Izakaya Venue

04/06/2021

Keep following - we will be livestreaming a live concert in HD... Reach out to Raw Energy Records for your spot on the list!! Free admission link for the first 100 and extra profit sharing for the first 3 bands to get booked!!

04/06/2021

This is going to be huge - Raw Engery records is relaunching the label!!

On Wednesday, May 3 1995, this article appeared in The Toronto Sun featuring Chris Black "of Toronto's infamous punk record label, Raw Energy" promoting the use of the Internet on his 386dx with which he had launched our first website. It was Chris who convinced me to get a computer, in fact he wanted "a computer on every desk" and, by the end of the year, we had.

At the time, I was still typing letters and press releases on my trusty IBM Selectric. But, in reality, Doom changed everything. Chris did a lot more around the office, and for the bands, working with promoters and retailers. In the article, he mentions our ad in Details and the responses it was generating - being sent to us by email. I'm sure we were still on dial-up at the time. Thanks, btw, to Earl Epstein and his crew at Passport for online access and our first domain!

Most people don't know this, but all the bands we signed upon his arrival required his approval - because as the drummer of Sons of Ishmael he really knew his music - and the bands signed really needed to know how to play if they wanted onto the label.

Chris put together both shows and tours and, in the vein of MRR's Book Your Own Fu**in Life, eventually assembled the listings and published - along with Linda Cook - our own useful book called A Cultural Industry Directory (ACID). He was integral to our growth as a brand, not just a label, especially with the launch of Raw Energy Radio, as well as Raw Energy Promotions and a whack of other new divisions as we headed toward 1999. I don't know if you can read the article, but the last quote - his Computer Confession - is "I love my computer...when I go away, I miss it."

01/27/2021

01/26/2021

Anyone remember this amazing label from back in the day?? https://www.facebook.com/rawenergyrecords/

Raw Energy was a group of companies that promoted a variety of products, which included albums, that were released in numerous formats and traditionally distributed in 23 countries, as well as events, tours, merchandise, videos and radio programs.

11/23/2014

Evening Magic Show & Late Night Cult Movie's - Come By for Great Food, Drinks or to enjoy the Entertainment!

11/23/2014

Todays Special! Gourmet Burger (Burgerpress, La Presss, or El Presidente Burger) and a personal jug of Canadian for $17!!

11/19/2014

Tonight at Izakaya Venue, the DRUMMERS IN EXILE drum circle - COME IN CHECK IT OUT

(mention this post and have $5 off a regularly priced entree)

11/18/2014

IMPROV NIGHT @ Izakaya Venue with Tracy and Dwayne -- $5 & $10 menu

11/14/2014

Tonight @ Izakaya Venue - Open-Mic Comedy Night

11/12/2014

Tonight is Game Night @ Izakaya Venue !!! From Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride to Scrabble and Yahtzee (requests for additions to the collection are welcome)

11/11/2014

Come in tonight showing remembrance in the form of a poppy and get $5 off any app or entree by mentioning this post!!

11/10/2014

Submit your Smoothie Ingredients for a chance to be featured on our menu - and win free smoothies for a month!

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