Drake Students Seeking Subculture Asylum Find Safari

by Tiffany Pfeiffer

Des Moines, Iowa (Jan. 27, 1997)-- Ahh... The familiar stench of guitar banging sweat so close you can almost taste it. At long last, the buzzing of soul-powered bass, vibrating throughout your ear canals. You didn't think it would happen, at moments it looked rather dismal, but somehow you finally managed to find a little slice of subculture in this strange "city" called Des Moines. And just as you're about to settle down for the evening with a nice, hard-core expression of musical angst, a bouncer taps you on the shoulder.

"You look a little young kid. I need to see some I.D."

Young, "show-junkie" Drake students from cities all over the country have tried to accept the lack of concerts in Des Moines due to a city ordinance that prohibits all-age shows to last beyond 9 p.m. But new ownership at the Safari nightclub, only two blocks east of Drake campus, has decided to revamp its format in the interest of those who love music, 21 or not.

"I'm lucky that when I first got to Des Moines I was 21; it's a hard city to live in otherwise. Those were some of the best years of my life," said Shawn Crahan, new owner of Safari nightclub. "I've seen a lot of kids get turned down, but they love the music as much as anyone; music is a form of release in life. I'm going to take all the steps I can to make sure they're a part of things, legally."

Crahan plans to negotiate the possibility of all-ageshows combined with 21 and over, if identification is checked and bracelets are distributed at the door.

"Our long-term goal is to make the Safari open seven nights a week with music every night. We'd mainly have all-age shows from 6-9 p.m.and open the bar afterwards, but I'd like to have them run later with bracelets for those who are 21 to buy drinks," Crahan said. "I'm trying to take the necessary steps with the city, but it's going to take a while to get things working that way.

Besides making all-age shows a priority, Crahan also plans changes in the types of bands booked and in Safari's atmosphere overall.

"We're definitely open to all venues of music and plan to get some larger acts in here. Plus, we really want to give the whole bar a facelift," Crahan said. "I'm really into art, so we'll have some paintings and huge mural for the back wall . I want to bring in food like deli-sandwiches and get some Oriental rugs and vintage furniture to make it more of a social gathering place."

Drake sophomore Patrick Stura, member of local band "Dr. Castrato" who helps book bands at the Safari, said the new format should draw more of a Drake crowd to the club and make a big impact on the emerging Des Moines music scene.

"I think the Safari wants to win back the Drake audience through an all-age format. It could become a big competitor with the Library, West End and Peggy's, the difference being that they're a place for music and you don't necessarily need an I.D. to go there," Stura said. "Des Moines' music scene is blossoming. Last year at this time it was pretty much dead, but local bands have grown and Safari's a big part of that. Now, they book better bands and the goals of the new owner are more realistic."

As someone who used to go to the Safari "every Tuesday and Sunday night," junior Julie Schnebly said the new format will be a welcomed change to the kind of "dull" atmosphere Safari has taken on in the past year.

"As freshmen, we would go to the Safari every Tuesday for ladies night and the DJ, and Sunday for the all-age shows. They used to have big bands like 'Dada' and we'd play pool, jump up on the stage, or just hang-out. Sometimes we were almost the only ones there, but it was fun to see all the high school freaks every once in a while," Schnebly said. "It seems like they don't care or don't try as hard now to get Drake students there. If they're planning to change the atmosphere a little, advertise and get a bigger variety of bands, I think they have potential to make a big comeback."

Both Crahan and Stura agreed that through more advertising and a larger variety of bands big and small, the Safari will help Des Moines make its mark on the Midwest music scene within the next year or so.

"I'm basically going to be there to do the things Safari needs to do, but can't. There'll be a lot more flyers and advertising; people will be aware of the cool changes that are going on," Stura said.

Crahan has nothing but optimism for the future.

"I have no doubt that the local scene is hot right now. There are a lot of talented bands out there and we'll be there to give them the exposure they need. Within the next two years, Des Moines will be on the map."

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