CLEVELAND Belkin decides to close Odeon

The promoter has decided to go with bigger venues rather than clubs.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CLEVELAND -- Ask any music fan about The Odeon Concert Club, and you're bound to get one of two stories -- either they saw an up-and-coming band in intimate surroundings before the hype kicked in or they were able to get tickets to a special club show by a major band.
Groups falling into the former category include the likes of Radiohead, 311, Alanis Morissette, Oasis and John Mayer. The latter list features arena rock acts -- Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Weezer, The Black Crowes and Barenaked Ladies -- which were at the top of their game playing a special cozy show for fans.
Nevertheless, 12 years after Belkin Productions started booking shows at the Odeon, the promoter has decided to close the venue on the East Bank of the Flats. Its last show is Tuesday with Cleveland hard-rock act Switched getting the honor.
Factoring in decision
Michael Belkin, president of Belkin Productions, said the longtime Northeast Ohio concert promoter had been toiling with closing the venue for six months before the decision was made last December. As for factors going into their decision, there were a few.
& quot;In this particular case, I'd say it was a combination of factors, & quot; Belkin said. & quot;There's the House of Blues' new club, just the number of clubs in the Northeast Ohio area and the amount of work we put in and what we actually pull out of there. & quot;
He added, & quot;It's sad, personally and professionally. There are a lot of fond memories there. & quot;
It all started Nov. 12, 1993, when The Cranberries performed at The Odeon, which had opened up earlier that year under different management.
Belkin booked national shows there for more than 18 months before buying the club outright.
Averaging roughly 135 to 145 shows annually for more than 12 years means pretty much many bands that came up through the rock club scene from the mid-'90s on have at one time or another performed at the 900-seat capacity venue.
"I remember the No Doubt show," Belkin said. & quot;I remember distinctly a couple of years ago in March seeing John Mayer play there, his initial Cleveland [date]. Sigur Ros was a good one, just all kinds of bizarre bands that are of major consequence today. & quot;
Gone, not forgotten
Invariably, The Odeon joins other long-closed clubs, such as The Euclid Tavern and the original Grog Shop and Peabody's DownUnder venues, that will forever live on in the memories of music fans.
& quot;I'd like to think it was the premiere place to go in its venue size range, & quot; Belkin said. & quot;It's always been a step above Peabody's. It's considerably nicer than any other club in that range so it was a great place to see a show. & quot;
He added, & quot;I hope people have fond memories of seeing significant live bands presented in a professional way that maybe haven't been done that way up until then. And that we always took pride on starting on time and having a clean and safe environment, reasonably priced drinks and an environment where people just really liked to hang out and enjoy this special evening out. I'm hoping that's the legacy we've left. & quot;
Looking ahead
The future legacy of Belkin Productions appears to be centered alongside the Cuyahoga River. In addition to operating Tower City Amphitheater in the shadow of Jacobs Field, Belkin recently announced it would be booking shows at the Scene Pavilion. Considering the venues are similar in riverfront locations -- a few miles apart -- and capacity -- roughly 5,000 seats each -- Belkin said the upcoming season will be somewhat of a learning process.
& quot;Right now there's not a real hard formula to it, & quot; Belkin said & quot;There's no method of what's going to go where. The special events -- Kidsfest, Rib Cookoff, Taste of Cleveland -- are going to stay at Tower City Amphitheater. Beyond that, we're just going to spread the wealth, let the season speak for itself and see how it goes. & quot;
As for the role of Belkin Productions in the concert game, which includes interests in PIttsburgh (Post-Gazette Pavillion and Chevrolet Ampitheatre at Station Square), Belkin remains optimistic.
& quot;We're still obviously the primary presenter of entertainment at Quicken Loans [arena] and Cleveland State University, Tower City Amphitheater, Scene Pavilion, Playhouse Square, & quot; Belkin said. & quot;We'll be doing things at the Agora. We're not changing our focus at all, we're just kind of moving out of the club business and into some of the larger stuff. & quot;