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Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Discussion pertaining to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Big Rapids, and Michiana
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Art Van Damme
Posts: 133
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 1:55 pm
Location: Hamtramck

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by Art Van Damme »

Wow! Thanks for the info, MW.

I go a little further back to the Club Eastbrook days. Saw a lot of oldies groups there in the early 90s: Mitch Ryder, Three Dog Night, and others. I recall Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gin Blossoms playing there, too. Eastbrook Mall was an also-ran back then. Can’t believe it’s still standing.

Is Sayfee’s (or the building) still around? They used to have good Manhattans.

Happy New Year
Deleted User 4520

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by Deleted User 4520 »

Wow, that is sad news. I never had the chance to go there. Had some decent rock acts.
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zackeast
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:46 pm
Location: Work in Benton Harbor / Live in Grand Rapids

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by zackeast »

Henry Rollins about 5 years ago. Completely packed room.
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grsportsguy
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:47 pm

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by grsportsguy »

Off the top of my head, Kings X, Extreme and Cheap Trick. It was a decent venue at one time.
A1B1C1D1
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:21 pm

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by A1B1C1D1 »

Village Inn (laser disc karaoke), Mr. Fables...
bugzapper
Posts: 75
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:55 pm
Location: Hopkins, MI

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by bugzapper »

A1B1C1D1 wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 1:20 am Village Inn (laser disc karaoke), Mr. Fables...
Big Boys. The only one that I know of that served alcohol and had live jazz.
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tc
Posts: 114
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 3:57 pm

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by tc »

Orbit Room also hosted KLQ's "Aris's Hometown Rock Music Search" back in the '90's as well.

I saw a lot of artists/bands there through the years; April Wine, Tragically Hip, Brother Cane, Megadeth, Saliva, Tesla, Dokken, Mr. Big, Jackyl, Jeff Healey band, Badfinger, Frank Marino, Jesus & Mary Chain, The Cult, White Zombie, Sass Jordan, Chevelle, to name a few.
Windchill
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2018 1:43 pm

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by Windchill »

I remember seeing REO Speedwagon there, perhaps in the early to mid 90's.

Sayfee's the restaurant is no more, but the building is occupied by a consignment furniture outlet.
krafty
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:02 am

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by krafty »

First show there was Megadeth/Testament in 1990ish. I saw Ministry, White Zombie, Slayer, Extreme, KMFDM, The Misfits, Ghost and a whole bunch of other shows there. The HVAC was always iffy - always muggy as hell in there. I think Ghost was the last show I saw there, about 3 years ago?

Don was the best, but yeah, it's gone way downhill over the past 10 or so years especially.
Hombre Grande
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:15 am

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by Hombre Grande »

While the closing may be news-worthy I'm curious what does this have to do with broadcasting in West Michigan? Granted it does quote a story from Channel 8 that seems to be the only tie-in.
Trophyhead
Posts: 446
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:36 am

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by Trophyhead »

Which way to go here...May as well first offer a thought to the question, "Orbit Room closure, what does it have to do with broadcasting?"

Considering the number of regional to national acts that performed in the Orbit Room/Club Eastbrook over the years, which were the focus of promotion for area radio stations, I would say that the facilities' demise is very reasonable subject matter.

The only act I ever saw at Club Eastbrook was the Indigo Girls, got on their guest list through my sister-in-law's acquaintance with them. Met the ladies backstage after the show, this apparently was in 1993 or '94. Googling the event for an accurate report is a bit sketchy.
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SteveL
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:18 pm

Re: Looks like the Orbit Room is finally toast; share your memories here!

Unread post by SteveL »

Back in my days at LAV we had the Black Crowes come to town for the first time and I remember the tickets were only $8 - great show! Also, in our brief run of "new music" we had the Rollins Band there around '91 and that was a standout for me.
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