THE DISTILLERY’S REBIRTH |

THIRD TIME IS A CHARM

As anyone involved in our music community is aware, the Distillery as you know it is done. The venue that has supported and cultivated Calgary’s thriving independent music scene — every genre without prejudice, veterans and upstarts alike — was effectively put down in November 2012. Let me just say that all of us, the owners, the staff, the patrons, are a resilient bunch. Nothing’s ever come easy for the misfits, outcasts and loners, and we’re no exception. We’ve had a lifetime of curveballs and we’ve learned not to live life looking in the rear-view, but to move forward.

Some of you might remember the first Distillery, a small pub over on Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street S.W. We started out by picking up where our predecessors, such as The Castle Pub and The Night Gallery, left off: by promoting and supporting local independent music, mostly of the punk rock/metal variety. After a few years, we grew too big for our britches, bringing in international acts such as UK Subs, Teenage Head, Del Tha Funky Homosapien and so many more. It was time for a new chapter, so we moved into the downtown nightclub on Seventh Avenue S.W. we called home for almost half a decade.

Our time at The Distillery 2.0 was a great experience and we were able to broaden our horizons, bringing in countless acts, from punk rock (The Dwarves, Strung Out, The Bronx), to metal (Napalm Death, Korpiklanni, Jucifer), to hip hop (Onyx, Tech N9ne, various Wu Tang’s) and electronic (Ill Gates, Datsik, Rusko). We established ourselves as a force to be reckoned with, while at the same time proving you don’t have to play by anyone’s rules but your own.

That brings us to here and now. Although that chapter is over, this book is far from finished. We’ve learned a lot in the last few years and we’ve grown as people, as well. We’re going for the best of both worlds this time, featuring a full kitchen, lots of natural lighting, a patio and a cozy atmosphere to watch the fights or the game, while still supporting our local music scene (it’s in our blood, after all).

Let me also say that if it wasn’t for the incredible community support system we have, stemming from the very same scene, there’s no way we’d be here right now. It’s very humbling, almost overwhelming, to know how important we are to this community. Mark my words: you will never again see a group of friends so passionate about the local scene end up with the largest independent music venue in the heart of a city of a million people. That was once in a lifetime. Cherish the memories. I know we do.

And for that, Calgary, we thank you. Tip one back to the memory of The Distillery, and say hello to The D: Calgary’s newest rock ‘n’ roll pub, located at 222 – 7 St. S.W., open in February.

Here’s to a few more!

By Philly Roach

6 responses on “THE DISTILLERY’S REBIRTH”

Get some rockabilly in there again, and I’ll be there.

It’s funny you talk about how the distillery celebrates oneness and unity amongst us alternative folk, however, every time I visited the distillery I never ever felt that.. I felt that because I wasn’t a regular or friends with certain people I wasn’t welcome or that I was just not “punk rock” enough for you . People there are condescending and pretentious when the scene is suppose to be welcoming .. I guess Im just not cool enough to enjoy music an a beer at a supposed united bar. Hopefully a venue will open where they’re true to the punk rock moral an no fucks are given about so called “popularity”.

Phi Vernon February 4, 2013 at 9:42 am · · Reply →

I think you may have gone there on the wrong night – there are allll sorts of flavors of people and many of them are all about unity. But even still, a place being about unity doesnt necessarily mean that you will mix with the people that are in a space if your energies are different. There were nights I went there where I didnt fit into the crowd at all and some where it was ALLLLL my kinds of people.
Give er’ another try and try going on different nights, you may be surprised at the diversity that flows through there.

Well, I moved to Calgary awhile back, no friends here because I’m not the friend-looking type of person. They took me in like I was family, just like the b’ys from back home. I still don’t know most of their names but there was always a handshake, pat on the back or some kind of acknowledgement involved. They are like my silent friends, the best kind.