Backdoor opens skatepark to live music

By Kristin Day
mixer

Thursday, October 29, 2009

It was about six months ago when Billy Raybon got a call from the manager of Backdoor Skateshop on Fifth Street Paul Wojo. Wojo wanted to offer Raybon and chance to come back to the organization and help out the new skatepark on 10th Street.

Raybon jumped on the opportunity and began a 4-hour daily commute to Greenville and, among other promotions, opened the park to live music once again.

“I didn't realize how bad the (music) scene had suffered,” Raybon said. “Everything's closed.”

From 1997-2002, Raybon managed the downtown Backdoor Skateshop. At the time, the shop was upstairs with the skatepark below. It was Greenville's first and only exclusive skateboarding shop, but they also slowly started building a reputation as a live music venue.

Raybon said they welcomed all kinds of music from punk to Indie rock, and Backdoor was one of the first gigs for locals who that went off to sign record labels, like Valient Thorr and the Avett Brothers (the group was first known as the Backdoor Project). At the same time, the park was hosting benefits and pro skateboarding teams.

Simply by word of mouth, Backdoor became well-recognized by the underground music scene.

That all changed after Raybon left, but upon his return, he said he's had no problem continuing what he started.

“It seemed appropriate to pick up right where I left off,” he said. “It was really easy to step back in doing shows.”

On May 1, the new park on 10th street hosted Raybon's first show back with Valient Thorr. In the next couple of months, he said he hopes to have something going on every weekend with the band on the main floor, leaving the mini ramp for the skaters. Raybon said the skaters feed off of the music, as the bands in turn feed off of the skaters.

The relationship between skateboarding and music is natural, says Raybon, noting that skateboarders tend to unify while society aims a crooked eye toward them.

“(With music) it's kind of the same values,” he said.

Upcoming music shows will usually be held on Saturdays after the park closes at 8 p.m. They're open to all ages and alcohol isn't allowed at the park anymore.

“Most places you have to be 18 years old or older and then it's not even live music,” Raybon said. “… We're hoping to regenerate lives music and reunite the scene.”

Admission prices vary, but he says he could never turn someone away, as long as they're willing to try.

“As long as we can continue to work with bands that don't have the rockstar attitude,” Raybon added.

“We have never been about the money,” he said. “We've had are ups and downs, but for 15 years we've managed to do it.”

Upcoming events:

Oct. 10: Skate contest, all day event.

Oct. 24: I Bare the Burden, Until Life's End, TRYPHOSA and Abhorrent Miasa.

Nov. 14: Object, Brooklyn, Gospel Years, TBA

Nov. 21: Line in March, Phariah Piranha and Princess and the Criminals.

Check out next week's Hot Spots for all the info on Winslow's, the newest spot on Fifth Street.