Rolling Stone: Orange Peel one of top 5 music clubs in the U.S.

The Beer Guy writes today about a story that I've been blogging for days - that Rolling Stone has named The Orange Peel Social Aid and Pleasure Club one of the top 5 rock clubs in America.

I wrote about it here on Saturday and here on Friday.

Here's the Beer Guy:

ASHEVILE — The Orange Peel music club has hosted some surprising big-name shows — concerts by Bob Dylan, the Indigo Girls, Ben Harper, the Flaming Lips and a nine-show residency by the Smashing Pumpkins. Now, it’s been named one of America’s top five music venues by Rolling Stone magazine.

The magazine lists the Peel alongside venues in New York, Detroit, Austin, Texas, and Norfolk, Va., in its “Best of Rock” issue, coming Friday. No one at the magazine could be reached for comment on Monday night.

Reporters from Rolling Stone contacted Orange Peel management “to get information about the club, and they told us it was going to be a ‘best clubs’ article. But we didn’t realize it was such a small number,” said club spokesman Liz Whalen. “It’s a big honor. It’s amazing. I think (the club’s momentum) has built on itself over the years.”

The news surprised Knoxville-based promoter Ashley Capps, who has booked shows into The Orange Peel since it opened in 2002. “That’s awesome,” said Capps, who also brings many shows to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium and around the Southeast, and stages the huge annual Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn.

“We have always been excited about the Orange Peel since the beginning,” Capps said. “It is a place that is just right. It’s a great experience for the artists and a great experience for the audience. It really is one of the finest music venues in America.”

The honor “completely makes sense,” said Asheville musician and music publicist Will Bradford of the band SeeeopleS. “It’s a venue that caters to the diversity of the community, which is tough to do. A lot of clubs fit a niche. The Orange Peel pretty much covers everything. I love going as a fan and it’s my favorite place to play.”

Comments

[Lisa O'Brien]

Ugh! The Orange Peel is a Pit!! What the heck was the guy from Rolling Stones smoking!

[Asheville Student]

I agree, the Orange Peel Sucks, try the Cats Cradle in Carrboro, NC. Its 1000x better. All of their employee's are anal and hell.

[Knoxville Resident]

Yeah, I also think The Orange Peel's employee's are anal retentive. I know they have a job to do, but seriously, they were all way too high and mighty. I will avoid going to this venue in the future.

[whatever]

DO NOT GO TO THIS VENUE,

LAST NIGHT ON HALLOWEEN I ASKED A SECURITY GUARD IF I COULD SMOKE A CIGARETTE OUTSIDE AND STILL GET IN. HE LIED TO MY FACE AND SAID I HAD 5 MINUTES. AS SOON AS I STEPPED OUT HE SHUT THE DOOR AND SAID NO MORE REENTRY?'

WTF IS THIS?

WORST VENUE IN NC HANDS DOWN!!!!!

[ashevillian 4 life]

you guys are stupid, if you werent so messed on drugs or drunk out of your mind you wouldn't have the problems you have when you go there. im friends with the people that work there, and the only reason they have to crank down the rules sometimes is because of belligerant uruly kids like yourslf. and as far as halloween goes, i was there ... and it was awesome. shouldnt have gone outside ... there were signs everywhere saying no reentry that night

[Michael]

The Cat's Cradle is a better venue? What are YOU smoking?

[peter]

The staff is fine, they do have a lot of crap to put up with from stupid kids. I think it's an awesome venue. Books really great acts and a good atmosphere. I think its place on the list is rightfully earned.

[cobb]

watch out. at the peel they like to peek through the bathroom stalls so they can bust unsuspecting concert goers...

but all in all they do get some good shows.
(And that huge fan rocks!)

[d]

The Orange Peel Sucks. It isnt just the employees. They are just doing their job. It's the venue's horrible policies, in addition to terrible sound/acoustics and over-priced mini cups of beer.

I have NEVER, ever been to a venue that treats you like an inconvenience in the way the Orange Peel does, and I've been to a lot fo shows in my life, all over the country.

Go to the Grey Eagle, or Stella Blue, or anywhere other than this piece of crap.

[ashevilleLova]

Those of you hating on the Orange Peel are a bunch of idiots. The place is nicely sized, clean, and has great shows. Yea the staff is cutthroat, but do you blame them? They don't want weapons or drugs to be brought in, simple as that. As for smoking, I have NEVER had a problem stepping outside to smoke. They are happy to allow reentry. 5 stars for the orange peel!