Why can't they keep hosting shows, even if they're featuring DJs? I don't see why it has to be either/or?

The Rechers have been great for Towson, but this is a step in the wrong direction. The riot outside of that theater in September should be a warning sign that a nightclub does not serve the needs of our greater community.

This story would benefit from more depth in its reporting. Where do our public officials stand on this? What is the reaction from local residents? Business owners? What is the plan for policing this kind of club in Towson, where authorities already seem to be overrun by drunken revelers on weekend nights? Where does this fit into Towson's long-term plan for growth?

Please consider expanding on this story.

This is not great news for the Towson area. As a concert venue, the Recher drew a somewhat more mature crowd, depending on the band, with only one recent exception. They would also have some occasional concerts with some older bands from the 70s and 80s that you don't see often around here. The crowd they are going after with this change will be younger and more prone to problems, similar to the crowd at "B Lounge" on Pennsylvania Ave. Mark my words.

Oh, the comments on this ought to be good! I've noticed in recent years the number of acts that I recognized at the Recher was few and far between. It was obscure bands/artists. Who is going to be the first (well, second person) to mention the riot and how every night is going to be another riot...

Can you change the title to say "instead" please?

I don't understand, the Torrent Lounge already is built. How are they replacing the Theatre with a bar that already exists?

You are a douchebag JP

Sadly, the beginning of the deterioration of Towson.

Hand it over to wtmd! Let them manage the venue!

Come say goodbye on March 15th with Lucy Paranormal and Bosley!

It looks like history is repeating itself...remember the club "generation xtremes"? After it attracted the wrong population (see bus map) there were stabbings and general misconduct. I believe it was shut down after multiple incidents. What the Rechers don't realize is there is a balance. Towson stays relatively safe at night because there are no full fledged nightclubs or dance clubs to attract crowds outside of the university. Once you open the floodgates it goes down hill quick.

That's too bad. I've never been to the Recher but I know it was a venue for local and even some national talent.

Sad to see The Recher close .March 30 will be the last "Rock The Recher" live show with Tall In The Saddle in support of "The Nikki Perlow Foundation"

A BAD move for the Recher's, for Towson, and for LIVE Music. It was a good run, but it could have been a GREAT run! For a few short months the MNSC (Monday Night Social Club) pulled local talent and started to build a real following. A nightclub for College students in the heart of Towson? What in the world can these people be thinking?

Nayana, actually it was not correct in the title. To be correct it would have had to be "in its stead." But your correction works, And you can delete this comment. :)

Sad. I went to my first shows here when I was in high school to see a bunch of local bands. I just feel a night club will cause more trouble than anything. This is a sad day in music venue history.

From what I can tell CVP has been taking a lot of their business since re-opening and has a much larger dance/DJ scene. Unfortunately the concert goers don't spend a lot of money on alcohol as a lot of their concerts cater to under 21 crowds. Meanwhile CVP has a packed house of people looking to get drunk and dance.

Aren't business owners allowed to maximize their profits? Or should they suffer losses in order to provide some sort of public service?

I don't see this as a problem. The Rechers know that business in the entertainment world is changing. They will be using classier dj's that will impose higher cover charges than places like b-lounge or gen-x. Before you guys go off ranting, you should research clubs in DC that cater to a higher clientele and don't have the problems that you think the Rechers will have.

I want one of the "Recher Theatre" signs! It's one iconic piece of Baltimore music history.

Nnnoooo!!!! This is the saddest thing EVER! I partied my ass off here. I hooked up with Rockstars. I hung out and met bands. This was and is my favorite concert venue. Framing Hanley, Fuel, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, 12 Stones, Jeffree Star, Brokencyde, the list could go on forever...

Perhaps if they had done some marketing they would have done better.

if you want to sign a petition to try and save the Recher Theatre, go here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/485/830/090/save-the-recher-theatre/ maybe if they see the impact it's having on people, they'll change their minds

I lived two blocks behind the Recher for 18 years and attended more shows than I can remember. During this time Generation Xtremes was in operation. For those who don't know, it was an under 21 dance club where the Green Turtle is now. I can't tell you the number of times there were fights and stabbings and gun shots because of this under 21 club. It was eventually shut down for this very reason. I clearly remember the crowds in front of the Commons at closing time waiting on the 8 to go down York. Not to say the only people attending were from the city but many were. I can only imagine after seeing what an under age club did to Towson what a 21 plus would do. Granted this is back when Towson was still young families and not a college town. I'm glad I moved to Lutherville.

