Wow. (so many levels). It is a bit sobering to see band described as "Middle Aged Rockers". I guess that happened along the way!! Looking forward to playing the South Bar on April 25. No publicity.

Sorry, I meant Saturday April 28th!!

Now the police are just messing with South.

FREE BEER is the world's greatest band!!

This is such a knee jerk reaction by the city! Is this how our Birmingham leaders solve issues, by writing tickets for a sign? Wake up Birmingham residents. As much as we would like to, we do not live in a bubble! We are surrounded by other communities that are struggling, which makes Birmingham an easy target. It is not really the fault of any bars and restaurants in town that incidents are happening. Places like South are designed to bring people into the community. And don't say go back to retail, because the truth is most of the retail businesses cannot survive alone on the Birmingham tax payer either (many are subsidized by internet sales). In my opinion, this is really the fault of the city, who continuously spends money on projects to "beautify" the city (like $388k for City Hall landscaping) instead of spending money to "protect" it. In 1986, Birmingham had 38 police officers. As of 2011, we had 29. As we have been adding movie theaters, restaurants, bistros and clubs, adding that "vibrant" element to Birmingham. They have been cutting the police force. Should anyone really be surprised that we have more crime? That there are more incidents on the streets? Writing tickets for a sign, won't solve any problems, but it does make our city look ridiculous!

Free Beer is the name of a band, not a promotion from South. Some questions should have been asked before a citation was issued.

Ok here is my opinion...If Birmingham doesn't like bars...Then they should have never let any come in...They do this to every single night club that comes here...I live in Birmingham I don't care if they are here or not...but to have these people come in spend their money on build outs...leases...etc...all just to boot them all out every time is horrible...If Birmingham can't handle a night club scene...Then stop approving these businesses coming in to do it...I feel it's disgusting that bham just waste these peoples monies...and harrasses them and closes them down...and what does Bham plan to do with all the vacant space? because it's too big of space for most retailers etc to be able to afford the rent on that type of space...I mean for real...How about this...hire more police...they can step it up from 11-3 thursday friday and saturday...

selective indeed, I am positive on many occasions I have seen small signs on the sidewalk of many of the downtown buisinesses , If they actually wrote a citation for this withiout a doubt i would say they were beeing selective, i wonder how many times ive seen the roses sign around the holiday down the road at the florist?? did they get a citation?
how bout outside that cupcake bakery place? did they get a citation?

MISLEADING? well I suppose you can turn anything into anything, seems like they are cutting into the detroit zoo's customers because as you can see they have tigers on display to come and watch.

And i say again, theres teens walking around downtown with m1 assault rifles and your all worried about a sign, and just for the record that teen was from troy, not 8 mile not detroit etc.
makes me want to drive through town every day and make a list of all the signs and complain "JUST TO KEEP IT FAIR"

It seems South needs some reinvention and some cleaning up? Maybe they can get some ideas from "Roadhouse". Might want to try watching it again.

Wow. Pathetic. If the police we at all in tune with the local bar band scene they would know that Free Beer means band, not just any band... the greatest band that... ahh I'll just stop. Seriously though, wow. C'mon. I have an idea, how about the police inquire about the sign before writing a citation and causing an uproar?

I have never been to South and don't have plans to at the moment but I have heard of Free Beer before...this does seem like someone is just going after this establishment; doesn't seem fair the way this and all the publicity surrounding it has been handled - too bad!

Birmingham is obviously gunning for South, perhaps trying to make them "go south"? Pardon the puns, because this is anything but funny. First, close the valet service early...and now a bogus citation? Gimme a break.

i commend the Birmingham police dept for laying down the hammer on South. We are doing a great job as a community in applying pressure to city officials that South dosent belong in Birmingham. Keep signing the petition and let your voice be heard.

