Just before the weekend, I detailed my experience with missing Vulgar Fashion’s aborted set at The Dram last Thursday evening. In the piece, I mentioned that I had sent a message to the Dram’s Facebook page about the episode.
The next day I received a very gracious email from Dram owner Tommy DeAlano regarding Thursday’s show. In it, DeAlano takes responsibility for what he refers to as a “mixup in booking.” He then goes on to explain the respective musical pedigrees of not only himself, but also his business partners, specifically Chris Donohoe.
DeAlano also compliments Vulgar Fashion for their handling of the situation, and mentions that perhaps the Dram will be a little more cautious in the future when selecting entertainment:
We are now working more closely with our agent to book acts that fit the vibe that we are trying to create in our venue. We truly respect Vulgar Fashion’s artistry and appreciate their professionalism in this unusual circumstance. We plan on developing our live music footprint so please stay tuned for more upcoming events.
Hopefully, they won’t be too careful in the future, and I’m looking forward to see who might play here over the summer. As for now, I’ll have to settle for a half-price Aviation and reminisce about the time that I almost saw Vulgar Fashion almost play at the Dram. I think these are important cultural learning experiences taking place all over town right now. As artists figure out just where their place is, Dallas is also deciding what kind of city it wants to be.
Here’s the email in full:
Hello Chris –
Thanks for your coverage and support of The Dram!
There was a mixup in booking on Thursday night which was completely our fault. We paid the band in full because we would never ask them to compromise their art to fit our expectations or setting. My partners and I at the Dram have all been involved in the music industry for most of our careers. For example, Chris Donohoe has a UK based record label deal and a US release with his producer John Congleton of the pAper chAse and for many years with Hard Rock Cafe, I produced shows featuring local to international artists. We are now working more closely with our agent to book acts that fit the vibe that we are trying to create in our venue. We truly respect Vulgar Fashion’s artistry and appreciate their professionalism in this unusual circumstance. We plan on developing our live music footprint so please stay tuned for more upcoming events. Again, Thank You for your support!
Best Regards,
Tommy DeAlano ~ owner
