My first visit to the High Five Bar and Grill occurs on January 15 2000, when an all-star lineup performs AC/DC cover songs all night, as part of this “Bon-A-Thon” charity event. Among these were many friends of mine, including the characters pictured above, in their recently reformed version of Bedlam. Left to right this translates as Alan Kline (drums), Brian Randolph (vocals), Paul Radick (rhythm guitar), Paul Linville (bass), and Damon Privette (lead guitar). Meeting at my apartment prior to the show, I was able to snap a few publicity photos of them, such as this one.
Unfortunately, we only decided to break the camera out after they went through this costume wearing routine. Breaking out a bunch of random gear found in various corners of this place, Linville had on this crazy cape and purple, medieval looking vest with a matching black hat, skull and crossbones hatband. Alan throws on this business shirt, tie, and dress slacks ensemble left over from my banking days, whereas Brian takes his actual shirt off (in a foreshadowing of future, semi-controversial events) to walk around in a trench coat instead. Damon, meanwhile, brings his own crazy getup, of the very rock star-esque leather pants, but also this shiny shirt that looks red when viewed from one angle, black from another. Radick alone takes the sensible route in wearing his normal street clothes. Nonetheless, just prior to picture time, and long before the show, nearly everyone reverts back to form – Alan alone wears his borrowed costume out to the club.
I actually covered this “Bon-A-Thon” event for a short-lived Mansfield monthly, a black and white local music mag, and still have a copy somewhere. Until I stumble upon that article, though, and can crib some of that material, these notes will have to suffice. Let me say that finding out anything online about the High Five, which bit the dust in 2008, has proven extremely difficult. As always, if anyone has any info or any other hotline tips to submit, these would be most appreciated. Until then there’s my skeletal commentary here to tide you over.
To my knowledge, Bedlam have only played Columbus on one other occasion, a weekend back in January of ’96. Their stance has always been a valid one, paradoxical though it may seem: Columbus bands make far less money from the door than they would in other, smaller towns, like the ones in the Mansfield region to the north. At that time (mid 90s – early 00s) it was not unheard of for a very good band, of which they are one, to pull in at least $300 a night playing various bars around those towns. I know of at least one popular metal outfit who was making $600-$900 per outing, in podunk places like Shelby. The problem with a scene like Columbus is not just one of competition, but also a heavily ingrained culture, decades in the making. It’s common practice around here to have 3-4 bands splitting a bill, and fighting for the door. As such you would have to draw 3-4 times as many people just to bring home the same loot. Assuming you were playing for the door at all, and weren’t just being paid in skunky draft beer or something.
Whatever the case, this is for a good cause, they are mostly all AC/DC fanatics, and it promises to be a great time. There’s also the opportunity for networking and promotion, not to mention reestablishing themselves in light of one other important fact: this is the first Bedlam show in about 3 1/2 years. They actually broke up in late ’96. As such, this is not only their initial trial run since reforming, but Brian Randolph’s debut with the group. In fact, as Privette and Linville were splitting vocal duties before, this is their first attempt at having a dedicated frontman, period.
After shooting these photos, we head out in two vehicles, which translates as Kline and Linville riding with me, the other three in Radick’s car. They’re following us most of the way, although we manage to lose them somewhere along High Street, just south of campus. Though driving around a bit, looking for them, we finally park, figuring they’ll find their way somehow or another. We order a couple of pizzas from the Papa John’s down the street, then stand around outside in hopes of spotting the others. At last, they appear, walking up to us from the south on High Street. Turns out Radick had hit a pothole which somehow managed to screw up his power steering, and now the car is parked blocks away while he tries to figure out what to do.
So while Alan goes to grab the pizzas, the rest of us have no choice but to retreat to Radick’s car instead, pitch in to retrieve the rest of the equipment. Well, everyone but Brian, who insists he must remain indoors to “protect his voice.” En route, Radick’s on the phone with his dad, getting advice about the car predicament.
Back at the bar, the crowd is small at first but fills up quickly, despite a somewhat steep at the time $5 cover. Our buddy Travis Tyo shows up, though he’s not playing with own band Superstar Rookie tonight. Instead, he’s joining forces with Dan Focht of Salthorse and some other local cats. As far as friends in the crowd, Damon’s sister makes it here with one of her chick friends, Radick’s sister with a couple of her own. The ever present Sean Gardner’s wandering the premises, although I don’t recall him playing with anyone this evening. Also, in another unexpected twist, we bump into former classmate Jason Woods, despite only spotting him I think one other time in three years of living here.
