Since The Goat House in Odessa, Florida opened its doors for the first time in 2013, it felt like a second home for anyone who walked through its doors. Its refreshing lack of scene posturing and sense of unity is a Central Florida hallmark. Sadly, it is closing its doors tonight, February 20th, for the final time. Read on below for some colorful anecdotes, quotes from bands and fans who were a part of it, and some of the history behind how everything got started. We got our start covering a few of their bigger shows there (Real Friends once headlined here on Halloween), so the demise of the venue is even more sad for us.
Note: The below text is written by Sarah Gordon and Bradley Dillon.
For anyone who doesn’t know what the Goat House is, it was a DIY venue where the local Tampa Bay music scene would gather as many nights of the year they can, along with prominent bands large and small who were on tour. Now, I get it – you’re wondering what makes it different from any other venue from any other state. It not only was it a venue, it was a secondary home for the music scene. Owner, Jack Jallo, let any band crash in the venue when they needed a place to stay. Jack was very big into giving back to the local community, not only by letting touring bands stay for the night but also by doing canned food drive shows which benefited the less fortunate. For the Food Drive shows, admission to the show would be reduced by price if you brought in canned goods for those in need and even some shows the food could help a concertgoer see the show for free. It was a wonderful idea that let people help out while they got something amazing in return like seeing bands. Though TGH is shuttering, these are great things and ideas that promote a sense of community not seen often elsewhere.
Since The Goat House is in a really weird location (seriously, it’s right next to a Circle K), it was strange going there for the first time. When you pull up, Google Maps says you should be in the middle of the airport, but instead you’re at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. In the beginning, the only way you could the venue is to look for a large group of kids and see if they could point you in the right direction (hey, it worked for me!). When the Goat House first opened it was a long hallway type venue painted an ugly orange, and bands would play on the floor while people sat on the couches. A year or so later, the venue grew some walls making three separate rooms, including a large room where the shows were now held. The ugly orange walls were now replaced by white, like scary clean white, making it look like an operating room or something. Making the venue smaller didn’t impede movement like people moshing or crowd surfing, it just made it so everyone became better friends. When the room got smaller, you couldn’t move without hitting someone, lets just say 95% of the time you got a new friend by the end of the show because you bopped someone on the head. The walls inside The Goat House have been through some changes, from orange, to white, to the very iconic American Goat Flag and now what it is today, a massive solar system which some believe reflect the owner’s love for Star Wars. Yeah I get it, you must be wondering why I’m sitting here babbling over the color/design of the walls in a venue. Well, when they were painted with the massive flag or the space system, you could scroll through Facebook and see everyone’s profile decked out with that background and it made me happy. Every time you saw those pictures it would spark a certain memory and fill your day with joy.
One of the great things about TGH was the fact that it promoted unity. In many “scenes” around the USA, there’s often a lack of unity, and people sometimes even think treating someone badly who’s a different gender, sexual orientation, or race than them is okay. Not here, though. No tolerance for homophobia, racism, sexism, and the like was surely one of the hallmarks of The Goat House, and also needs to be a blueprint for future (and present!) venues going forward. Everyone was equal and welcome to the Goat House – treat your fellow neighbors as you would yourselves, and leave your egos at the door. That’s what it was all about.
I know rambling about a local venue must sound weird or unimportant but there is a reason why this article had to be written. Today The Goat House is having its final show. After 3 years and millions of bands from all over the world, its doors will open for one last time tonight to give it the best farewell show a local scene can give to such an amazing place. The Goat House has had some crazy shows over its 3 years including farewell shows, reunion shows, cover shows, acoustic, rap, indie, heavy and weird grunge/punk shows to many more. There were also numerous music videos shot there and it was even posted about on the Alternative Press website and in TBT, a local Tampa Newspaper. I’ve also seen a lot of crazy things at The Goat House as well, like a real live goat, bass drops so loud that it knocked bottles off the shelf of the shop next door, and don’t forget plenty of bones broken, which means lots and lots of blood.
All in all, The Goat House has been such an amazing place for so many people. A few weeks ago I put up a bunch of statuses on social media in search of everyone’s best memories of a place that some of the younger scene has grown up in, and below are some of the best ones.
Enjoy!
“The Goat House was my introduction into the Tampa scene. I met a lot of cool people because of the Goat House and I think without playing those shows, honestly I wouldn’t have met the rest of the gang. It’s the small venues like the goat house that truly keep scenes alive and vibrant. My best memory of The Goat House was when we opened with “Cursed” by Ceremony and right before I can in with vocals I turn around and see Jack leap from his desk area and over a bunch of people just to scream the lyrics into my mic with me. The place was so cool and I’m very sad to see it go.” – Bridger Webb | Sweet Hangs
“During its short run, I knew The Goat House for many things – hosting diverse lineups, seeing some of my favorite up and coming bands for cheap, and having a no bullshit, zero tolerance policy for sexism, racism, homophobia. The latter is no small thing in a culture that often permits those things like they’re somehow okay. Anyway, I’m not here to talk politics or social justice stuff. What I am here to say is that The Goat House will be very much missed in the Central Florida community. It was run and funded by a great dude in Jack Jallo, who gave rising bands of any genre a change to show their stuff. It was a place that really brought the community together. Where are bands going to play now? There’s plenty of other venues in Central Florida area but there will never be anywhere with the DIY ethic of The Goat House. Rip” – Bradley Dillon | The New Fury – Owner
“My first moment of bloodshed at a show was at The Goat House, watching Brodyn for the first and last time, playing my first headliner show (and MANY other shows since playing heavy music in the first place) and meeting an abundant amount of my closest friends at The Goat House. It’s seriously been a second home for me for the last two years and its made my life a million times better ever since being introduced to the place and the people involved in it. I definitely wouldn’t be the person or in the place I am today without The Goat House.” – JP Mojica | Noose
” What I love about the Goat House is the fact that, aside from the amazing shows put on there, I have mad so may new amazing friends from all over the state. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, you are always welcomed with open arms and made a member of the growing family” – Asia Alvis | The New Fury – Photographer
“I got the honor of playing with Adaliah at The Goat House and I never thought that day would come especially since they were one of the top bands in Florida. It was a life changer for me. I also found love at the Goat House and made so many beautiful memories there. This place changed the scene in so many positive ways and gave everyone a place to go when they had no where else to go” – Dominic Guggino | Agerasia
“The goat house has been not only a venue but a home to me since I started playing shows. No other place has the same open and friendly atmosphere. I have really bad anxiety and one of the few places it doesn’t show is at the goat house despite the small space and large amount of people attending. Jack is one of the most open minded and friendly people I have ever met and I am excited to see him make progress in his personal career. As sad as it is to see the goat house go all I have are good memories and a very big place in my heart.” – Steven O’Day | Aera Cura
“The Goat House has been such an amazing place for everyone in this scene. Not only did I meet so many amazing people, I grew closer with friends that I already had. I also shared a lot of my relationship milestones at this venue and honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was actually asked to officially be boyfriend/girlfriend at one of the hardcore prom’s that was held here. This venue is embedded into every aspect of my life and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. This was a place of acceptance and I’m so sad to see it go. I made a family at The Goat House and I don’t think I would have without the love and kindness that emanates from Jack.” – Sarah Gordon | Photographer – The New Fury
With all of that said I know that the local music scene is losing a large piece of itself tonight. It may only be a building but it has affected so many of our lives. Now we will just have to move on to the next venue or find a new one that will treat us all with love and equality just like The Goat House did.
R.I.P Goat House.
Thanks for the memories…
