Thurrrsday at the --- bleccch

Independence Day week seems like a good time for a good ol' American rant about how things got ruined, more specifically Thursday at the Square.

Local bar owners seem nonplussed at the recent developments surrounding the square. The spate of "jam" bands leads less of a bar/ drinking crowd, they say. Also, extending hours of the Square to 10pm keep people from coming in and spending money, preferring to go home in an attempt to drag themselves into work on Friday. Owners Silo3 spoke to however were quick to point out the crowd they get, which also depends on the weather, is better than none at all.

Some people have been saying for years that the crop of Square talent has been steadily declining for years. They make the case Buffalo Place knows; people are there to see the sides of beer trucks not live music.



Here's some highlights from 2001, what some would say was a high-watermark:

5/24 - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Mexican Cession
5/31 - The Steam Donkeys
6/21 - moe., DJ Logic
6/28 - English Beat
7/19 - Bo Diddley
7/26 - Crash Test Dummies
8/02 - Eddie Money
8/09 - Pat Benatar
8/16 - Great Big Sea, Jackdaw
8/23 - Lance Diamond
8/30 - Donna the Buffalo, The Waz, Soulive

Compare to entire '08 lineup:
5/29 - Galactic, The New Deal
6/05 - The Disco Biscuits
6/12 - Yonder Mountain String Band
6/19 - David Sanborn Group,
6/26 - Martin Sexton, Mike Doughty Duo
7/03 - Jakob Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels
7/10 - Jimmie Vaughan, JJ Grey & MOFRO
7/17 - Mickey Hart Band, Tea Leaf Green
7/24 - The Gin Blossoms
7/31 - Spirit of the West,
8/07 - Zappa plays Zappa, The Whigs
8/14 - Mike Gordon, Samantha Stollenwerck
8/21 - Saliva
8/28 - Candlebox, Agent Me
9/04 - Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Rumors have it that changes at Buffalo Place's TATS management team are afoot. Is a better lineup possible for '09? Will they book more classic/ contemporary rock in an attempt to bring out more of a bar crowd?