They couldn't get big name bands here all the time like 9:30 Club. Anyway.

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3szdwg/

I've sent Nayana a statement, but I learned of this today from reading the Patch, which is disappointing in itself. People have every right to be apprehensive about a nightclub in Downtown Towson, given the history of nightclubs in this area. Ten years ago, the Generation Xtremes Under 21 Dance Club dumped hundreds of kids onto the streets of Downtown Towson. Residents compared it to a riot zone. I won't tolerate that and will do everything in my power to set higher standards for Downtown Towson.

In the short term, I look forward to learning about how the management of the Recher Theatre will deal with issues such as outdoor loitering and public safety. Over the long term, I have been repeatedly said that we need more police officers in Downtown Towson. If the county won't provide police, then it's even more urgent that we create a Business Improvement District to supplement existing security. I have a committee exploring options, and want to speed up that process.

I'm not going to get into a dialogue here. Please know that I will work on this.

Reply

This is an outrage. I can personally say that I am 27 years old, and grew up going to venues at The Recher...... I can also say that the crowd and stigma associated with the scene that will be employed is NOT a healthy choice for the surrounding communities. Not to mention that alot of the local music and music otherwise will be missed out on by anticipating locals...... In clubs of this sort that is proposed,mob mentality always takes over, and this is a dangerous thing. Towson is already on the rise as far as crime and disruption is concerned, and this change will only make the current, already significant problem exponentially worse.

So tell me this! when and if This club Torrent fails due to no one attending what will they do bring the Recher back, i just don't see the club idea drawing a huge crowd! i think they should sell the venue and bring a Fillmore in there like Fillmore silverspring! and call if Fillmore Towson!

Towson does not need a night club it needs a great music venue that will draw big bands and a decent crowd! They need to spend more money to bring in bigger acts that people will go see! i know Wiz Khalifa would never play there but acts like fun or or the lumineers or even mumford and sons and if it take selling the venue to someone with more money and power to bring these acts in, so be it.

A comment by user PerryHall18 was removed.

Speaking as a musician who has played over 8 shows (with two different bands) at the Recher, I am not surprised about the change. I know several musicians who after not being treated well by Recher management / music bookers would refuse to play another show there. In each of my experiences it was always made quite clear that the band was there to draw a crowd and keep them there to buy beer. I understand this is the business model of any music club but every other place I played did a much better job of making the bands comfortable, making sure the sound was good, and caring enough to put similar acts on the same bill to suit the tastes of the intended audience. The Recher would also charge extraordinary "production fees" to local bands (I played there in a national act but also in a lesser known local group) so there was very little cultivation or care at all to support and help local artists grow. Other local venues I know would actually LISTEN to local bands and even if they didn't draw their first show - if management liked what they heard they would give you a chance to come back. And what do you know, those venues are still doing just fine.... Recher on the other hand made it quite clear that they did not care at all about the 'art' of the music. Cash was king and that was it. But this is what to me always made the Recher feel like there wasn't much soul to the place, even as a patron watching other performers. I hope that with Torrent they can make a positive change.

This is an absolute Rech!!

Sullivan and Patterson you are so right! AB you are smart young man and so right as well. I thought the Rechers had the best interest of Towson in mind but obviously not. This will be a disaster. Mr Marks please do what you can.

Ill say this plainly if you take another venue for music that's somewhat like sonar, then the local scene will die. You put in another night club up and watch towson turn ghetto. I highly advise this is a bad decison towson deosnt need another nightclub. There will be less safety and more riots. Trust me if kids wanted to smoke and drink and fight they will espically in towson I know a couple. They left the recher alone its was kinda a haven. So with this since soundsatge was a bust only have ottobar and rams head for shows, unless the unknown ones rise up now. But I doubt there will be one big enough to host shows. So thank you for helping the already decline of the baltimore music or what's left of it. No more of seeing those wonderful obscere bands that are worth watching and enjoy watching preppy kids who wanna black, act like sluts and drink underage and smoke and pop pills. That is your furture I hope you enjoy that money you make, the money that strugling musician should have. The people who attended those show most of them were mature people who were smart enough not to dumb until they left. To end my rant I hope the owners enjoy this because you have just killed many people havens, I hope you choke on money you make or at least make a venue as good a the one you just destroyed. P.S let what happen to sonar happen to you enjoy being caught with drinking fines, because that's the crowd you atract now.

