Music impresario, multi-business entrepreneur, and renaissance man Ryan Graveface continues to expand his odd empire with the opening of the Lodge of Sorrows, a massive event space located inside of an old train warehouse on W. Boundary St.
The Lodge inhabits Bay 6 of the six bay building which provides ample room for many of Graveface’s interests and pursuits. Upon entering the building visitors can see one of his employees operating a silkscreen, producing all of the company’s T-shirts and other merchandise. Tall shelves containing stacks of every Graveface Records release on vinyl and cassette line the walls. A built-in office provides space for Graveface’s wife to comfortably work. Next to the office is a music stage where another employee packs and shrink wraps records. Other employees are busy in a wood workshop next to a fleet of dozens of retro arcade cabinets.
“Everything is tied to another thing,” explained Graveface.
The Lodge is a major improvement over Graveface’s previous warehouse on the south side. “It was my personal Hell,” said Graveface.
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
In the back is Graveface’s recording studio where he plans to collaborate with producer Kevin Rose in the wake of the legendary Elevated Studios closing. There is a separate room for drums and an isolated vocals booth. Another adjacent room houses a grand piano with a wide view of the railroad tracks.
Amongst all of this activity, a good quantity of Graveface’s treasure hoard of weird objects and horror memorabilia fill in the gaps. It sounds like a lot and it is, but everything can be moved around to create a unique 300-capacity space for events like concerts, private parties, weddings, oddities markets, and movie screenings. And with Graveface about to expand the Lodge of Sorrows into Bay 5, the possibilities are endless.
It is like Savannah’s answer to The Factory.
The venue also boasts an excellent sound system for live music, and the acoustics are surprisingly good.
“It doesn’t sound all hollowed out,” said Graveface. “I guess I just own so much [expletive] that it traps the sound. It’s like walking into my bedroom from when I was a kid. That’s what the museum is, too. It would be interesting to have a complete stranger who knows nothing about me or my world come into a place like this. Is it overwhelming and awful, or is it badass? An actual, honest review after a show would be interesting.”
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
One of the future events the Lodge will host is a screening of a documentary that sheds light on Graveface. Because he often appears in press material wearing a mask and putting off an elusive aura, many people are still unfamiliar with all of the exciting things Graveface does, music related (Black Moth Super Rainbow, Casket Girls, Beachy Head, Dreamend, etc.) or otherwise.
“In town people know me as the museum guy, or the record store guy, the record label guy, or even me playing music,” explained Graveface. “Those are foreign objects which is weird because I literally make a living playing music. I think the doc for locals could be pretty neat because, here is this abundance of [expletive] that I do, but it’s not presented as propaganda. It mostly talks about failures if we’re being honest, but at least it explains it.”
The long game for Graveface is to eventually acquire more, if not all, of the bays so that he can continue to expand his many operations, including a proposed vinyl pressing plant. Graveface Records could feasibly record a band to tape in the studio, mix and master it, create packaging and merchandise, cut it to vinyl, distribute it, and host a release show on the stage all in the same day from the same location.
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
“We already distribute, there is the label, I own a PR company, pressing vinyl is the last thing,” said Graveface. “This space could be very special. It’s already special!”
The next event at the Lodge of Sorrows is the welcome return of NeverNotGoth Night on Feb. 6. It marks the first live NeverNotGoth event since the Jinx closed and left the gloomy dark-clothed children of the night few options for dancing.
The event will begin with DJ sets by the NeverNotGoth coterie including Graveface himself. Graveface’s DJ sets are unique in that he accompanies the records he spins and enhances them with the use of modular synthesizers to boost the basslines or add melodies.
“For me it’s fun because it’s not just dropping a needle,” explained Graveface.
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
Credit: Adriana Iris Boatwright / For Do Savannah
The DJ sets are followed by live performances by True Body and GOST.
True Body play dark-hued synth-pop with danceable bass-lines, upbeat melodies, and deep gothic vocals. They recently released a split EP with Digital Hell.
GOST’s latest release, Rites of Love and Reverence, on Century Media, is seductive synth-wave driven by distorted industrial beats, perfect for dancing with yourself on a darkly-lit dance floor.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Ryan Graveface unveils new Savannah music venue, Lodge of Sorrows, with return of NeverNotGoth
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