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ALTHOUGH THE CAMPAIGN IS OVER, and all of the money is being refunded, our bank was shocked by the amount of support that the Warehouse received from the music community worldwide.  Because of your support, they have given us 30-60 days to take care of some pressing bills and come up with a plan to generate more funds.  Many people who contributed to this IndieGoGo campaign have contacted us wondering how we could just keep the donations and use them.  We can't do that, however, they can be easily re-donated at our website, www.WarehouseRocks.com YOU CAN STILL CONTRIBUTE!
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Historic All Ages Venue Slated For Development

THE WAREHOUSE, after 22 years of showcasing local/regional/national bands in a no-alcohol atmosphere in La Crosse Wisconsin, is slated to be sold to developers.  This fundraising campaign is designed to help keep that from happening so that the venue will be around for several more generations of young concertgoers and bands.

By lending a hand you will ensure that local kids have an alcohol-free place to perform and hone their skills, and that local kids will get to see bands of all types and not have to drive a couple hours to the nearest big city for the same experience.  Kids can currently see shows at the Warehouse that they would ordinarily have to borrow the car and drive 2 1/2 hours to Minneapolis or Madison to see.  Young local bands also get the opportunity to perform alongside national bands, learning from watching, listening to, and talking with these touring bands.  

The Warehouse has hosted over 8000 bands and 200,000 music supporters over the past 22 years, and has been a proving ground for national bands like Everclear, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Mudvayne, Static-X, Mayday Parade, Letlive, Motion City Soundtrack, POS, Mod Sun, Mac Lethal, Volumes, Born of Osiris, Brand New, and also been home to legendary performances by Descendents, Melvins, Meat Puppets, Dead Milkmen, Pegboy, Workhorse Movement, Chemlab, Pigface, 16volt, En Esch/Mona Mur, Bishop Dust, No Knife, Wesley Willis, Babyland, Acumen, and more.

Part of our legendary staircases:   

The Fund

The Warehouse has always had a very strict policy against pay-to-play, or making bands buy/sell tickets.  We've always felt that it is the Promoter's obligation to be the Promoter and Ticket Broker, not the band's.  Charging bands to play is just not in our blood.  Bands have enough expenses without having to buy tickets to their own gig and hope that they can sell them.

But this policy of no pay-to-play has taken its toll. Combined with no alcohol sales and a tenant who filed bankruptcy and left the venue hanging, the bills have rapidly piled up. Currently we owe a substantial amount to the City, County, and also our bank.  Our bank has decided it is time to cut their losses, as the County has been threatening foreclosure.

This funding campaign is set up with "Fixed Funding", meaning if we do not hit our mark, all of the money is refunded.  It is pointless to set it up any other way, since without the amount we seek it does not matter: this historic venue will quickly vanish.  We also did not want to set it up so that if we did not make what we needed, we could still get all of the money and close, running away with the money.  It is truly "all or nothing". If we don't get it, we are done.  If we get it, expect 22 more years of a safe haven for area kids, giving them a sense of community that most of them cannot find anywhere else.

 After the successful Rescue Campaign, we plan to fully explore the possibility of becoming a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, allowing us much more flexibility in programming, funding sources, and operational hours.  The possibilities are endless if we can make that happen.

Our Perks

Many people have contributed because see the big picture and want to help.  However, there are many great levels of "perks" involved in this campaign to incentivize people, from T-shirts to naming rights for the main concert room.  Companies can probably write-off some of the perks involving advertising in the venue.  Imagine being able to advertise your venue inside another venue (are you listening, First Ave, Metro, Mojos, Varsity Theater, Majestic Theater, Rave, Miramar Theater, Mill City Nights, Shred Shed, Chain Reaction, etc?) Please take the time to check out the perks after you read this, on the right side of the page.

**In case you are confused by "The Victims" information in the perks, that was a new wave band that Warehouse manager Steve was part of in the 1980s.  Crazy hairdoos, terrible dance moves, and hook-driven synth-guitar rock. And a keytar!**  

Extra Simple Assistance

THE DEADLINE IS 11pm THURSDAY AUGUST 22 2013.  IT IS VERY NEAR.

We appreciate your support as we try to survive this pivotal moment in the Warehouse's history.  Thank you! 

Steve got to swap stories at a convention a few years ago with someone who has seen it all: HILLY KRYSTAL, owner of legendary New York live music venue CBGBs .

Here is one of the just announced Designer T-shirt Perks, from artist RIGGS REPKING at WANDER ART & DESIGN!

Our exclusive TIM BRADLEY designer owl/snake T-shirt!

ROBERT 'NIX' NIXON limited edition Support Live Music t-shirt!

WAREHOUSE LIMITED EDITION SCREEN PRINT, from Rochambo Studios in Minneapolis.  This is a mock-up, actual image will be slightly different.