As far as what’s happening on the stage, two middle-aged guys on acoustics play first. Though the purists might think this is horseshit, I kind of like the distinct spins everyone is putting on these old AC/DC chestnuts. Following them is an outfit calling itself Servants of Evel (as in Knievel), which features a redhead chick singer in a red, white and blue bikini top. After their set, I’m “interviewing” the singer for my own goofy ass purposes. She says her outfit was designed after Evel’s motorcycle logo, but of course I could have already guessed that.
Other than this, I break off from our crew for a little while and dance with some hot girl named Nicole, meet some other lady in furs. In between this, I’m getting caught up in some tiny Bedlam related drama. Brian is dealing with a case of the nerves, wants to read off lyric sheets while singing, as in literally stand there holding sheets of paper at the microphone. I’m guessing teleprompters are out of the question here. The other guys are bitching to me about it, Linville especially, but nobody has told Randolph point blank that this is out of the question. I finally decide to tactfully approach Brian, despite not having any actual dog in this fight, and tell him that he doesn’t need the lyric sheets, because nobody pays attention to the words anyway.
And yet he takes these pieces of paper up with him regardless. But it doesn’t really matter, as Bedlam go over extremely well, playing a five song set of the classics: Big Gun, Gone Shootin’ and Shot Down In Flames I know for certain, as well as two others. The only blemish proves to be Randolph’s doing, although this particular development blindsides everyone, has nothing to do with the lyric sheets: at some point in their set, he whips off his black tank top, and is standing there shirtless. As in, he thinks that the chicks will be impressed by his wicked buff bod or something. I am hanging out near the stage when this happens and witness the whole thing. Kline and Linville tell him straight up that if he ever does this again, he will be immediately fired.
They have a point, considering that I actually hear girls in my vicinity groan when this transpires. But, I don’t know, it sure seems like certain personality types are drawn to certain roles within a band, and this is what you’re signing up for if you decide to take on a front man. From a performance standpoint he can certainly deliver the goods, except, well…you might have to endure some cheesy moments, such as this. I still think it’s a mostly worthwhile tradeoff.
As soon as their set ends, I make a bee line for the bar, and bump into Jason Woods yet again. We’re leaning against the bar, with our backs to the stage, chatting about our current jobs, when the announcer guy congratulates Bedlam from the stage. At which point Woods just about chokes on his drink, at the shock value in hearing that name. He has talked to the guys a little bit here, of course, but apparently didn’t realize that they were still going by Bedlam, as they were clear back in the early high school days, nearly a decade ago.
“Are they still using that name?” he marvels, though that is obviously the case.
In other developments, there’s this Arty guy who is connected to High 5 in some capacity, playing bass for Pat Dull & His Media Whores. He’s wearing this very shiny outfit and they go over extremely well, in fact I would say they are the crowd favorite. Travis and his thrown together crew play a killer set, too. They all wore plain white tee shirts here, because the original plan was to spit fake blood during their set; that plan was eventually scrapped, and yet the tee shirt look prevailed anyway.
Melissa and her sidekick are bored to tears at this point, announce they’re heading out. But Shelly and her very attractive friends are having a great time, in fact they are talking about partying with us at my pad afterwards. So Damon and I spring for a bunch of carryout beer. Even Radick, who has pounded a few ales and is pumped up about their seamless return to form, is in buoyant spirits, says fuck the car, he’ll worry about that tomorrow. We’re trying to talk Travis into riding out to my apartment, too, but he explains he lives in Grandview and isn’t about to drive that far tonight.
Then, after we’ve already bought the damn beer, the girls back out and leave. This means that the six of us, their equipment, and the carryout beverages must all fit in my Geo Storm, as we drive halfway across town. Somehow, we just barely manage to pull this off.
Okay, so that’s all I have at the moment on the High 5. Over the years to follow, however, I will attend countless other shows here, which I hope to transcribe in the near future. In the meantime, all I can tell you is that this place was sold in late 2008 to a few guys around town, including the owners of Skully’s and somebody from Ravari Room. They began remodeling the interior, but only got around to formally rebranding it as Circus in early 2009. So there’s that, and there’s also this mighty incomplete events calendar, which is all I’ve been able to cobble together thus far:
Year 2000 Events Calendar:
January 14: New Bomb Turks
February 1: Plague Daddy, which is some kind of free techno show
February 3: Pfifer, The Marbles, Mr. Earl
February 5: Gossamer, Low Sunday, Monster in Your Closet
February 7: Spoken Word Night. Either that or this is the name of a band – which, come to think of it, wouldn’t be a bad marketing strategy.
February 8: Plague Daddy techno again
February 10: Superstar Rookie, 84 Nash, Pat Dull and the Media Whores. I attend this show but must admit to not remembering many specifics.
February 11: Templeton, Prospect, and Silo The Huskie
February 12: Anger Nation and Crush Effect
February 14: At least some people theoretically spent Valentine’s at High 5, where Tixeon DJ is plying his wares.
