Over the summer, Delia Liuzza thought her business venture known the Tipsy Teapot would soon have to closed down.
After purchasing a second part of the property, known as the Listening Room, she worried about paying all of her new bills. Around that time, Jeff Blinder, proprietor of the Spazzatorium underground music mini-empire, contacted her.
“I e-mailed her a few times to gauge her interest in hosting an event,” Blinder said by phone from his home in Pittsburg, “but she was a little apprehensive because she had heard about the underground nature of what I was doing.”
Liuzza initially dismissed Blinder’s idea, until her right-hand woman, Sherri Allen, a frequent patron of Spazz shows, told her boss that she would be crazy to pass on the opportunity. 
“It came down to a long phone conversation where I stated my purpose and vision,” Blinder said, “and let her know things — albeit unorthodox — were actually structured and organized affairs, and not just chaotic and lawless. After that she was more than willing to give it a try.”
In August, Spazz bands began playing at the Tipsy Teapot, and business has been thriving since. In the last couple of months, Tipsy’s events calendar has grown so much that it nearly overwhelms Liuzza now. Her and Blinder’s latest project, a show at featuring a surprise band at 10 p.m. Dec. 3, has her working to prepare for crowd control. 
 “We have a band coming in next month that I’m not allowed to say who it is, but it’s really exciting,” Liuzza said in mid-November. 
It was later announced that Future Islands would play with PALEFACE, Gospel Years and Arielle Bryant. 
Liuzza said she’s keeping extra staff members on that night, and she expects she’ll have to turn people away at the door. Capacity is 131 people. 
“Delia owns a business that is personally one of my favorite places in Greenville and I’ve been sending touring bands her way for years because it’s the only place like it in Greenville,” Blinder said. “Touring acts love it because it has great, healthy food, free internet, and amazing coffee, teas and pastries.”
Guests also take advantage of the seating — as both sides are full of couches and comfy chairs — as well as their wine and hand-crafted artisan beer selections. 
“They’re for people who really like beer,” Liuzza said. “And we offer regular beers as well.” 
The kitchen closes at 9 p.m., Liuzza said, but even after that they can serve desserts and small appetizers. 
The Listening Room — which will soon be called “Tipsy” while the other side will be called “Teapot” — isn’t host to only Spazz bands, however. Aside from musicians who contact Liuzza personally, the venue is available for book signings, private parties and art receptions, and is home to Seriously Clowning, EGSO (English Grad Student Org) and Drag Brunch, among other organizations. In January, they’re hosting a fundraiser for PiCASSO with The Soujourner Whole Earth Provisions, called the “Bellies for Benefit Hafla.” 
But Liuzza holds a special place for Blinder, who she called friendly, personable and “so accommodating,” as well as her guests who come for “Spazz Presents ...” shows. 
“The people that come for Spazz, they love music,” she said. “Different music. Music that’s difficult to find. So they’re so appreciative to have a place to hear the music they love. They’re just a good bunch of people. ... I’m glad that they found me.” 
Blinder, who is now helping run an underground space in West Philadelphia, is happy he found the opportunity to outsource himself. From a distance, he works with “Team Spazz,” — Sonny Chahal, Cate Vaden, Jeremy Lipicki, and others — to keep music alive and says the partnership with Liuzza is “perfection.”
“All that time with no live music (after he moved) made lots of folks upset that I ditched them,” he said. “But an idea came to me. Anyone really serious about wanting the scene to stay alive, step up now and show me you can be serious about doing your part and I’ll keep doing mine.”