MUSIC FEATURE
with a virtual livestream event on April 10 at 8 p.m. shop that was open primarily on neighborhood “NoDa was the wild west back then,” Kuhlmann The program boasts recorded performances and gallery crawls, which occurred on the first Friday says. He remembers when the police wouldn’t come well wishes from artists around the world, many of the month. With partners Wes Robinson and his through the neighborhood, and other times when of whom are Muse alumni, including Jonathan soon-to-be wife Lea Pritchard, Kuhlmann, who had the sense of danger was so keen that the hairs stood Spottiswoode, Ashlee Joy Hardee, Susto, Jim Avett, been a touring performer and recording engineer, up on the back of his neck. George Banda, Sam Tayloe and many more. Live became a club owner. The Evening Muse opened for “It was on the fringe,” he says. “An island in the components encompass a raffle of a painting of gallery crawl on the first Friday of February 2001. city.” The little music club that Keith Richards that used to hang on the club’s wall, The first band to play there was Tesser, fronted by At the same time, NoDa was full of artists and could turns 20 years old donated by artist Lori Love, and a toast to The Muse Kuhlmann’s friend and business partner Robinson. musicians on every corner, Laurie offers. Rents were which will conclude the livestream. Kuhlmann, who also serves as the club’s sound so low that artists could comfortably live and work BY PAT MORAN On May 19, there will be another reason to engineer, was off and flying — by the seat of his in the neighborhood. NoDa was the definition of celebrate the club as it presents its first live concert pants. bohemian. Joe Kuhlmann has noticed a curious thing about since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down music “It was really quick, and down and dirty,” he “It was a very fertile area,” Kuhlmann offers. “You The Evening Muse, the cozy yet legendary music venues in March 2020. Two sets featuring singer says, noting that from signing the lease to opening, could plant a seed, artistically or entrepreneurially, club that celebrates 20 years at the corner of East and acoustic guitarist Jason Eady and opener Adam less than two months passed. Among the club’s and make something grow.” 36th and North Davidson streets in the heart of Artistic growth began almost NoDa in April, just as it tentatively immediately at The Muse. A patron opens to live performances in May. of the club since it opened, local “When people show up here, musician John Dungan launched the comment that I hear more often The Muse’s first open mic, John than not is, ‘Man, this reminds me Dungan & Friends, in the summer of home,’” says Kuhlmann, who coof 2001. Dungan, like many Muse owns the club with Don and Laurie staff members to come, would also Koster. work the door, help out at the bar Many share that warm sense or do whatever else was needed. of belonging at The Muse, as it’s “I set up a show called The affectionately known. Journalist, Eclectic Blend Showcase,” Dungan photographer and Queen City says. “The bill was going to be Nerve contributor Jeff Hahne, a few songwriters in the round: who hosted his Off The Record David Childers, Randolph Lewis, concert series at the club, praises and myself.” its intimate feel. When Childers pulled out due “There’s a connection between to scheduling conflicts, Dungan the people that makes it feel like found a last minute replacement in family when you set foot through Nicole Atkins. the door,” Hahne says. “Seth Avett [of the Avett Don Koster recalls that over the Brothers] was in the crowd that course of two decades the club has night too,” Dungan remembers. served as the setting for several “Nicole asked him to get up and marriage proposals and wedding PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN sing something, but he politely THE EVENING MUSE CREW (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): LAURIE AND DON KOSTER WITH JOE KUHLMANN. ceremonies onstage. declined.” “It really makes it feel almost Atkins, who has garnered critical like your living room to have these things occur Hood at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. sold out in less than earliest patrons were the Kosters. acclaim with noirish retro soul records like 2017’s here,” he says. four hours. “We’ve been coming here since day one,” says Goodnight Rhonda Lee and 2020’s Italian Ice, was Although currently based in Nashville, American “We spent more time talking about how to do Laurie. She was designing websites for John Tosco one of the first, but far from the last, artists who Idol contestant Natalie Royal also finds a safe haven [the shows] and whether they would work out, than and his Tosco Music Parties, when she came to the started at The Muse before hitting the big time. at The Muse. actually selling tickets,” Don Koster says. Muse with her husband Don to catch a performance Another artist nurtured by the venue before “Every time I’m in Charlotte, I take a trip down With this encouraging showing, Don, his wife by one of the Tosco musicians. subsequently finding fame is Natalie Royal. Royal to NoDa,” Royal says. “Through the years, numerous Laurie and Kuhlmann are eager to book further gigs. “We fell in love with it all, the music, the scene had taught herself to play guitar and write songs restaurants and bars have come and gone, but The and the people,” Laurie says. “It was the only place I while still in middle school. On Wednesday evenings Evening Muse has remained a staple on that corner wanted to go.” she would get her mom to drive her to The Muse to — the purple awning like a beacon, guiding me From living art to live music The neighborhood was part of the attraction, play the Tosco open mic night. Don, Laurie and Joe were at the Muse before home.” and it was a very different place from what it is “I would constantly marvel at the talent pouring Music fans can get their own sense of home there even was a Muse. In early 2001, the corner today. from those who lived in our city,” Royal says. “The when The Muse celebrates it’s 20th anniversary lot in NoDa was occupied by Living Art, a coffee
Pg. 14 APR 7 - APR 20, 2021 - QCNERVE.COM
FINDING YOUR MUSE