So i have been hearing about the things that have been going on at South Bar of late. Ive been reading the blogs and have heard alot of negativity about a particular night that South promotes, witch is there Sunday nights. Last Sunday i decided to stop by south and see what the big deal was all about. I can see why the community is so concerned with South. As i was sitting by the bar i watched the customers walk in and was amazed at what was walking in. there was a gentlemen that had his shorts sagging down to his knees, there were women that were literally wearing brawls as a shirt and you can smell marijuana pouring out of the individuals clothes. At around 12:30 i walked into the nightclub portion of the establishment and stood at the back wall and observed. next to me was a man who was smoking marijuana! he was taking a hit and putting it out when a bouncer would walk by, it was like a cat and mouse game with the individual and the bouncer. Another thing i saw was a young lady who was sitting on the couch pouring orange juice in 4 cups then going into her purse and pulling out a fifth of liquor and mixing her own drinks. i was in that place for 1 hour and already seen enough it was just ridiculous and absolutely disgusting. As i was walking out there was a man who wanted to fight me out by the sidewalk because i accidentally bumped into him. i apologized but he felt the need to stare me down as i was walking to my car.

here is a pic i found
http://twitgoo.com/5mwyzd

"Steve", so the bouncer was trying to stop the person from smoking...and the women had a fifth in her purse? Wow, big purse. Stay home on Sunday night if the crowd doesn't suit you. I enjoy going to see Magic Bus, Good Gravy, Fifty Amp Fuse and Free Beer perform at South.

I am confused "Steve" what's wrong with the crowd in the picture posted above?

Just checked the pic out again "Steve" ... funny, that pic was tweeted 3 weeks ago, interesting. I wonder if you were really at South at all. I guess "Tom" is right. You are not speaking the truth. Wonder why?

Gosh Yolanda. I was so looking forward to watching the Live Tigers at the South Bar that same day, but went inside and found out that it was just the name of local professional baseball team that I was unaware of up to this point. So, I contacted the Federal Trade Commission and used a copy of this picture I found in the Patch as prima facia evidence that South Bar broke the law and is in violation of provisions stipulated prima facia evidence that South Bar broke the law and is in violation of provisions of false and misleading advertising as stipulated by the Federal Trade Commission.

See how stupid it looks in print? Same premise.

Well there you have it Yolanda. You admit that Free Beer is a band. I admit the Tigers are a baseball team. Neither one of us have to file a frivolous complaint that South Bar broke the law.

Isn’t the real world fun?

(BTW … saw the game Thursday 4/12 at 1:05PM, saw Free Beer at the South Bar at 7PM)

Hey Sal, bad side of who!? What are you talking about.. the vote was 7-0 in March for their renewal. Get your facts straight.

I am there a couple of times a month. The stories being told on this post are not are factual. Are they perfect, no, please tell me a bar that is perfect. I enjoy seeing Good Gravy, Fifty Amp Fuse, Magic Bus and Free Beer perform at South. Never an issue. I have had events there as well. Great crowds, food and service. False accusations and untrue stories can't hold up for long and only make me wonder what the ulterior motive of those posting.... Free Beer is there Saturday April 28th, join us! We will all be there!

Yolanda... read the sign again... it says *LIVE MUSIC THURS FREE BEER
Just like it would say *LIVE MUSIC THURS MAGIC BUS...
would you expect to see a Magic Bus!? OR *LIVE MUSIC THURS GOOD GRAVY...
would you want good gravy!?

With 10 gun incidents in Birmingham in recent months, seems like they might have something more important issues to focus on in the CITY of Birmingham.

D. Jones, true, and Braylon Edwards and his entourage won't be allowed back in the place I am sure... guess he doesn't represent or behave like a UofM grad should. And, it is not unlawful to carry a gun. Make sure you don't got to Arts, Beats and Eats if you are concerned. She was only charged with a misdemeanor for that event on the streets of Birmingham when she shoot in the air to defend herself at 2:30 AM... so, the count is 2 events, 2 years, thousands and thousands of people, damn good track record for a bar in my opinion.

Yolanda, conceded or trying to as they say, "to be part of the solution"... they weren't going to "fight" about it then, but will show their case and fight that ticket I hope, with the bands and their customers support. We will all be there on Saturday April 28th to support both the band and bar. Please join us! Sounds like you need a fun night out! After 19 years that said band has never had an issue, ever with any other city or bar. Common sense is lacking with some and ulterior motive is obvious with some others.
And Sal... you do realize, this isn't their first rodeo. They have experience. One wonders, do you?

