Kym Register
Illustration by Mars Reyes Sevilla
We caught up with Kym Register, singer-songwriter for the band Loamlands and the owner of downtown Durham local bar/music hub The Pinhook :
What was the key to surviving 2020?
Key to survival in 2020: Community. We are constantly trying to listen and build with our folks and just appreciate all of the support that we got through the year. We would absolutely not have made it without y'all. Wow. Floored. Honored. Thank you. From us.
What events at The Pinhook should we consider mandatory attendance?
We're doing space rentals that are so fun. It's a way for folks to know who they are around / feel a little bit of security in the whiplash emergence from this pandemic (we hope). We're booking starting September so holler at us now for events in the future. That's when we'll open, barring anything bad (really, that's how we're describing it, b/c it could be anything...). Torres / Sarah Jaffe is our first national act and we're pumped! Get tix- they are almost sold out! And dance parties and karaoke and bands and rallies - we just can't wait to be together again. AND we're opening in September so see you for PRIDE Y'ALL.
What's on your mind now?
We're really into combing through this past year to understand what some lessons are for this space. We know that accessibility has always been an issue - and now we're going to be able to stream shows. We also built a more accessible stage. We have some seating in the main room so folks can take a break from standing. We have a MUCH wider non alcoholic selection and - its good. That's what's on our minds. We're excited to keep our space queer and dirty in the midst of an exponentially gentrifying downtown. ... We're sad / mad / tired w/ regards to the current state of the world: The continuous and genocidal colonization of Palestine by Israel and the US's support of apartheid, the decision to not charge officers that murdered Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City, the fact that people want to pull unemployment for workers b/c of what they are calling a worker shortage but could be viewed as a well deserverd break for people that have historically worked for $2.15 /hr b/c (among many reasons) our government hasn't raised the minimum wage since 2008. We're excited to open - but there are a lot of things going on in the world that we're also concerned about. And those are just a few things that are on our minds! We miss you. And will see you soon.
Is it true that Dave Chappelle wasn’t allowed to enter The Pinhook?
Ummmmm... no? He never came - but we're honored that he would chose OUR bar to get fake kicked out of! Thank you Mr. Chapelle! Keep on not coming and talking about us!
