Yeah that was a hang out for us! The bleachers made from counter tops was the sign of a top notch club. Nice neighborhood to put a rocker club in too. The greatest two shows I ever seen were Jane's Addiction and Siouxsie and the Banshees, both at City Gardens. The house Dj was horrible. I think his name was DJ Carlos. Do you remember when he would turn on the air raid siren? We would ride a bus downtown and then get a transfer to Calhoun Street. The bus stop for the club was in front of the housing projects! We never had any trouble but I can still remember the dirty looks. I don't think the residents appreciated kids wearing wide collared leather jackets and field boots.
Jon Stewart was a bartender for the club.
I very vaguely remember DJ Carlos, I do remember Eddie Boom and another guy named DJ Rich who was a friend of one of the guys in our group. Great guy and a damn good DJ. Rich took everything in stride. Some nut got naked up on the bar one night, and Rich announces over the speaker "welcome to City Gardens, where we care not about your shortcomings".
Thursdays were alternative night, the most diverse and eclectic mix of people you could imagine. Guidos from the 'burg hanging out and chatting it up with throwback punk rockers, and the occasional guy who wandered in from the neighborhood. Of course there were always the Rider and TSC girls drunk off the $0.80 vodka and cranberries. Whoot.
You remember Jim the bouncer? He's one of my boxing and MMA coaches. Awesome guy.
There was very little trouble there. I remember once or twice my spidey sense was tingling but things seemed to be diffused very quickly. One night I thought I was going to get into it with a guy, he kept insisting that he knew me and that I remembered him, but I didn't. The dude was a bit sinister and harrassing until I sort of took over the conversation, bought the guy a beer, wished him well, and apologized for my poor memory. I have nothing to prove, and we both went home okay.
I understand that Trent Reznor was there several times as well, but I never saw him.
I was very sad to see it close. I'm sure I wouldn't go back there now if it were open, but there was something about it closing that felt like the loss of a friend.
Oh and I still wear Doc Martens