Yolanda ... you are correct. No "Live Tigers". But I believe the sign says "Come watch Tigers" ... then there is some other information below which is not pertinant to my argument because obviously it has nothing to do with the line above it... So if you consider the line "Free Beer" without the lines above it "Live Music Thurs" then you could be misled into actually believing that the bar was serving you Beer without having to pay for it.

See how this works?

But being a well informed human with an internet connection, I know that there is a baseball team named the Tigers that have been playing in Detroit for over a century, connecting those statements ... as I know that there is a band called "Free Beer" that has been playing in the Detroit area for almost two decades. Or, I could have walked in the bar and said "Will you have Tigers here that I can watch on Thursday?" and they would have explained it to me.

Yolanda, what was said that wasn't true? His friends attacked two staff persons. He ran out the back door... the other two were arrested. Sad to say the bar didn't sue first... bad advice they listened to if you ask me. And, like insurance companies do they settled, for not the 14MILLION he asked for but $8,000. The insurance company would have spent 10x's that in legal fees if the insurance company fought the ridiculous charge. If you missed what BE tweeted, here is the account of what he tweeted that night. They do correct that it was a fork his friend used to injure the staff. http://jocksandstilettojill.com/2011/08/braylon-edwards-tweets-during-an-incident-between-his-entourage-bar-staff/

I am still wondering why "steve" won't tell me what is wrong with the picture that he posted from last summer... is it because the photograph was taken at an angle? The picture is crooked, I have to tilt my head to look at it... is that it?! With the Italy shirt and the lean did you think of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!?

Stephanie, cleary you are speaking up for your brother's bar. That is respectable and expected. The issue is not the fights or the "Free Beer". The issue is that the residents don't seem to want a dance club in Birmingham, none of us will step foot in there. The bar is a joke to those of us born and raised there, we go to Dick's or 220. Same as the residents in Rochester won't step foot in his other bar after 9 pm. South is not a contribution to their hometown, not a neighbornood hangout, it is an embarassment to the City.

Karen, I am speaking as a paying customer. South is not just a dance club, and not the only dance club in Birmingham. No one if forcing you to go to South. I was born and raised in Bloomfield and went to Birmingham schools. I invite you to join us Saturday to see what the crowd is like, you might be surprised to find people that go to Dick's and 220 go to South as well to see the bands. You need to check it out before you make judgment. Don't believe everything you read.

I guess I wasn't clear enough for you. The resident's do not want THIS dance club in our city, not the way it is currently being run. Something needs to change, very soon. I appreciate the fact that he is trying to change the Friday and Saturday night format, to give it some "hometown" feeling. I also understand he has rent and staff to pay, which Sunday nights likely cover. My personal opinion is that the damage has been done, the name has been tarnished. I have been there, and I will unlikely be back, the place just feels .. dirty. I will drive further to see the bands I enjoy, in an atmosphere I am comfortable in. I fondly remember this being the location that the first Olga's was in. That is the Birmingham that I know, that I still hold in my heart. I know it is no longer 1980, I know times change. If you also went to Birmingham schools, would your parents let you be in that area at night like we were? My kids aren't, for many reasons, but South, and the element it brings to my city, my hometown, it just needs to go away, or change.

Karen, can you speak for all your residents? I speak for myself. And, I understand your animosity towards South. Caps aren't necessary. What I don't understand is why this bar is different from any of the other dance clubs, other than they serve food and are open all day and night. All bars run the risk of problems. Alcohol does that period. No bar in Birmingham is with out incident, including area restaurants. With 10 gun incidents in Birmingham recently aren't you more concerned about shopping at Kroger, jewelery shopping, going to the bank or dinner at Mitchell's. You don't have to go back to South. I like that it is a dance bar where my friends and I can go hear bands and dance and not be surrounded by 21 year olds like in Royal Oak. Good Gravy, Fifty Amp Fuse, Magic Bus and Free Beer are some of my personal favorites! I actually felt young at the Magic Bus show a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised by the music of the 60's that I don't hear on the radio. So tired of 80's bands. I didn't hang out in the streets when I was a kid and I wouldn't expect you to want your kids to hang out in the streets either. I spent time with my family on weekends or I was working at Roma Hall, a teen club that had more problems then comparatively. South isn't for kids. It is an adult establishment in the evening. If you are worried about getting dirty, stay home.

