The new ordinance of raising the bar entry age to 20 prevents many SIUC students from going into bars that they were getting into as recently as June. Now, some students say they miss the night life of the South Illinois Avenue establishments.

Brian DeNeal, a junior in English from Harrisburg, said the ordinance has all but killed any hopes that his band, Sideshow, had about promoting its new release in the town it is based in, since the band members are not old enough to get into bars.

We don’t have a chance to play in Carbondale, except at parties, he said.

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Hugh DeNeal, a freshman in music business from Harrisburg and a Sideshow member, said the band can only play out-of-town shows, unable to build up a following at home.

It’s kind of a hassle to get exposure when we can’t (play) in our own hometown, he said.

Some students who attended the city-sponsored Fragile Porcelain Mice concert in the Free Forum Area last Friday said they enjoyed the performance, but some said that this type of event will not replace the bar scene.

This is cool, but it’s not going to stop the (underage) drinking problem, though, John Dvorak, a sophomore in civil engineering from Oregon who attended the concert, said.

Dvorak, a 19-year-old who used to frequent bars until the entry age was raised July 1, said that the higher entry age prevents those under 20 from seeing live performances.

I don’t think raising the bar entry age is worth it, he said. I like to go and listen to the bands (in the bars), and now I won’t be able to get in.

Jessi Atwood, a sophomore in photography from Carbondale, said that on a typical weekend, there are many bands playing in bars, as opposed to the one or two that would play free shows if this type of entertainment continues.

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Here, you only have one band, she said, referring to Fragile Porcelain Mice. At the bars, you have many bands to choose from.

Todd Roci, a bouncer at Beach Bumz, a non-alcoholic club on the strip, who’s job allows him to view activities on South Illinois Avenue, said he has not seen intoxicated underage drinkers wandering the downtown area so far this semester.

I have not seen any false identification, and there hasn’t been a lot of drunken kids stumbling around, he said. It’s not the way it used to be in the old days.