WILLIAMSBURG — Just days after this much-anticipated record store and venue opened its doors, Rough Trade has canceled all its in-store shows — with famed aritsts including Andrew Bird and Pretty Lights — after neighbors couldn't take the noise, staff said.
"We are working quickly to fix an issue we've run into with our venue's noise level and how it effects (sic) the neighborhood," Rough Trade tweeted Thursday afternoon and then listed a number of shows that were either canceled or moved to other venues.
A representative from Rough Trade, which opened on Nov. 25, said they were working to better soundproof the North Ninth Street warehouse so they could resume the concerts, and that he was not sure how long the process would take.
"We’re making sure our incredible live PA system is equalled by incredible acoustic remediation," the representative Stephen Godfroy said in an email to DNAinfo. "Achieving this parity is our focus right now. During this process, all amplified live performances at the store are ‘on hold,’ but we aim to resume normal service (as it were), as soon as possible."
The store at the corner of Wythe Avenue is the British company's first U.S. outlet, and includes a stage in the back and and an upstairs room modeled after the bedroom of rapper Childish Gambino, who was scheduled to perform there Sunday. But the rapper's show has now been moved to the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Rough Trade tweeted.
Fans can either get refunds for their tickets or attend shows in their relocated venues, Rough Trade noted.
Despite the glitch in the live performances, Godfroy emphasized that the rest of the shop was thriving.
"From a retail point of view, it’s very much business as usual," he said, "including some great exclusives for music and books."
According to the Rough Trade Twitter feed, the following shows are canceled:
The Stepkids
Lucius
Au Revoir Simone
Nick Lowe
Pretty Lights
