Hodi's Half Note Staying In Business: Introducing New Vibe

By: Emily Clingman
Hodi’s Half Note is not going anywhere. As a matter of fact,owner Dan Mladenik, has at least four more years on the lease, so the rumors of Hodi’s impending demise are officially being squashed right here.
Hodi’s is here to stay.
It is true though, that there has been some revamping of sorts and there will be a grand reopening party to celebrate the changes.
Mladenik recently bought out his other two partners and hired some new staff with the hope of creating a new kind of vibe.
“We’re striving to make bands and customers feel more at home here,” he said. “New blood (referring to new staff) is good. We’re excited.”
From giving the bathrooms a makeover and implementing some “green” operating practices, to creating new nightly drink specials, Mladenik and his right-hand-man/Production Manager, Jeremy Grant, have been working around the clock to give Hodi’s a new face.
“Customers can expect some nice bartenders, some free shows…a really good experience,” Mladenik said.
Grant likes the platform Hodi’s provides for upand- coming bands.
“It’s unique because this is the club that builds up smaller bands to get the experience and vibe they need to move on to places like the Aggie, or the Fox in Boulder,” he said.
Eric Imbrosciano, booking agent for Hodi’s, says it’s a destination spot for touring bands.
“Fort Collins is a destination market so when bands tour Colorado, they almost always hit Denver, Boulder and here,” he said, which is good for business. Hodi’s has shows regularly scheduled almost every night of the week.
“I’m not trying to be a millionaire with this place,” Mladenik added. “We’re the small guys over here, but I like where we’re at.”
Even though Hodi’s frequently hosts big-name acts, “We’re pretty community oriented, so we support a lot of local and small bands,” Mladenik said.
Grant added that musicians who come here from out of town will tell their musician friends about how awesome it is to play at Hodi’s.
“They know they’ll get treated well, get good fans, have a good time on stage, the sound will be good, the staff is respectable,” he said. “We’re trying to combine a down-home community vibe with a big time show venue.”
“This place needs to be here for local musicians and smaller acts coming through town,” Mladenik said. “The Aggie isn’t going to book a show that doesn’t attract at least 500 people. Where do the little guys get their start? Here.”
Mladenik, Grant and Imbrosciano are well qualified to see their vision through. They all have combined degrees and experience in hotel and restaurant management, sound engineering, talent buying Hodi’s Half Note staying in business, introducing new vibe and the music industry in general.
“We’re a dream team,” Mladenik laughed.
There’s another reason why Mladenik is putting his heart into soul into preserving Hodi’s.
“When I came here in 2003 for college, this was the first venue I came to (then, The Starlight) and has always been a favorite of mine,” he said. “ This place has a lot of meaning to me and I just want to keep the spirit alive.”
Check Hodi’s website for a complete lists of events and specials at www.hodishalfnote.com
Hodi’s Grand Re-Opening Party
Thursday, January 24th, $5 cover, Doors open at 8p
W/ The Motet, Dave watts and friends, Garett Sayers, and a very special guest
~New Belgium keg giveaways, swag, T-shirts, mugs, free beer, and more!
Drink Specials:
Happy hour every day from 8-10p, $3 jager/
fireball shots all the time
Monday
Free Admission
$2.50 micros, $1.50 22-oz. PBR
~Open comedy, 7p (sign up at 6:30)
~Mugnight Presents “The Funk Jam,” 10p
Tuesday
$3 you call it
$2.50 micro drafts
$2 Domestic Bottles
Wednesday
$3 long islands/jager/micro drafts all night
Upcoming Special Events:
Sophistafunk – Popular NY hip-hop band, Free show, Thurs., Jan. 10, 8p
The Wakarusa Music Festival will be traveling all over this winter in a quest to locate the best and brightest musicians the country has to offer. At every stop on the tour 4 or 5 bands will complete in a regional talent showcase. The winner of each showcase as decided by the fans in attendance will receive an invitation to play at Wakarusa 2013. Fri., Jan. 11, 8p
The Growers, Bad Weather California and The Bill Goats, Wed., Feb. 6, 8p