| The first time Towson University student Saalika Kahn from Washington, D.C. came to the Recher Theatre, she was swept into Baltimore's music world.
"Okay, so (it's a) run down place: it's dark, they got awesome glow lights, they've got glow sticks everywhere, there's food - by the way fantastic - and they have posters of all these bands that played there," Kahn recalls of her first impression. "It is a classic band venue, so I am taking it for what it is."
But as of March 31, 2013, Kahn will never again see another rock concert there.
According to local sources, Brian Recher sold the venue to a nightclub owner who plans to turn it into Torrent, a nightclub located in the middle of Towson. Some Towson students were outraged by the idea, while the rest of the community didn't appear to show any interest because they may not have attended the venue's shows.
"I don't know why they would stick that right in the middle of Towson," Kahn said. "It's a college town and kids want to see local bands there. I would rather take a train (back) to D.C. to go to a club."
One student had been to the Recher 15 times since high school, but he said he was fine with the change and there was nothing to be done about it anyway. "I feel like that club will be a positive impact on the town," animal behavior student Andre Nguyen said. "Still, it sucks, but I mean, I'll deal with it. There's nothing much we can do about it, I guess."
Some have shown concern regarding the issue, including Towson student Rachel Harman. Her petition to save the Recher has garnered more than 1,000 signatures, and she plans to send it to Brian Recher when it is time to close the venue.
"One of my friends works there, and he contacted me and said that as soon as the petition is done, he would take it to the owners because he's been battling the owners for months to get them to not change it," she said in an interview with the college campus newspaper, The Towerlight.
However, some people don't feel the need to do anything about it. Former Fools and Horses lead singer Matt Hutchison felt nostalgic about going to the Recher to perform with his band mates back in 2010, but he could see the time coming for the venue to close.
"With new clubs like Baltimore SoundStage and the attractive location of Rams Head Live!, the bands that may have once been drawn to the Recher are looking for the bigger rooms," singer-songwriter Hutchison said. "My guess is that the Recher brothers recognized this and did the most sensible thing by turning the Recher into a nightclub."
Still, Hutchison believes that - one day - the Towson music scene will come back even bigger than before and more people will return to see live bands.
"I'll certainly miss the Recher and the good times I had there, but I'm confident that an entrepreneur will recognize the need for a new music venue in town and make Towson a vibrant place for live music once again," he said. "That's the beauty of it all."
Still, even some non-University students don't appreciate the idea of having another nightclub in Maryland, especially in the middle of a suburban setting. Recher supporter Christina Knox used to go to the venue to see great shows, including one show featuring her younger brother's band, Faces Falling.
"I think it's unfortunate because a lot of kids who are coming of age need to be able to enjoy something like that opportunity that I had when I was younger," Knox said. "There are enough of those (nightclubs) in Baltimore. We need something with character like the Recher had, like it should still have. It's depressing to think about."
Yet, the music scene is slowly evolving from rock bands to DJ's and hip-hop groups, which include popular music stations. Then again, Kahn wants to experience the artistic side of Baltimore for the real scene.
"I see Baltimore as a really good music place," Kahn said. "I would go see theatre and museums, and pretty much go to music venues to see some bands play."
She still remembers the time she went to see Ballyhoo playing at the Recher with the Towson band Stacked Like Pancakes, which was one of the best times she had.
"My first experience was quite a fun experience," Kahn said. "I was looking forward to it because the first time I went there, I'm pretty sure will be the last time I'm going to be there."
|