Smoke and music

To the editor:

This letter is in response to Jon Niccum’s May 7 article “Up In smoke,” in which he makes the claim that a smoking ordinance will destroy Lawrence’s music scene. I’ve lived in Lawrence all my life and have gone to countless concerts since the early ’90s. Currently, I’m a student at KU and, looking back on the past few years, I haven’t gone to as many concerts as I have in the past. I enjoy live music in a crowded atmosphere, but the smoke always leaves me feeling sick the next day.

This ordinance will not hurt Lawrence’s music scene. The Eels came to town twice last summer and demanded that their concert be smoke-free, and they had no problem with selling out The Bottleneck both times. Smokers did not stay home. My friend smokes a pack a day, and he agreed that their concert was much more enjoyable when not dealing with a cloud of smoke, and he had no problem with waiting until afterward to light up.

I look forward to seeing more live music, come July 1, as I know a lot of people do. This ordinance is good for the citizens of Lawrence. It will help us all to lead healthier lives, and to the bands that come here from playing in L.A. or New York City, it won’t be any different.

They come to Lawrence for the crowds, the people and the ever-present scene of music lovers — not the smoky environments.

Jeremy Osbern,

Lawrence