Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Music

Media Credit: Andrea Harrell The Underground booking agent, Aaron Kastning booked large upcoming acts such as Shooter Jennings, Mason Jennings and Blind Melon.

Media Credit: Andrea Harrell Aaron Kastning, the booking agent for The Underground in Mankato, is hoping the bar will attract a new crowd to the 18-plus and alcohol-free shows Thursday nights.

After a long, empty summer, students are returning to Mankato, which means the downtown scene will soon begin to pick up as well.

The Underground Bar booking agent and promoter, Aaron Kastning, is hoping Thursday nights will bring out a younger crowd.

Starting this Friday and Saturday, The Underground will offer a variety of 18-plus and alcohol-free concerts featuring live bands. After this weekend, 18-plus shows will take place Thursday nights.

"We're going to try it out for probably a month and see how it goes and if we get a good draw, then I think it's definitely something we're going to keep in the works," Kastning said.

Prior to planning anything, Kastning and The Underground owner Chris Rugowski discussed the event with the High Risk Drinking Coalition.

Wendy Schuh, assistant director of Student Health Services and chair of the coalition said, "This is an event any bar can do legally and I am happy The Underground has taken the steps to meet with other key players."

The coalition is made of various constituents including representatives from the city, the Mankato Deptartment of Public Safety, area school systems, Minnesota State and other local colleges, citizens, businesses and groups.

Kastning said after their meeting with the coalition he realized everyone was completely supportive of the 18-plus shows. He was surprised to find out the police were perhaps the most supportive of the groups.

On the night of the shows, Mankato Public Safety officers will pay special attention to underage people trying to get into bars that serve alcohol, Schuh said.

The Underground will feature the band Pretty Lights from Boulder, Co. at its first 18-plus event. Making an exception to its Thursday night plans, Pretty Lights will play two 18-plus shows Friday and Saturday. The next 18-plus show will feature U-MELT and Roster McCabe on Sept. 4.

Like these shows, live music at The Underground is a relatively new thing for the bar.

"[The bar] just started doing live music this summer and we got a huge reaction, for the most part, and now we are booking national acts," Kastning said.

Despite being a small venue with minimal space, The Underground has been able to book large acts, including Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings' son who will play tonight, although it's not an 18-plus concert.

Mason Jennings, who recently signed onto Jack Johnson's label, will play on Sept. 18. Many people are looking forward to Blind Melon making its appearance on Sept. 27.

Kastning said The Underground is trying to be the Fine Line Music Café of Mankato. Their idea is to give every band a chance instead of bringing in a cover band every weekend.

Regardless of whether or not the 18-plus shows prove as successful as they'd like them to be, Kastning said they plan to keep doing it in hopes it will get bigger.



Ali Ramsey is the Reporter variety editor

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