LAKEVIEW — Elbo Room, a beloved music venue that has called Lincoln Avenue home since 1989, launched a GoFundMe campaign Thursday to keep its doors open.
As of Friday afternoon, the club, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., had raised $5,325 toward its $7,500 goal.
Now that Elbo Room is offering more dance parties and nostalgia-driven events, the club is struggling to pay the expensive licensing fees that go along with it, according to Brian Bender, who helps run the club.
"I don't want Elbo Room to get sued for playing 'Purple Rain' at the end of the night. We're trying to make sure we're not a headline in a negative way," he said, referring to a lawsuit recently filed by music licensing giant BMI against Wicker Park's Piece Pizzeria for copyright infringement and Double Door's ongoing eviction battle.
The mounting licensing fees, combined with low attendance at shows and a changing neighborhood, led Bender and David Cooke, the club's owner, to launch the campaign.
"People are paying money to see nostalgic bands. The crowds aren't coming out for the [original bands] like they used to back in the day. I don't know if that's because it's more available on the internet or not," Bender said.
Bender said he's already made a payment to one of the music licensing companies using the money that has been raised. If the goal is met (which is likely given the initial response), he said the club will be able to pay off all of the fees it currently owes and do more marketing to attract new customers.
Back in its heyday, Elbo Room only put on original shows, so copyright infringement was never an issue, Bender explained. In the late '90s and early 2000s, Bender said Elbo Room was known as the place to be for acid jazz. But that genre isn't as "relevant" anymore, which is why the club has turned to dance parties and similar events, Bender said.
Despite music fans' evolving taste, Elbo Room doesn't intend on abandoning its roots of showcasing unknown original acts anytime soon. Rather, the club is incorporating those types of parties into its original mission.
"We give opportunities to bands that haven't made it yet. We're trying to make sure we're able to continue those memories," Bender said.
For every dollar that's donated, the club will honor a gift certificate for that same amount, according to the campaign. Plus, everyone who donates will get a lifetime of free entry to future concerts and events.
"We don't plan on going anywhere," Cooke said.
The pair are currently planning a special show to thank their supporters. Details have yet to be determined.
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