Also Karen you loved Four Green Fields.....Great Bar.....But you want to talk about dirty.....that place was dirty.....and if you hung out there in the 90s.....the place had a ton of fights and underage drinking. But hey its the element that you love.

Didn't realize Karen was a fan of Four Green Fields... funny, Steve, the bartender from FGF left there to work at South a few months before FGF closed. One of the other reasons I like South. An experienced bartenders who waited on me at FGF before Rick closed. Karen, come by and see Steve at South. He might remember what you drank if you were a regular, he is that good.

BRITTANY
If necessary... sometimes you have to repeat yourself if people can't hear or won't listen.
Do you know what a smart phone is!? Well, I finally got one! And I can post whenever I like.
Regarding my schedule and if I have a life? Yes. No boyfriend, since haven't meet the right one, but I don't need one to have a life. Since you asked, I had breakfast with Catherine this morning at 9 AM. Then went to the Tigers game with Erin, Ryan and Scott. Crappy game sorry to say. Then grocery shopping... For tomorrow in case you are concerned, brunch at 11 with Pat, Tracy, Robyn, Cara, Mike, Erin and Rhi... and then family dinner, my dad turned 85 yesterday.
I have been going to South since they opened... and I will continue to go, But, since I don't have kids I typically hang out with other single people with out kids, we seem to have more time to enjoy life. Hope you do too!

Thats awesome.....Brittany now you are stephanie. This is a fun game you play, How is D Jones and Lois Washington.....I cant wait till they come out and play.

Stephanie is NOT Brittany... Stephanie supports South. Brittany thinks I need to get a boyfriend and doesn't know the facts.

Wow.... so interesting... all of the Brittany/Stephanie remarks have been removed.
Remember what Don Mannis wrote on April 16th....

"don mannis: 9:29 am on Monday, April 16, 2012
I have been sitting back and watching this entire topic for a few weeks now, I can't help but notice the similarities in the overall attitude of these posts, also the exact same punctuation, use of CAPS and "quotes"
Alan Stamm, I think you are wasting your time resoponding to these posts as I believe "Blog Post", "Brittany", Lois" and several others are actually the same person, see some of us mart folks, can do this too :)
In the end it will be "FOLLOW THE MONEY" some very unproffesional- "PROFESSIONALS" are actually stirring this because thay have
"MOTIVES" Unfortunately the internet is a wonderfull thing and even when you think your anonymous, every thing you put here is recorded, deep in the ip headers of every message, text and everything you do on here is your true identity!

We need to shut down the farmers market also if thier giving away "free beer"
You would think people would check facts before they post such a stupid thing I would be embarrassed to have made such an error.....lol pathetic"

As a member of the band "Priceless" playing April 27th at Memories lounge in Brighton, Mich, we often kicked the Free Beer name around, as far back as 1986. We thought it would really be an attention grabber. Apparently we were more than correct. I also played in a band called No One, which we found a bit detrimental on a marqee..."Appearing tonite No One"

It just gets more interesting.. wonder why Tom's last comment to Brittany/Stephanie was removed? You realize we have emails of the messages.

Tom also commented on Sign Promoting Band Named 'Free Beer' Leads to Police Citation for South. "Stephanie or Birttany......say hi to len and david for me."

I guess you didn't want to say hi to len or david for Tom?!

Trying the link again: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150503738080233.369690.50424660232&type=3

South will be gone .Plain and simple. Birmingham is birmingham for a reason. We are not royal oak. The local police police can easily make this place a living hell. Whats next. A strip club??

Two comments have been deleted because they violated Patch's Terms of Service. Please folks, frank discussion of the issue at hand is encouraged, but attacks on other posters will not be tolerated. Comments need to be civil.

