to, I have to budget and compromise.

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveNied:
FYI - Live Nation isn't owned by Clear Channel. It was spun off a couple years ago and now is it's completely separate company.

Originally posted by scannest:
I guess they feel it is necessary to compete with the House of Blues, the Hard Rock, etc.

Live Nation does have some of the same execs as Clear Channel, which is not a big deal. Also, part of the reason it split from CC was due to legal issues concerning what looks like monopoly rules(I'm no lawyer).

House of Blues is owned(run? managed? licensed?) by Live Nation. They are going to be changing other venues to that brand as well.

Anyway, sorry about the length of my post here.
Will the name change stop me from going? NO.
Will the apples last? NO.
Will the posters last? Unlikely.
Will the ticket prices go up? Likely.
Will I miss the TLA? YES, I hope they keep the marqee.

QVNewcomer · #25 (**permalink**) 04-02-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DE_JMZ

Hope no one minds a non-philly-resident-newbie commenting on this one, but this is pretty aggravating. I've been going to the TLA for years(being 28, that probably gets to 12 years), and it has remained a stand out among Philly venues. It doesn't have the best sound, facilities, or parking; but it has great bands, location, security, crowds, and size. Sure it's a little grungy, but you can't expect a venue that hosts so many shows at good prices to be gilded.

So what do we get for going from the TLA to the TFP? A paint job? The Troc did that without new name. A generic website, without detailed artist/show info? Oh wait, we already got that. Apples? Come on, this is the same place you can't take a plastic cup onto the floor. I saw someone throw a shoe at Les Claypool(Tower), I wouldn't give that guy, or any other Philly fan an apple. Commemorative poster? Okay, that's pretty cool, I've got too much "pride?" to strip the cheap posters off the walls and it's so rare to get show-specific art in a presentation quality form.

Originally Posted by alesis

The reality is that if someone likes a band, they're going to go to tla, e.factory, troc, etc. because of the band, and rarely just because of the venue...I can't really think of a time I said "I haven't been to the tla in awhile, so I'm going to see justin timberlake just to see the pleasant bartenders and ambience".

I have to disagree with this one...if mostly in the negative. A venue can keep me away from a show I'm on the fence about. Perfect example is the E. Factory, I despise the place. The main reason is that the sound is only half-decent in about 1/3 of the place. Ticket prices, security, and parking expense all keep me away from that venue(I'm giving in, once again, to see The Stooges next week). The TLA, Troc and Tower have the opposite effect; I love those places, and will make an extra effort to see their shows. Yes, it still comes down to the band, but I can't see every show I want to, I have to budget and compromise.

Live Nation does have some of the same execs as Clear Channel, which is not a big deal. Also, part of the reason it split from CC was due to legal issues concerning what looks like monopoly rules(I'm no lawyer).

House of Blues is owned(run? managed? licensed?) by Live Nation. They are going to be changing other venues to that brand as well.

Anyway, sorry about the length of my post here.
Will the name change stop me from going? NO.
Will the apples last? NO.
Will the posters last? Unlikely.
Will the ticket prices go up? Likely.
Will I miss the TLA? YES, I hope they keep the marqee.

Totally agree about the Electric Factory. Maybe I was just spoiled by the 9:30 Club in D.C., but the sound at the E.F. is not so great, and the layout is weird.

I'mSoooRAD · #26 (**permalink**) 04-02-2007, 03:59 PM

This sucks.

The place was kinda a dump, but in a good way.

omnivore · #27 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DE_JMZ

Will I miss the TLA? YES, I hope they keep the marqee.

I think it's pretty likely that they'll keep the marquee. It's really tough to get a city permit for a new marquee, so any place that already has one will most likely hang on to it for the grandfather clause status if for nothing else.

nipseyrussell · #28 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 01:20 PM

i also cant stand the electric factory, i hate squeezing through the long narrow balcony to see a show standing sideways, and vowed never to go again

then a friend talked me into seeing the stooges there (despite the fact that I hate these old man reunion shows, Funhouse is tied for my favorite album ever), so see you there!

alesis · #29 (**permalink**) 04-11-2007, 12:19 PM

I went last night, and it looks like they're pretty much just putting lipstick on a pig.

The new "fillmore" signs are just stuck on without properly integrating them into the marquee or building, and the paint job looks like the way the tla would of been painted in the 80's. The "chandeliers" are nothing more than $10 beaded cheapies from pier 1 that go onto the recessed lights.

The only major change is that the bartender gained about 60lbs since the last time we saw her-normally I wouldn't comment on such a thing, but her coyote ugly routine was tacky before, and the added baggage makes it even more tasteless, especially when her hair gets into my drink.

I know that the grand-reopening didn't happen yet, but when I asked a bouncer about the changes he said that, as far as he knew, they were pretty much done with everything. I didn't see any hardwood floors or apples, so I guess we'll have to wait and see what else they do in the next week or two.