By VICTORIA ADDISON
Executive Editor
The building that once housed the underground music venue Bogie’s still remains unsold since the closure of the nightclub earlier this summer.
Located at 297 Ontario St., Bogie’s shut down at the end of May due to bad management and financial trouble caused by the owner’s failure to pay taxes. The property was purchased for $280,000 in October 2005 by Assunta Inc.
The building is currently listed at the price of $155,000 through Gucciardo Real Estate Group LLC. Along with 3,850 square feet of property, nearly all the previous equipment and supplies are included with purchase. The agency did not respond when called for comment, but according to the online listing, the real estate agent assigned to the property is the owner’s husband.
For over three decades Bogie’s has been a staple in the Pine Hills Neighborhood, especially for college students.
“I think Bogie’s was one of the most important venues we had. It brought together this tremendous community of kids that never would’ve met otherwise,” said Jesse Addington, a junior at the College of Saint Rose. “Through bogies I know kids from the Catskills, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse, Cohoes and tons of other places all over New York.”
Bogie’s was known for its involvement in the underground music scene, which covers genres that are not promoted in mainstream culture. Over its tenure, the venue has hosted bands from all over the world including blink-182, Green Day, State Champs and many more.
Addington, who lives around the area, started going to Bogie’s in 2009 to play shows with his band. Once he was old enough to attend shows he did so regularly.
“What kept me coming back was that they were booking the bands I wanted to see,” he said. “I was always a bit of a misfit in high school and Bogie’s was the only place that really booked metal and hardcore bands.”
Due to its close proximity to both Saint Rose and SUNY Albany, Bogie’s was very popular among students.
One of the business’ partners, Michael Valente, played a crucial role in steering Bogie’s away from any trouble that could be generated by the college scene.
“In 2008, I was brought in as a partner to make a transformation back to the music roots and away from the negative attention that the college scene was bringing at that time,” Valente said. “Many of the other bars were getting shut down because of under-age drinking and Bogie’s didn’t want to end that way.”
Valente left Bogie’s before he could become involved with the owner’s financial troubles, which he claims to have had no part in creating.
“I have no clue what is in store for the building. I departed before I had anything to do with any financial burden that was not of my own doing,” he said.
In January 2014, Valente asked for donations from the public to help cover upkeep costs and renovations to the building. The crowd funding campaign ended up raising half of the intended $10,000 goal.
Despite its financial fallout, Valente is satisfied with Bogie’s tenure in Albany, but not just for its role in the music scene.
“Bogie’s has done a lot for music and its community. We have raise tens of thousands of dollars for homeless, hungry and under privileged over the past few years,” he said.
Valente, vice president of Upstate Black N Blue Productions, used his booking expertise to land shows at Bogie’s ranging from hip-hop to hardcore. Based out of New York City, Black N Blue Productions has ties to underground music of all genres.
Since Bogie’s closed, the company has been hosting shows at venues such as The Fuzebox, The Loft and Upstate Concert Hall. While these locations are not the same as Bogie’s, local fans of the underground music scene are determined to keep the spirit alive.
“There are still spots to go to shows,” said Addington. “There was just something about Bogie’s that made us feel alive. It was family, it was unity and it was home. And there won’t ever be anything like that home.”