Why was her question/comment from Brittany still on the site, but not my reply? I was just replying. Please remove her question/attack if you remove my reply.
Brittany, welcome back!
Well.... one only knows who you are, since you don't use your real name. You seem to have enough time to research all about me and my business, as well as our events. Who doesn't have a life? Me or you?
I am wondering, why did you delete all your comments? What are you concerned about?

Nice to see you finally admitted South is a good place. But no one needs to hire me to tell others I like South, it is common knowledge it is my preferred place to hear live music! If you were my friend you would see the band posts and invites in my timeline.

In regards to my time, I am a really good multitask-er. So, I will fit one in when I find the right one, I won't settle for less. Did you?

The single mingles are actually for everyone, we don't discriminate based on marital status. We call them happy hours! Check out the pictures from our last one at South in January . The link was left on above. We will be there May 11th too! If you aren't busy please join us!

And Brittany, you might be the biggest moron, when you changed your name to mine yesterday. Sorry your plan backfired.

"and the element it brings to my city, my hometown, it just needs to go away, or change."
Why don't some of you residents just put up a sign that really says what you mean...
Come on down and shop at our fancy shops all day you can spend money here all day if you like but please if your black , hispanic , mexian or indian please leave by the time it gets dark,
A lot of these posts by the "residents" all seem to have this dark cloud over them.
well I have news for you, you dont get to pick who comes in and who comes out as you see fit by your profiling.
The sign thing is joke, NO ONE went into the bar and recieved a "free beer" there was no violation, some of you are going on and on in what seems an endless discussion of these piddly bs things while your kids are getting arrested for hanging out downtown smoking weed, your schools are beeing taken over by grafitti and your own damn kids are getting in trouble and making the news every other day, they will soon be the ones that are starting the trouble out here.
the ones that are spearheading this and willing to stand up at the city meeting to ask something be done are the ones to blame, its been stated by several others on here as well.
This entire thing in my opinion is motivated by one thing....MONEY

If you do your timesheet we will give you free beer (and soda too): http://youtu.be/WDbiyWlKhlM via @youtube

So this is the "being part of the solution" we heard about? ( i.e. http://birmingham.patch.com/articles/south-owners-ask-to-be-part-of-the-solution-after-gunshot-incident ). I don't have to say anything else. Keep posting here, and do nothing at the club, because nothing can be done there of course because "stuff just happens ya know"

Next time something happens, the question will be asked "What measures did you take after last time?". Steve's answer : "Nothing - but I did have friends and relatives post on Patch a lot, that must count for something right?". No, it will not.

Blog Post, I am confused. Nothing happened at the club. The staff at South did their job. Just another successful evening in a high risk business.

Funny, you keep posting on the patch, so you must think it has some value.

Maybe the citizens of your city should ask where the police are? Why are they part of budget cuts when crime is evident in Birmingham at Krogers, banks, jewelry stores, Mitchell's, etc. Why Birmingham has had 10 gun related incidents recently? MOST during the day. Maybe we should address gun control? Or why people treat each other with disrespect? The issues are societal issue. Are they not?!

The attack on one business where nothing happened is beyond humorous! Please...we know you have an agenda.

Part of the solution in the City. Blog Post, your city is not perfect. See, Beth is a resident, so she can speak about the issues in the city of Birmingham. So it is her neighborhood.
What am I doing, I continue to enjoy the live bands at South like I have for 2 years. I continue to enjoy hanging out with a crowd who average age is 30 and up when listening to Free Beer, Magic Bus, Good Gravy and Fifty Amp Fuse. I continue to enjoy eating dinner with friends and having business meetings on the patio. I continue to be open minded and realize that not all people have common sense. I continue to hope that the facts will be spoken of. I continue to think that all of us are adults an personal responsibility should be the issue. I continue to wonder why some of the posts where so vicious and mean, especially when directed to me personally. I continue to hope that others will have a less narrow vision and see the real issues in the city. Steve and Sal posts have spoken clearly about what they see as their concern. I do speak clearly. I have been patient. I have not attacked and I speak the facts, why my posts are still here and several others have
been removed. Why can't you say your name Blog Post? Why hide your identity if you believe what you say is truthful?