February 18: Combine, Sporadic Still, God Thought
February 19: The Mendalsonics, The Sovines, and The Wahoos
February 21: Tixeon DJ again.
February 22: Plague Daddy again.
February 23: The Vague and Mr. Earl
February 25: Gigolo Skills and Miranda Sound
February 26: Dubok vs. Evolution Control Committee, whatever this is.
March 9: Superstar Rookie, May/June, Pat Dull & his Media Whores
March 10: Templeton, Beta Roric, Rancid Yak Butter Tea Party
March 30: Green Sky Grey, Season’s End, Turnbull
March 31: Jive Turkeys, Jack Neat, Lylo
April 21 – The Breakdown
May 9: Furnace St. and Chew’s Eye Shop
August 5: Ronnie Dawson
Year 2001 Events Calendar
January 14 – New Bomb Turks, Cult of the Psychic Fetus
March 3 – Owen Grey, The Stapletons
March 4 – Punk Rock Matinee beginning at 6pm. Features Nothing to Lose, Innocence Lost, The Creeps and more
March 5 – Man Planet, Hex on Wheels, Neverwhere, Japanic
March 6 – Punchy, Trapper John
March 7 In Motion w/ DJ Eric D, Rotating E.D. Prodagy, Noah Nine
March 8 – The Urban Funk Ordinance, HeeVahAva, Amara
March 9 – The Flux featuring members of Gunga Din, Gil Mantra Party Dream, Jack Diesel
March 10 – Silver Star, Phantom 13, Something Said
March 11 – another Punk Rock Matinee. This one features Jessie & the Rippers, Little Orphan Anarchey (sic), The Brute AFO, 5 Foot Nothing
March 12 – Cee Knowledge & The Cosmic Funk Orchestra (tentative)
March 13 – Pop Sound Lounge
March 14 – Jeremia Grotto, The Husher
March 15 – Basrtard Squad, Hex on Wheels
March 16 – Jessie & the Rippers, Criminal Authority
March 17 – The White Outs, Bob City, A Planet For Texas
March 18 – Punk Rock Matinee again. This time it’s Rancid Yak Butter Tea Party, Half Barrel, 12oz Rebels
March 20 – Pop Sound Lounge
March 21 – Leveled, Diluted
March 23 – Doors-A-Thon for the Open Shelter
March 24 The Cusacks (plus unnamed support act(s))
March 25 – Punk Rock Matinee. Face Down, Burning Dawn, The Creeps, Innocence Lost
March 27 – Pop Sound Lounge
March 28 – In Motion w/ DJ Eric D
March 29 – Mercy Township and unnamed support act(s)
March 30 – Pat Dull & Media Whores (tentative)
March 31 – Ohio Punk From 2001 (part 1). Starts at 5pm and is an all day showcase. Innocence Lost, 12oz Rebels, Time has Come, The Creeps, Lazy American Workers, Blatant Finger, LegBone, ScallyWagon, 2% Talent, The Echoes, The Throbs, In Common, The Hitchcocks, Jerkwater Jive, Ska Blue plus Food, Drink, Videos, DJ.
October 11 – One Drop, Trailer Park Ninjas
October 14 – 5 Hand Gang, Speed Devils
October 15 – karaoke
October 16 – DJ Kinkey Doll, DJ Kahkai
October 25 – Lowdown, Unlearned, Soma, High More Body
October 26 – Urn, Gossimer, Josh Roxxx
October 27 – Trailer Park Ninjas Halloween Party
October 28 – 60 Watt Jackass, Crooked Country, Two Cow Garage, Full Custom Time Bombs (or is it Full-Custom Tim, and F Bombs?), Ukelele Man. Different ads list slightly different lineups, though, so it’s possible some of these acts didn’t play.
October 29 – karaoke
October 31 – Separation of Terms, More Plastic
November 2 – Cringe CD release after party. They are also judging and announcing winners for a new logo contest. According to one ad, the owner’s predelections are “jack of hearts, guitar, guns, voluptuous women.” Local musicians, artists, media, and owner comprise the judging panel. I’m not sure how it turned out, although hopefully it solved the High Five/High 5 disparity – they usually display their name as High 5, but events calendars usually list them as High Five. I like the way High Five looks better personally, but I understand the thinking behind the other, official name, considering this is near the corner of High and 5th.
I guess I forget that they actually served food at this place. Then again wasn’t this a late night destination for such? Like people would go here late for 3am breakfast? In late 2008 Skully (Skully’s) and Mike (Ravari Room) owners purchased the place. It was remodeled and renamed, possibly to Circus. The kitchen had closed by this point.
