The Griffon News

Things haven’t changed much since I’ve moved back to St. Joseph. One thing that continually changes however is my favorite catch phrase. As of late, my new favorite phrase has become “When I lived in Springfield . . .”

When I lived in Springfield I spent most nights walking with friends through the downtown square, moving from music venue to music venue. We never really had trouble finding places to go to and be entertained until one in the morning. St. Joe on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Now I spend most of my time eating Totino’s frozen pizzas and watching Aqua Teen Hunger Force on DVD. Only on certain nights can I go out to a music venue. Only before 9 p.m. can I go to a store that isn’t Wal-Mart or Priscilla’s and wander around aimlessly for hours. I just have one question for you Joe Town; what’s going on here?

The running joke amongst most people who grew up here is that they can “cruise the Belt or go to Wal-Mart.” Or at least it was with most of my high school friends when we moved away. And a lot of my Missouri State friends thought it was just that, a joke. Then they came here. It’s like every place that doesn’t involve a cover charge or an impromptu drunken class reunion closes its doors at nine or ten on the weekdays.

In the very first article I wrote for the Griffon News, I made mention of The Dojo, a music venue located downtown that was closed due to issues with city ordinances. The buzz is that the owner and renovator of The Dojo is planning on opening another venue. Its exact whereabouts are still unknown to me; but is one venue going to cure all of St. Joseph’s ills? No.

Missouri Western students still have no place within walking distance to go to for entertainment. One downtown venue won’t change much. It may prompt others to open their own venue and start a healthy, thriving music scene, which has been lying dormant until recently, but it won’t help alleviate the strain of boredom for most college students.

In case you didn’t already know, this city is run by old money. Lots of old money. Not necessarily lots of money as in people are rolling around in hundred dollar bills frequently, but that there are a lot of people with a lot of the cards, which they got through their money and stature.

The sad but true fact of the city is that a lot of hot air is blown when it comes to the entertainment of certain demographics. College aged men and women who don’t drink every week and don’t listen to classic rock or country music are sick of waiting for Saturday to roll around so they can go Cosmic Bowling.

When was the last time that you heard of a rapper adding St. Joseph, Mo. to his tour dates? Or what about a punk rock band taking the stage at Civic Arena? Anyone?

I don’t remember any. Is it a question of demographic or venue? I don’t know, but a mix of both is probably a safe bet to make.

And instead of denouncing that shindig known as Trails West let me say this, even though I dislike the performers brought in by Allied Arts, they do their part to get names. Names that I don’t care for or haven’t heard from in ten years, but names nonetheless.

What’s my solution? Stop ignoring the obvious, in other words stop ignoring us; young adults in St. Joe are bored. There is a music scene coursing under the surface and no place for it to go except the basements of churches and garage shows at local parties. Give local bands a stage at Trails West; open something closer than the Conoco on Mitchell or the Speedy’s on Riverside so that college students have something to do on a Tuesday night.

Missouri Western is growing, the city is growing slowly but it is growing. I just think it’s growing in the wrong ways, detracting from what people our age need and providing grandmothers with supplies for their next craft project.

For now though, I will continue to enjoy Aqua Teen Hunger Force and my Totino’s pizzas.