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March's In the Spotlight Feature
El Torreon is an all-ages venue in midtown, just a few blocks east of Main Street. Named after the historic building in which it resides, El Torreon regularly features local, national and international punk, ska, indie, hardcore, and metal bands. The 3 story brick building was named "El Torreon" ("The Turret") when it was built in 1914. Over the past 86 years, it has served a multitude of purposes. In the 1950's the huge ballroom on its top floor was used to host rock shows. For a time the building was known as "The Cowtown Ballroom", and in the 1970s groups including Frank Zappa and The Grateful Dead played there. After the Cowtown Ballroom closed its doors, El Torreon housed a roller rink, and later a automobile restoration business.
Brian saw the El Torreon's potential as a venue, and convinced Abraham to let him start booking concerts there. Abraham secured all the required permits, and last December El Torreon hosted its first rock show since the seventies. This inagural event featured local bands Steadfast, Mi6, Sister Mary Rotten Crotch, and the Revolvers, and enough people attended to prove to Abraham and Brian that an all-ages venue in midtown was something that Kansas Citians wanted. After talking to members of El Torreon's staff, I quickly realized that this establishment is different from most venues in Kansas City. Different because the bottom line isn't the money; "It's the music", says Lewis Celli, who heads up security for El Torreon's events. The staff are committed to providing a spot where anyone can come hear live music - for the long term. This means that everything must be done "by the books" so that El Torreon isn't shut down. Lewis says that shows are staffed with 2-8 security guards who have zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol, and fighting - "I won't let anyone take this place away from us". Although they are tough, Brian and Lewis say they rarely have problems because the people who come down to see shows at El Torreon respect what they are trying to do. "They know that if we get shut down they won't have any place else to go." The space used for concerts is only a small portion of the building. Abraham also rents another section of the first floor as practice spaces for local musicians. Bands that practice at El Torreon include Parlay, Cretin 66, the Main Street Saints, Ultrafuge, Overstep, and Sister Mary Rotten Crotch. Another room is used to host Space (http://www.spacekc.com/), a private 18+ dance club featuring live DJ's. The most expansive room by far is the upstairs ballroom, framed by its high arched ceiling. With an estimated capacity of 1800, Brian notes that this room has great potential as a concert hall. A large balcony, overlooking the hardwood-covered floors below, spans most of the room's perimeter. It only takes a small amount of vision to imagine what this room could become, but in its present state the ballroom looks more like a flea market. Used as a storage facility for the Haddad Restaurant Group, the room is filled with stoves, tables and chairs, classic cars, old motel signs and too many other objects to list. Abraham is serious about renovating the ballroom though, and is in the process of weeding through the logistics of turning into a large concert hall. In the few months that it has been hosting shows, El Torreon has quickly become a venue respected by the grass-roots music community in Kansas City. Past shows have featured local bands such as The Gadjits, Annie on My Mind, Proudentall, The Hillary Step, as well as national bands such as The Business and The Beerzone. Last month The Get Up Kids, The Revolvers, and Ultimate Fakebook show sold out to a crowd of 450 fans. Future showdates include the Punk Rock Prom on April 1 with Cretin 66, Sister Mary Rotten Crotch, Seven Shot Screamers, Mi6, and Kelley's Heroes. For a current list of upcoming shows, visit the El Torreon web site at http://www.eltorreon.com/
Bands wishing to play at El Torreon should mail their music and promotional materials to the address below and then follow up with Brian Saunders at 816.419.7278 or booking@eltorreon.com. El TorreonEl Torreon is located on the the southwest corner of Gillham and 31st Street. Parking is available by the entrance on the north side of the building.
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The building is currently owned by the Haddad Restaurant Group, which owns local eating establishments such as The Fedora, Waids, and Winsteads. Abraham Haddad bought the building 4 years ago to use as a storage facility for his restaurant equipment. With room to spare, Abraham decided to rent out practice space on the first floor to musicians. Abraham also rented out parts of the building to other individuals, including Brian Saunders, who needed a place to repair his scooters.