I just wanna say to those claiming big acts never played Recher you are wrong. Good Charlotte, Fuel, Linkin Park, Papa Roach, The Used, Finch, Dashboard Confessional, Flaming Lips, Alkaline Trio, Judas Priest, Slayer, Something Corporate, Jimmy Eat World, Thrice, Straylight Run, HedPe, Tantric, ICP and Boondox and Twiztid, Kittie, Third Eye Blind, FREAKING IGGY POP, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Imogene Heap, MC Chris, Fun. (As one commenter stated would never play), Anti Flag, Catch 22, Cheap Trick, Danzig and I could go on. All these bands played in their hay days. Ill assume you're all too young to have been at any of these shows. Oh Iggy Pop, ill never forget my teenage self fighting for front row and grabbing at your guitar as you held it out to fans...

And yeah my brothers band played here a few times and to say they were treated well would be an over statement. He was in a high school band, kids living their dream of being pop stars, and they were all but bullied into selling enough tickets.

Anyway the staff may suck at times, hello sound guy, but it will be missed.

I live across the parking lot (soon to be Towson Square) from the patio at the Rechter. The boom-boom of the bass has been really loud lately. At times it sounds like someone hammering on my walls. When it wakes me up I tell myself it will stop at about 1:45. They have been really inconsiderate of their neighbors. If it keeps up I will be filing noise complaints and following up with a petition. I love music and don't mind hearing that in my condo unit, but the loud bass and DJ have to tone it down.

Melissa,

On the reggae front, you left out Toots and the Maytals. Also the bouncer staff was like a freakin' goon squad. When I saw Toots there about 10 years ago, you were allowed to smoke cigs in the place. Every time I lit up a cigarette, some 23 year old meat head would be up in my face asking me what I was smoking.

Are both the Recher Theatre AND Rec Room closing? Or just the Theatre portion?

Night Club?? Are you kidding? Get ready for underage drinking. Fights, stabbings, shootings!!!! You thought the recent unrest was bad. LOL. Bye Bye Towson.

JP - I didn't forget All Time Low I went to high school with three of em and have been trying unsuccessfully to forget them for years. Very talented at what they do. Credit where its due.

I also had intended to mention, but it was 5am, that it had been a long time since these bands had played. I remember on several occasions driving by the marquee and wondering out loud why there were never names I knew anymore.

Dave - yeah they weren't exactly kind to patrons. A few friends of mine have gotten into it with them over the years. And yeah I remember Toots playing! And one of the Marley boys, I wanna say Damien?

They had good comedians back then too. But with Magoobys just up the street now, that won't happen. And to offer comparison, my brother also did an open mic stand up at Magoobys and wads treated wonderfully! He said even the guys who bombed got encouraged by the staff to come back when they were ready. Plus when my mother told the hostess wed come to see file, were escorted to a front row seat. The owner Andrew is just all around awesome. Not to mention I joined the mailing list and now I get 20 free tickets every year on my birthday. Plus the free ticket giveaways every week on their facebook. Don't see Recher doing that.

Oh btw, big name bands used to come through and play two or three nights in a row. Fans always preferred this because you could get so close. Never a bad "seat". Once apon a time those tables in the back had stools.

I saw the Nevilles there and the North Mississippi All Stars.

Maybe the Recher needs new ownership! Owners who are not money hungry and have a love for music!

Business owners should be able to do what they want. If the county permits them to change venue then so be it. Then it's not the Rechter blame its then the County.
As far as the venue change the owners are not greedy it's the responsibility of business owners to reinvent to stay afloat.
As far as future problems that result at times from a nightclub business, like fights, DWI, loud music, disturbing peace, ect.it will be the responsibility of the Police, liquor board, patrons, and the County Government to keep the business in compliance with the law.
If the business does not comply like: example Dock of the Bay in Millers Island then the powers to be must do what they do to implement compliance.
The community cannot dictate what business owners do if Baltimore County government permits venue change.
Towson is not exempt from unwanted venues in their community as Dundalk receives school closings, relocation of Police Precincts, homeless shelters, recoverring men homes directly in residences within the community, methadone distribution centers in a community house, ect...
May all communities prosper....

When redoing the patio, I hope they take into consideration the two residential highrises directly across the parking lot. I wish them success but we will be watching and listening. They have a right to make a profit, we have a right to peace and quiet at night.

I know Recher's acts haven't been as big as the past, but I have a lot of memories at this place, such a good location, too. This "club" scene is only going to bring trouble. I hope they have all the ambulances ready for all the drug intoxication that will follow, hope it's worth the dollar.

The venue is not profitable. But I don't think a nightclub is the answer. I think they should have kept it a concert venue and hired a more qualified booking agent.