Kimo's is closing its doors December 31, 2011. This is a bitter sweet ordeal. It's been a go-to venue longer than I can remember. While not particularly as notable as Annie's Social Club (or it's many incarnations), Bottom of the Hill or the Elbo Room; it still served its purpose.
"That place was a shit hole!" Matt, a former bandmate recalled from his days in Artificium Sanguis, who in his older age, remembers an entirely different, much filthier Kimo's than the Kimo's I knew for several years.
They way I knew it was the punk bar upstairs and the Chicken-Hawk bar downstair. While waiting for shows I would see countless older gay men and young men walk off together, apparently to make some kind of exchange involving drugs or sex. I could be totally wrong, but that's what I remember being explained to me. Sitting at the bar of one of the Polk Gulch's last strong holds was certain a treat in itself. Watching the mix of old timey gay dudes and young adults trying attend a rock show in the same place was always interesting. While neither crowds tended to interact with each other it was always a funny sight.
I remember being excited to play this venue with my band, Flood. This excitement was shortly lived as I changed my attitude after lifting heavy, heavy gear up their narrow stairs. Once the gear was loaded in, things got much better.
At the time a guy named Chad was booking shows there. He treated every band well. Who can complain about extra drink tickets? I think the first time we played their, with the Ovens, Chad smoked us out big time. No other promoter ever did that.
I got to know Kimo's very well as Flood would accept almost every show Chad offered for a year so two. At one point we felt like the house band. To an extent, it did feel like home sometimes. Having the same guy host the show with virtually the same bands every time.
I think the last time I ever played their was in Church of Flipper; Flood's Flipper cover band. I wore a giant whoopee cushion costumer and drank A LOT of beer. It was probably one of the most remarkable shows I've ever played there. My parents even showed up to watch the debauchery.
Kimo's was a reliable, go-to venue. Maybe it wasn't at the top of many people's list, but it always worked out. Flood had their first record release there; and what turned out to be one of the bar's busiest Monday nights.
Everyone had a great time their, even if they don't admit it. A lot of people probably won't care, or even say 'good riddance'. But just remember, it's one less venue in the City.
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