Let music acts play Augusta unfettered

I was reminded recently of the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center's endless money problems, resulting -- or so it's popularly believed -- from shoddy management.

Now, I don't know anything about poor management, but hey, dude, remember the 1980s? When all the top ticket-sellers of that time came to Augusta: Van Halen, Bob Seger, Bon Jovi, New Kids on the Block, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, etc.?

I remember the last time KISS came to Augusta, in 1990. Someone from the group read a very long list from the mayor's office of what KISS couldn't do, or face immediate arrest. That, along with a couple other censorship incidents at the civic center shows around that time (e.g. Tommy Lee's arrest), marks the end of its golden era. The touring world started associating Augusta with incarceration for "naughty language" or "something objectionable" in their acts, and began passing us by.

And is it wrong I have a feeling, in 2009, when someone inquires about performing at the civic center, they're smacked with a litany of things they can't do? Things with which Atlanta, Charlotte and even Columbia have no problem, but are literal crimes for some strange reason here in Augusta? Hence, Augusta can entice barely enough artists to keep our beloved arts center afloat.

Is there hope for our civic center? I don't know, but its root-problem is super-duper simple. When the city government stops insisting all the acts be G-rated, and allows top sellers such as AC/DC, Eric Clapton, Jay-Z, etc., to come here and do their normal shows -- exactly like they do in every other truly cosmopolitan town in the world -- the civic center's financial problems will suddenly, magically, deliciously disappear.

I promise: If you don't gag or restrain them, they will come -- and sell out! In the best of all possible ways, that is.

Nathan Kirby