Contributed by Michael Consalo
The Spot: Under 21 Music Venue
January 2018 – December 2018 (First Fridays) – 6PM
MY House, The People's Paper, Q 99.7, Valley Arts Alliance, Mountain Sound & Entertainment, Barrett & Associates Insurance
MY House
300 N Willow St. Wasilla
FREE Event
As a child, I was blessed with parents that supported my musical enthusiasm. I started out with a trumpet that my dad had played when he was in high school, and played that for years before discovering drums my senior year. I would spend hours in my room beating my drum set, learning patience and perseverance as I tried to nail my favorite solo section. After high school was over and there were no more "band practices", I was at a loss for a place to go with friends and learn or even participate in music. By the age of 18, I began hanging out with new friends that abused substances to have fun, and instead of joining a band or chasing my dream of being on stage, I simply went along with the flow. This current of behavior would take me on a ride of substance abuse that not only prevented me from building serious relationships, but it also kept me from doing music. After all, when I was on cocaine, I wouldn't spend money on a nice drum set just to take it to the pawn shop weeks later. By the time I was 24, I had lost nearly everything and had to move in with my parents to start over.
It took me years to get over the addiction that I had to cocaine, marijuana and alcohol, and even longer to rebuild relationships. One thing that gave me inspiration during the difficult time of recovery was music. When I was on drugs, I wasn't me. I didn't have the desire to do any music and now that I had all this time and realized how much time I had wasted in my life, I decided to funnel my time into something productive. When I decided to give my time to music versus drugs, my entire life turned around. It's been nearly 15 years now, and I am driven to make sure that the kids in our community never have the chance to choose drugs over music.
In an effort to help our youth choose music over illegal drugs, I have partnered with great local businesses like MY House, The People's Paper, Q 99.7, Valley Arts Alliance, Mountain Sound & Entertainment, Barrett and Associates Insurance and many more to create "The Spot". This under 21 music venue will provide our youth a safe, fun environment in which they can perform music, meet other musicians and just hang out with friends in a drug-free environment.
The Spot will be at MY House on the corner of Willow and Herning in downtown Wasilla on the first Friday of every month from 6pm-9pm. Those that are able to attend must be 1) under 21 and substance free, 2) family of those that are under 21 and substance free or 3) those that are approved by staff for special circumstances. This helps to keep this venue just for the kids, since other musicians have all the local bars in which they can play and listen to music. This event will be open to all genres and can include poets, solo acts, or full bands.
If you would like more info on The Spot, please like our Facebook page and share the event! This event is free. If you have questions about sponsorship or volunteering, please call Michael Consalo at 907-841-9563.
Submitted by Michael Consalo:
Michael is a husband and father of three children right here in the Mat-Su Valley. He works full time for Crystal Clear Creative in Wasilla and is part-owner of Mountain Sound & Entertainment. A lover of local events and his community, Michael has helped to plan Music on the Green at Settler's Bay Golf Course, The Pass at the Park at Wonderland Park and The Spot at MY House.
